NBC Universal Television
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NBC Universal Television (also known as NBC Universal Television Studio, NBC Universal Television Stations, NBC Universal Television Distribution, and NBC Universal International Television), is an American and global television production/distribution company and a subsidiary of NBC Universal.
Previously known as Revue Studios, NBC Studios, Universal Television and MCA TV. The name was changed on May 12, 2004 from the merger of NBC's production/distribution arm and Universal's television division to reflect the NBC Universal brand.
The name took syndication until September 20, 2004, even though the copyright to the NBC Universal TV shows are now credited to either NBC Studios, Inc., NBC Enterprises, Inc., Universal Network Television LLC, Universal Talk TV Productions or otherwise NBC Universal, Inc. (all NBC Universal Television's alternate monikers).
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[edit] NBC Universal Television Studio
NBC Universal Television Studio (formerly NBC Studios, Universal Network Television and MCA Television Enterprises) is a television production arm of NBC Universal that produces programs on NBC Universal networks such as NBC, USA Network, Sci-Fi Channel, among others. It also airs programs on other networks as well.
- For more details on this topic, see NBC Studios.
[edit] History
[edit] Revue Studios
Revue Studios was founded in 1943 by MCA to produce live shows. The partnership of NBC and Revue extends as far back as September 6, 1950, with the television broadcast of Armour Theatre, based on radio's Stars Over Hollywood. Then in 1963, following the acquisition of Universal Pictures, Revue was renamed Universal Television.
During the early years of television, Revue was responsible for producing and/or distributing many television classics. The most noteworthy of such, included Leave It to Beaver, which ran for only one season on CBS (1957-1958) before going to ABC from 1958 until 1963. In addition, Revue also made The Jack Benny Program (1950-1965) for CBS and NBC, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1963) for CBS, and westerns such as Tales of Wells Fargo (1957-1962) and Laramie (1959-1963) for NBC, as well as Wagon Train (1957-1965) for NBC and ABC, and the first two seasons of The Virginian (1962-1964, based off a film released originally by Paramount Pictures, whose pre-1950 theatrical sound library was sold to MCA in 1957) for NBC. Wagon Train was the only Revue-produced TV show to ever finish a USA television season in first-place (1961-1962).
[edit] Universal Television/MCA TV
MCA TV (also known as MCA TV, Ltd.), was an American television production/distribution company that was founded in 1951, several years before parent MCA's purchase of the U.S. branch of Decca Records (in 1959) and Universal Pictures (in 1962).
For more than four decades, it was one of the most active producers of television programming. MCA TV's other television divisions included Universal Television and MCA Television Enterprises.
In 1997, MCA TV was folded into Universal Television, becoming Universal Television Enterprises. In the wake of its merger with GE's NBC; Universal Television was now closed in 2004, retiring MCA TV and Universal TV for good.
- See also: Operation Prime Time
[edit] MCA Television Enterprises
MCA Television Enterprises (also known as MCA Television Entertainment and MTE) was the specialty division of MCA Television Ltd., focusing on TV movies for cable and network television, as well as direct to video fare. Like MCA TV, in 1997 it folded into Universal Television.
[edit] Avco Embassy Television
Avco Embassy Television (also known as Avco Broadcasting Corporation and later known as Multimedia Entertainment and Studios USA Television) was an American television production/distribution company that was started in 1968 by the then-known Avco Embassy Pictures. The company was originally responsible for television distribution of the Embassy film library. In addition, Avco Embassy Television concentrated on its own in-house productions, including numerous animated television specials.
After Avco Embassy sold off its television division in 1976 to Multimedia, Inc., the company was renamed Multimedia Entertainment, producing such popular talk shows as Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, and The Jerry Springer Show.
Gannett acquired Multimedia, Inc. in 1995, thus Multimedia Entertainment was sold to Seagram's Universal Studios in 1996 and was merged into Universal Television Enterprises in 1997. It then sold its USA Networks (including Universal TV) to Barry Diller and renamed the company to Studios USA in 1998.
Vivendi Universal bought Studios USA back by reuniting the USA Networks with Universal Studios. Studios USA Television was renamed back to Universal Television in 2002.
[edit] Multimedia Entertainment
Multimedia Entertainment is the second name of Avco Embassy Television, when it was sold to Multimedia, Inc. and the name was changed as a television production and distribution company in 1976.
The company was known for producing talk shows, including Sally Jessy Raphael, Donahue, The Rush Limbaugh Show, and The Jerry Springer Show.
In 1995, Multimedia, Inc. was sold to Gannett, which in turn sold Multimedia Entertainment to Seagram's Universal Studios the following year. Universal then absorbed Multimedia Entertainment into Universal TV Enterprises in 1997.
[edit] Studios USA
Studios USA is the third name of Avco Embassy Television, when Barry Diller bought the former Multimedia Entertainment from Seagram's Universal Studios in 1998. It produced and distributed talk shows, including Sally Jessy Raphael, The Jerry Springer Show, and Maury. It also produced shows formerly from Universal Television, including the Law & Order franchise. In 2002, Vivendi Universal acquired Studios USA and the rest of USA's non-shopping (film and TV) assets, and renamed Studios USA back to Universal Television.
[edit] NBC Universal Television Stations
NBC Universal Television Stations is another production company that handles series that are aired on NBC owned stations.
NBC Universal Television Stations Division (TVSD) is an operation division of NBC Universal's owned and operated NBC stations and the following Telemundo Stations:
[edit] NBC Universal Television Distribution
NBC Universal Television Distribution (formerly NBC Enterprises, Universal Domestic Television and MCA TV Exclusive Distributor) is the television distribution arm of NBC Universal that distributes programs across the nation.
[edit] NBC Universal International Television
NBC Universal International Television or NBC Universal Television Distribution International (formerly Universal Worldwide Television) is the worldwide television production/distribution arm of NBC Universal, syndicating NBC Uni's programs across the globe. Prior to NBCUIT's formation, for several years MGM International Television Distribution handled worldwide distribution of shows from NBC Studios.
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