DreamWorks Classics

Classic Media, LLC, trading as Classic Media or DreamWorks Classics, is an American entertainment company owned by DreamWorks Animation, which is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures and a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was founded in 2000 by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman.[5] The studio's library consists of acquired intellectual property catalogs and character brands, as well as the licensing rights for various third-party properties. In 2012, Boomerang Media sold Classic Media to DreamWorks Animation, who rebranded the company as DreamWorks Classics.[6][7] DreamWorks Animation became a subsidiary of NBCUniversal in 2016.[8]

Classic Media, LLC
Classic Media/DreamWorks Classics
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryIntellectual property
PredecessorsUnited Productions of America
Golden Book Video
Total Television
Filmation
Entertainment Rights
The Program Exchange
Tomorrow Entertainment
FoundedMay 2000 (May 2000)
Founders
Headquarters
New York City, New York
,
United States
RevenueUS$82 million[1] (2012)
US$19 million[1] (2012)
Owner
Number of employees
80[2] (2012)
Parent
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.dreamworks.com/classics

History

Classic Media was founded by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman in May 2000 after acquiring the UPA catalog and assets from Henry Saperstein's estate.[5] Frank Biondi, the former head of Universal Studios, and movie producer Steve Tisch invested in the company.[9] Classic Media then bought the Harvey Films catalog on March 11, 2001.[9][10] On August 16, 2001, Classic Media and Random House won a joint bid for the assets of Golden Books, with Random House, and Classic Media acquiring Golden Books' entertainment division (including the Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics libraries[11]) and Random House acquiring Golden Books' book publishing properties.[12][13] On October 31, 2003, Classic Media purchased the assets of the bankrupt Big Idea Entertainment catalog.[14] By 2007, Classic had formed Bullwinkle Studios, a joint venture with Jay Ward Productions, to manage the Jay Ward characters.[6][15]

On April 7, 2005, the company was recapitalized by a group of investors consisting of Spectrum Equity Investors plus existing investors led by Pegasus Capital Advisors. A $100 million senior debt facility was also arranged from JP Morgan Chase Bank-led bank group. With the deal, Spectrum became a majority owner over the existing investors, with a representative on the company board of directors.[11]

In August 2006, Classic Media announced a joint venture with ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Corus Entertainment and book publisher Scholastic Corporation to launch Qubo, a kids' entertainment network.[16]

On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival Entertainment Rights for $210.0 million.[17] Before the acquisition was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products LLC, replacing the Sony Wonder deal.[18]

Entertainment Rights fell in to administration on April 1, 2009. On the same day, Boomerang Media LLC, formed by Ellenbogen and Engelman in 2008 with equity funding from GTCR, announced that it would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal UK and American subsidiaries, including Classic Media, Inc. and Big Idea Entertainment, from its administrators.[19] On May 11, 2009, Boomerang Media announced that the former UK and American subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the name Classic Media, while Big Idea would operate under its own name.[3][4]

On February 20, 2010, Classic Media purchased the then-upcoming manga-inspired television series My Life Me from the bankrupt TV-Loonland AG.[20][21]

On March 7, 2012, Classic Media bought the Noddy brand from Chorion[22] and later bought the Olivia brand from them on March 19.[23]

Sale to DreamWorks Animation (2012-present)
Logo for DreamWorks Classics

On July 23, 2012, DreamWorks Animation announced that they would acquire Classic Media for $155 million from Boomerang Media, with the deal closing in September of that year.[6][7] Afterwards, Classic Media began trading as DreamWorks Classics to associate itself with its parent company, although the parent company remained under it's former name.

On October 3, 2012, Classic Media made its first post-DreamWorks sale by securing licensing and distribution rights to Studio Hari's The Owl and Co putside of France and other French-speaking territories.[24]

On September 17, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced they had purchased the programming library of the British animation studio Chapman Entertainment, and placed distribution through DreamWorks' UK-based TV distribution operation.[25]

On June 18, 2014, DreamWorks Animation bought the Felix the Cat brand and added it to the DreamWorks Classics portfolio.[26]

On April 28, 2016, NBCUniversal announced it would buy out DreamWorks Animation in a $3.8 billion deal.[27] The buyout was completed on August 22.[8]

In January 2020, Classic Media pre-sold streaming rights to three series; Lassie, George of the Jungle and Mr. Mago, by CBS All Access (Paramount Global's streaming service, now known as Paramount+).[28]

Libraries

Catalogs

Character brands

Joint ventures

Other rights

References
  1. Palmeri, Christopher (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation to Buy Owner of Casper, Lassie Shows". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2016.(subscription required)
  2. "DreamWorks buys Casper, Lassie owner Classic Media for $155m". Telegraph. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  3. Tribbey, Chris (May 11, 2009). "Classic Media Absorbs Subsidiaries". Home Media Magazine. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  4. Moody, Annemarie (May 11, 2009). "Entertainment Rights to Operate as Classic Media". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  5. DeMott, Rick (August 25, 2000). "Classic Media Acquires Harvey Entertainment". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  6. Verrier, Richard (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation buys 'Casper,' 'Lassie' parent Classic Media". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  7. Acuna, Kirsten (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks Studios Buys Classic Media For $155m". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  8. McNary, Dave (August 22, 2016). "Comcast Completes $3.8 Billion DreamWorks Animation Purchase". Variety. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  9. "Harvey Sells Out". ICv2. March 11, 2001. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  10. DeMott, Rick (March 9, 2001). "Harvey Sells All Of Its Classic Characters". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  11. DeMott, Rick. "Classic Media Gets Monetary Backing". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. DeMott, Rick (August 24, 2001). "Random House, Classic Media Buy Bankrupt Golden Books". Animation World Network. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  13. "Golden Books sold for poky little $84M". CNN. August 16, 2001. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  14. "'VeggieTales' goes for $19.3 million". Chicago Tribune. October 31, 2003. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  15. Elliot, Stuart (January 16, 2008). "A Classic Series, Retooled and Swingin'". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  16. Hampp, Andrew (August 24, 2006). "NBC Debuts Kids Programming Brand Qubo". Ad Age. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  17. Lodderhose, Diana (December 14, 2006). "Kids' programming specialists join hands". Variety. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  18. "Genius Products Announces Long-term Co-production and Distribution Agreements with Entertainment Rights PLC and Classic Media". Genius Products (Press release). January 8, 2007. Archived from the original on July 28, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  19. Daswani, Mansha. "Boomerang Media Buys ER". WorldScreen.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  20. "Anime/Manga-Inspired My Life Me Sold to Classic Media". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  21. Bynum, Aaron. "'My Life Me' Animation Now in New Hands". Animation Insider. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  22. Sweney, Mark (March 7, 2012). "Chorion sells rights to Noddy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  23. Arrant, Chris (March 19, 2012). "Classic Media Acquires "Olivia" Rights from Chorion". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  24. https://hari-studios.com/en/dreamworks-classics-represente-la-chouette-cie-a-linternational/
  25. Wendy Goldman Getzler (September 17, 2013). "DreamWorks scoops up Chapman's library". Kidscreen. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  26. "DreamWorks Picks Up Felix the Cat". License! Global. June 18, 2014. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  27. James, Meg (April 28, 2016). "Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  28. Tuchow, Ryan (January 13, 2020). "CBS All Access scoops up DreamWorks Classics". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020. US SVOD CBS All Access is growing its children's programming with three new animated series from DreamWorks Animation-owned distributor Classics Media.
  29. "Classic Media Reissues the Original GODZILLA on DVD". Scifijapan.com. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  30. "Golden Books Agrees to Buy a Video Library". The New York Times. Reuters. July 31, 1996. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  31. "Golden Books To Buy Family Entertainment Library From Broadway Video". Associated Press. July 30, 1996. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  32. "Lamb Chop and Charlie sign on for a Golden deal". Deseret News. July 31, 1997. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  33. "Entertainment Rights buys Filmation". C21Media. March 25, 2004. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  34. "Postman Pat sold for Ł5m". BBC News. November 8, 2001. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  35. "Tweenies maker bought for £3.1m". BBC News. September 13, 2004. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  36. Ball, Ryan (September 13, 2004). "Entertainment Rights Acquires Tell-Tale Prods". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  37. "DreamWorks scoops up Chapman's library". Kidscreen. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  38. DreamWorks Animation SKG (July 23, 2012). "Dreamworks Animation Agrees to Acquire Classic Media". PR Newswire (Press release). Archived from the original on December 17, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  39. Yossman, K. J. (February 3, 2022). "'Rocky & Bullwinkle' Owner Jay Ward Productions Inks Deal With WildBrain (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  40. Dickson, Jeremy (February 4, 2022). "WildBrain to refresh classic Jay Ward animation". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  41. "Anime/Manga-Inspired My Life Me Sold to Classic Media". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  42. Bynum, Aaron. "'My Life Me' Animation Now in New Hands". Animation Insider. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  43. Goldman Getzler, Wendy (June 7, 2010). "Voltron returns with full Force". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  44. "Dick Tracy, Brenda Starr Ink With Classic Media". Billboard. June 14, 2005. Archived from the original on November 28, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  45. Paskin, Willa (June 13, 2005). "Tribune, Classic in cartoon venture". Variety. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  46. Washington, Ed (March 13, 2012). "Classic Media Inks Deals Across Central, Eastern Europe". Animation World Network. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
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