Turner Broadcasting System
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Company type | Division of Time Warner |
---|---|
Industry | Entertainment Cable television Interactive media |
Predecessor | Turner Communications Group |
Founded | 1970 |
Founder | Ted Turner |
Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | John K. Martin (CEO & Chairman)[1] David Levy (President)[2] |
Products | CNN CNN International HLN TNT TCM Cartoon Network Boomerang Adult Swim TruTV TBS CNN Airport |
Parent | Time Warner |
Divisions | Turner Sports |
Subsidiaries | Turner Broadcasting System Europe Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific Turner Broadcasting System Latin America Turner Entertainment Co. Cartoon Network Studios Turner Private Networks |
Website | www.turner.com |
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (often abbreviated Turner Broadcasting, TBS, Inc. or simply Turner) is an American media conglomerate and division of Time Warner, managing the collection of cable networks and properties initiated or acquired by Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III starting during the 1970s. TBS, Inc. merged with Time Warner on October 10, 1996, and now operates as a semi-autonomous unit of Time Warner.
The company's current assets include CNN, HLN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, TruTV and Turner Classic Movies.
The current chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting is John K. Martin.[3] The Turner properties are located in both the CNN Center in Downtown Atlanta[4] and the Turner Broadcasting campus off Techwood Drive in Midtown Atlanta, which also houses Turner Studios.[5] Across Interstate 75/85 from the Techwood campus is the original home of Turner's WTBS superstation (now separated into the TBS cable network and Peachtree TV), which today houses Adult Swim, Williams Street Productions and Williams Street West.
History
1970s
In 1970, Ted Turner, then owner of a successful Atlanta-based outdoor advertising company, purchased WJRJ-Atlanta, Channel 17, a small, struggling Ultra High Frequency station, and renamed it WTCG, for parent company Turner Communications Group. By careful programming acquisitions, Turner guided the station to success. During December 1976, WTCG originated the "superstation" concept, transmitting via satellite to cable systems, and it was originally owned by Warner Communications until Warner formed a joint venture with American Express called Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment in 1975.
On December 17, 1976 at 1:00PM, WTCG Channel 17's signal was beamed via satellite to its four cable systems in Grand Island, Nebraska; Newport News, Virginia; Troy, Alabama; and Newton, Kansas. All four cable systems started receiving the sleepy 1948 Dana Andrews - Cesar Romero film Deep Waters already in progress. The movie had started 30 minutes earlier. WTCG went from being a little television station no one was watching to a major TV network that every one of the 24,000 households outside of the 675,000 in Atlanta was receiving coast-to-coast. WTCG became a so-called Superstation and created a precedent of today's basic cable television.
HBO had gone to satellite transmissions to distribute its signal nationally in 1975, but that was a service cable subscribers were made to pay extra to receive. Ted Turner's innovation signaled the start of the basic cable revolution.
In 1979, the company changed its name to Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) and the call letters of its main entertainment channel to WTBS, now TBS.
1980s
On June 1, 1980, CNN was launched at 17:00 EST becoming the first 24-hour news cable channel. The husband and wife team of Dave Walker and Lois Hart news anchored the first newscast, Burt Reinhardt the then executive vice president of CNN, hired most of CNN's first 200 employees & 25-member staff including Bernard Shaw, the network's first news anchor.
In 1981, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Brut Productions from Faberge Inc.[6]
In 1984, Turner initiated Cable Music Channel, his competition for WASEC's MTV. The channel was short-lived, but helped influence the original format of VH1.
In 1986, after a failed attempt to acquire CBS, Turner purchased the film studio MGM/UA Entertainment Co. from Kirk Kerkorian for $1.5 billion. Following the acquisition, Turner had an enormous debt and sold parts of the acquisition. MGM/UA Entertainment was sold back to Kirk Kerkorian. The MGM/UA Studio lot in Culver City was sold to Lorimar/Telepictures. Turner kept MGM's pre-May 1986 and pre-merger film and TV library, which included nearly all of MGM's material made before the merger, and a small portion of United Artists' film and TV properties which included few UA pictures, the TV series Gilligan's Island (as well as its animated spin-offs), the U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to the RKO Radio Pictures library, and the pre-1950[7][8][9] Warner Bros. library and the Fleischer Studios/Famous Studios Popeye cartoons that both were once the property of Associated Artists Productions, which merged with United Artists Television in 1958. Turner Entertainment Co. is founded on August 4, 1986.
On October 3, 1988, the company launched Turner Network Television (TNT).
1990s
Turner expanded its presence in movie production and distribution, first with the 1991 purchase of the Hanna-Barbera animation studio.[10] On December 22, 1993, Turner acquired Castle Rock Entertainment. Turner purchased New Line Cinema a month later.[11][12][13]
Turner launched Cartoon Network on October 1, 1992, followed by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on April 14, 1994.
On October 10, 1996, Turner merged with Time Warner.
2000s
In 2003, Philip I. Kent succeeded Jamie Kellner as chairman. Operational duties for The WB were transferred by Time Warner from Warner Bros. to Turner Broadcasting during 2001, while Kellner was chairman, but were returned to Warner Bros. in 2003 with the departure of Kellner.
On February 23, 2006, the company agreed to sell the regional entertainment channel Turner South to Fox Entertainment Group. Fox assumed control of the channel on May 1, and on October 13 relaunched it as SportSouth - coincidentally, the former name of Fox Sports South when Turner owned this channel in partnership with Liberty Media between 1990 and 1996.
In May 2006 Time Warner, which had owned 50% of Court TV since 1998, purchased the remaining 50% from Liberty Media and began running the channel as part of Turner Broadcasting. The channel was relaunched as TruTV on January 1, 2008.
Also in May 2006, Ted Turner attended his last meeting as a board member of Time Warner and officially parted with the company.
On October 5, 2007, Turner Broadcasting System completed the acquisition of Claxson Interactive Pay Television Networks in Latin America.[14][unreliable source?]
2010s
On August 26, 2010 Turner Broadcasting took full control of Chilevisión, a TV channel owned by Chile's President Sebastián Piñera.[15]
On September 8, 2011 Turner Broadcasting System acquired LazyTown Entertainment, the producer of the TV series LazyTown.[16]
On January 1, 2014, John K. Martin succeeded Phil Kent as chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting.[17]
On August 26, 2014, it was reported that Turner Broadcasting was preparing to fire 550 people before an NBA rights deal.[18] It was further reported in October 2014 that the company planned to reduce its workforce by 10% (1,475 people) through layoffs across a wide set of units including corporate positions.[19]
On August 14, 2015, it was announced that Turner Broadcasting had acquired a majority stake in iStreamPlanet, a Las Vegas-based video streaming services company, in an effort to bolster its over-the-top programming and shift its core technology infrastructure to the cloud. iStreamPlanet is a direct competitor of Major League Baseball Advanced Media. The deal was reported to be in the neighborhood of $200 million.[20]
Channels
U.S. domestic
News
Entertainment
Terrestrial Broadcasting
- WPCH-TV (operated by Meredith Corporation under a Local Marketing Agreement)
Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media
Interactive/broadband sites
- AdultSwim.com
- CartoonNetwork.com
- CNN.com
- HLNtv.com
- TBS.com
- TCM.com
- TNTDrama.com
- truTV.com
- TeamCoco.com
- VeryFunnyAds.com
- BleacherReport.com
- NBA.com
- PGA.com
- NCAA.com/March Madness Live
Sports
- NBA TV (Operated by Turner on behalf of the National Basketball Association)
International
Latin America
The channels in Latin America are controlled by Turner Broadcasting System Latin America, headquartered in Atlanta. It broadcasts Latin American versions of U.S. channels, and also channels that are exclusive for the region. TBS LA also handles advertising sales for Warner Channel (owned by fellow Time Warner division Warner Bros. Entertainment) and for the Brazilian action sports channel Woohoo.
General
- Chilevisión (Free to air, Chile)
News and Information
- CNN en Español
- CNN en Español Pan-regional
- CNN en Español Venezuela
- CNN en Español México
- CNN Chile
- CNN-IBN (jointly owned by TV18)
- CNN Indonesia (co-owned by Trans Media)
- CNN International
- CNN International Latin America
- CNN International USA
- CNN International Southeast Asia
- CNN International Asia Pacific
- CNN International Europe (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
- CNN International HD (Asia Only)
- CNN Philippines (co-owned with Nine Media Corporation and Radio Philippines Network through a brand licensing agreement)
- CNN Türk (co-owned with Doğan Media Group)
- CNN HD (USA)
Kids and Teens
- Boomerang
- Boomerang Latin America
- Boomerang México
- Boomerang Brasil
- Boomerang Australia
- Boomerang Deutschland
- Boomerang Nederland (Audio option Dutch)
- Boomerang Africa
- Boomerang Central, Southeast Europe and Russia (Audio option in English, Romanian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Russian)
- Boomerang France
- Boomerang Italia
- Boomerang Nordic
- Boomerang UK & Ireland
- Boomerang Southeast Asia (Multiaudio option)
- Cartoon Network Latin America
- Cartoon Network Latin America 1
- Cartoon Network Chile
- Cartoon Network Argentina
- Cartoon Network México
- Cartoon Network Brasil
- Cartoon Network Poland
- Cartoon Network Hungary
- Cartoon Network Nordic (Sweden, Norway, Danmark and Finland)
- Cartoon Network Italia
- Cartoon Network Nederland
- Cartoon Network Türkiye
- Cartoon Network Pakistan
- Cartoon Network France
- Cartoon Network Canada
- Cartoon Network Australia
- Cartoon Network India
- Cartoon Network UK & Ireland
- Cartoon Network Japan
- Cartoon Network Taiwan
- Cartoon Network Russia and Southeast Europe
- Cartoon Network Africa
- Cartoon Network Arabiya (In Arabic)
- Cartoon Network Deutschland
- Cartoon Network Korea
- Cartoon Network Southeast Asia
- Cartoon Network Philippines
- Tooncast (Latin America)
- Tooncast Pan-regional
- Tooncast Brasil
- Cartoonito (UK & Ireland)
- Toonami Channel (Asia)
- Pogo (India)
Lifestyle
- Glitz*
- Glitz* Pan-regional
- Glitz* Brasil
- TNT Glitz (previously Glitz*, Germany)
- TruTV Latin America (Also in High Definition)
- TruTV Pan-regional
- TruTV Brasil
- TruTV Southeast Asia
- TABI Channel (Japan)
- MONDO TV (Japan)
Music
- HTV (Latin America)
- MuchMusic (Latin America)
- Imagine Showbiz (India)
Movies
- TNT (Also in High Definition)
- TNT México
- TNT Brasil
- TNT Argentina (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay)
- TNT Chile & South American countries
- TNT Colombia
- TNT Panama & Central American countries
- TNT Series (Latin America)
- TNT
- TNT Serie (Germany)
- TNT Film (Germany)
- TNT Nordic
- I-SAT (Latin America)
- I-SAT Pan-regional
- I-SAT Argentina
- I-SAT Brasil
- Space (Latin America, Also in High Definition)
- Space Pan-regional
- Space Argentina
- Space Brasil
- TCM (Latin America)
- TCM Pan-regional
- TCM Argentina
- TCM Brazil
- Turner Classic Movies Nordic (Sweden, Norway, Danmark and Finland)
- Turner Classic Movies UK
- Turner Classic Movies Middle East and Africa
- TCM Spain
- TCM Cinema (France)
- TCM South East Asia
- TBS Very Funny (Latinamerica)
- TBS Pan-regional
- TBS Argentina
- TBS Brasil
- HBO Latinamerica (HBO, HBO2, HBO Plus East and West, HBO Family, HBO Signature, Max East, Max West, Maxprime East, Maxprime West, Max UP HD)
- HBO Asia (HBO Asia, HBO Hits, HBO Family, Cinemax and Red Screen)
- HBO India
- HBO Pakistan
- Warner TV South East Asia
- Warner TV India
- Warner TV Pakistan
- Warner Channel Latin America
Sports
- Woohoo (Brazil)
- Esporte Interativo (Brazil)
- Esporte Interativo Nordeste (Brazil)
- Esporte Interativo Plus (Brazil) - Only Web
Other regions
Regional News
- CNN Chile, a joint-venture between Turner Latin América and VTR Globalcom that is only aired in Chile.
- CNN IBN, a joint-venture between Turner, TV18 and Global Broadcast News that is only aired in India.
- CNN Türk, owned by Doğan Medya Grubu that is only aired in Turkey.
- CNN+, a joint-venture between Turner (50%) and Sogecable that is only aired in Spain, closed down in late 2010.
Entertainment
- CETV (36%, joint venture with TOM Group)
- QTV (50%, joint venture with IS Plus, an affiliate of JoongAng Ilbo) (South Korea)
- Showtime Scandinavia through Turner NonStop Television in the Scandinavian countries.
- Silver (TV channel), independent and international movies, through Turner NonStop Television in the Scandinavian countries.
- Star, showbiz news programming, through Turner NonStop Television in the Scandinavian countries.
- TruTV (UK and Ireland) Entertainment & Reality channel
Animation
- Boing (51% Mediaset, 49% Turner Broadcasting System, Italy)
- Boomerang UK, various Boomerang channels around Europe
- Boing (Italy) (Mediaset 51% and Turner 49%)
Movies
- Lumiere Movies : 92%
Former assets
- Atlanta Braves — An MLB franchise (Now owned by Liberty Media)
- Atlanta Hawks — An NBA franchise (Now owned by Atlanta Spirit)
- Atlanta Thrashers — An NHL franchise (now owned by True North Sports & Entertainment as the Winnipeg Jets)
- Cable Music Channel — A defunct television channel
- Castle Rock Entertainment — A film production company*
- CNNfn — A defunct television channel
- CNNSI — A defunct television channel
- Hanna-Barbera Productions — An animation studio*
- SportSouth — A regional sports network (Now owned by 21st Century Fox as Fox Sports South)
- New Line Cinema — A film production company*
- New Line Television — A television production arm of New Line Productions*
- Turner Publishing[21] — A book publisher
- Turner Entertainment Co. — A film holding company*
- Turner Pictures — An original in-house programming*
- Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution — An international distribution sales unit*
- Turner Feature Animation — An animation unit*
- Turner Home Entertainment — A home video distributor (Merged into Warner Home Video)
- Turner Program Services — A former syndication arm, merged into Time Warnerʻs Telepictures Productions
- Turner South — A regional television channel (Now owned by Fox Sports Networks as Fox Sports Southeast)
- Universal Wrestling Corporation - A professional wrestling promotion formerly known as World Championship Wrestling. Currently a non-operational company, select assets are now owned by WWE, Inc. through WCW, Inc.[22]
* Now owned or absorbed by sister company, Warner Bros.
See also
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Nellie Andreeva. "David Levy Upped To President Of Turner Broadcasting System". Deadline. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "JOHN MARTIN BIO". Turner.
- ^ "Contact Us." Turner Broadcasting System.
- ^ "TERMS OF USE". Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Faberge Sells Brut's Assets". http://www.nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story, (2008) p. 255.
- ^ WB retained a pair of features from 1949 that they merely distributed, and all short subjects released on or after September 1, 1948; in addition to all cartoons released in August 1948.
- ^ 1957 MOVIES FROM AAP Warner Bros Features & Cartoons SALES BOOK DIRECTED AT TV
- ^ Lippman, John (October 30, 1991). "Turner Is Buying Hanna-Barbera Film Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ Harris, Kathryn (August 7, 1993). "New Line Cinema holding merger talks with Turner".
- ^ Citron, Alan (August 18, 1993). "Turner gets nod to buy New Line and Castle Rock".
- ^ [2] Turner Broadcasting Company Report. Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
- ^ "Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. to Acquire Claxson Interactive Pay Television Networks in Latin America". Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. to Acquire Chilevisión". Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ Turner, Mimi (8 September 2011). "'Lazytown' Founder Sells To Turner Broadcasting For $25 Million". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Turner". John Martin Bio.
- ^ "Report: Turner to fire 550 people in advance of rising NBA rights deal". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ Friedman, Wayne (October 6, 2014). "Turner Broadcasting To Cut 10% Of Workforce". MediaDailyNews. New York: MediaPost Communications.
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suggested) (help) - ^ Ramachandran, Shalini. "Time Warner's Turner Cable Unit Acquires Majority Stake In iStreamPlanet". The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
- ^ "Turner Publishing".
- ^ "WCW: How It Died, and How WWE and Vince McMahon Made Sure It Never Rose Again". Bleacher Report.