MGM International Television Distribution
 |
|
| MGM Television | |
| Division | |
| Industry |
|
|
Key people
|
Mark Burnett (CEO) |
|
Production output
|
TV series |
| Services | Broadcast network Distribution |
| Owner |
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM Holdings, Inc.) |
| Divisions | Lightworkers Media |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | mgm |
| Impact | |
|---|---|
| Launched | August 13, 2008 |
| Owned by |
Comcast MGM On Demand Inc. (MGM Television) |
| Sister channel(s) | MGM HD |
| Website | impactvod |
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television (alternatively Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television and Digital Group (commonly known as MGM Television and then-known as MGM/UA Television) is an American television production/distribution studio launched in 1955 and a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
From 2005–2006, MGM television programs were distributed by Sony Pictures Television (as a result from a Sony-led consortium buying MGM). Since May 31, 2006, MGM Television has resumed sole production and distribution of its programs on television. MGM Television has rejoined the first-run syndication market for the first time in many years with Paternity Court.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer first used TV for promotional purposes having a tie in with The Ed Sullivan Show (on CBS) in the early 1950s. The Ed Sullivan Show, however, switched to 20th Century Fox, thus MGM attempted to have a promotional agreement with NBC, but could not come to terms on the specifics. The 30 minute show, The MGM Parade, one of MGM's first TV programs, was produced by MGM's trailer department as one of the compilation and promotional shows that imitated Disneyland which was also on ABC. However, the MGM Parade was canceled by ABC in mid-1956.
MGM took bids for its movie library in 1956 from Lou Chesler, PRM, Inc. owner (the WB pre-1948 library purchaser), and others, but decided on entering the TV market itself. Chesler had offered $50 million for the film library.
MGM-TV was started with the hiring of Bud Barry to head up the operation in June 1956. MGM-TV was to distribute its films to TV (starting with the networks), TV production and purchasing TV stations. TV production was expect to start with the 1957–58 season and was to include half-hour remakes of or series based on its pictures. Initial feature film sales focused on selling to the networks. MGM-TV began producing commercials by April 1957 creating ads for Kickerbocker and Standard Oil of Indiana.
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Wikipedia