Hearst Media Production Group
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Genre | Television Programming Educational entertainment |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Dave Morgan |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | 5 [1] |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Services | distribution media sales |
| Divisions | Litton Worldwide Distribution Litton Media Sales Litton News Source |
| Website | www |
Litton Entertainment (formerly Litton Syndications) is an American media and production company based in Charleston, South Carolina, with four additional offices in Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Burbank, California. Many of Litton's programs comply with federally mandated educational and informational requirements.
History
The company was founded in 1988 by President and CEO Dave Morgan. Its first syndicated productions were a series of one-off, sports-related specials. In the 1990s, seeing a growing market for educational programs due to the enactment of the Children's Television Act, requiring television stations to air a weekly quota of educational programs, Litton began to syndicate Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures: Morgan felt highly of Hanna, going as far as comparing him to Marlin Perkins.[1]
In May 2011, following the announcement of plans to discontinue the ABC Kids Saturday morning block, Litton reached a deal with ABC's affiliate board to syndicate a block of live-action, E/I-compliant programming, known as Litton's Weekend Adventure. The block premiered on September 3, 2011.[2][3]
On September 28, 2013, Litton introduced its second Saturday morning network television block, CBS Dream Team, for CBS; focusing on teenagers 13 to 16 years old, the block replaced CBS's previous block, Cookie Jar TV.[4] Recipe Rehab was one preexisting program Litton moved over from its ABC block.[5]
On October 4, 2014, Litton introduced its third Saturday morning block, One Magnificent Morning, for The CW, replacing Saban Brands' Vortexx block.[6]
On April 27, 2015, Litton announced the launch of Go Time, a new syndicated E/I-compliant block to premiere during Fall 2016 with CBS-owned independent stations as the launch group. Litton reached subsequent deals with other station groups such as Gray Television and Sinclair Broadcast Group to carry the block.[7]
On February 24, 2016, Litton and NBC announced the formation of a new Saturday morning E/I block, The More You Know. The block is set to launch in October 2016, replacing NBC Kids. [8]
Divisions
Litton has five operating divisions:[9]
- Litton Worldwide Distribution
- Litton Media Sales
- Litton News Source provides stations with reports and features from Consumer Reports magazine.[1] Previous programming included "Consumer Reports TV News", "Good Housekeeping Reports", "Solutions With Jill", "BusinessWeek Custom Wall Street Reports", "S&P Custom Market Indices"[9]
First run syndicated programs
- Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures
- NASCAR Angels
- BusinessWeek TV
- Street Court
Notes
- ^ a b c Albiniak, Paige (August 29, 2008). "A Small Syndicator's Big Success". Broadcasting and Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "ABC Orders Saturday Kids Block From Litton". TVNewsCheck. May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- ^ Albiniak, Paige (May 24, 2011). "ABC to Premiere ABC Weekend Adventure on Sept. 3". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- ^ James, Meg (July 24, 2013). "CBS partners with Litton Entertainment for Saturday teen block". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Former Greenbrier chef now stars in 'Recipe Rehab'". Associated Press. September 7, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ James, Meg (July 24, 2013). "CBS partners with Litton Entertainment for Saturday teen block". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ Albiniak, Paige (April 27, 2015). "It's 'Go Time' for Litton Entertainment". Broadcasting & Cable. p. 22.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/thewire/nbc-and-litton-entertainment-expand-iconic-more-you-know-platform-new-three-hour-saturday-morning-programming-block/154073
- ^ a b Chris, Pursell (April 16, 2007). "Litton Maintaintains Its Independence". Television Week. Retrieved May 26, 2011. Freely accessible here