United Artists Television

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United Artists Television was an American television production/distribution company of United Artists Corporation that was formed in 1956. The company is famous for producing famous shows such as The Outer Limits, Gilligan's Island, The Fugitive, thirtysomething, and The Patty Duke Show.

UA purchased Associated Artists Productions ("AAP") in 1958, giving UA access to the pre-1948 Warner Bros. library and the Popeye cartoons made by Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios between 1933 and 1957.

In 1960, United Artists purchased Ziv Television Programs, including the 20% share still held by chair of the board, Frederick Ziv, and president, John L. Sinn, for $20 million. The newly merged production company was renamed Ziv-United Artists.

United Artists had never been very successful in television, having placed only two series in prime time, The Troubleshooters (1959—1960) and The Dennis O’Keefe Show (1959—1960'). This pattern continued after the merger. Ziv-UA produced 12 pilots during the first year and failed to sell any of them.

In 1962, the company phased out Ziv Television operations and changed its name back to United Artists Television. After The Mothers-in-Law was cancelled in 1969, the company decided to focus presenting their movie library on television and reruning their classics after years of still not being successful on television.

In 1981, MGM merged with UA to create MGM/UA Entertainment Co. As a result, their respective television units combined as well, becoming MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television in 1982. The "United Artists Television" logo was eventually phased out around 1983 in favor of the "MGM/UA Television" banner, although UA itself continued to produce television shows until 1995.

As of now, with the exception of Gilligan's Island and the AAP material (all now owned by Warner Bros./Turner Entertainment), as well as The Fugitive and the show East Side/West Side (both now owned by Republic Pictures and CBS Paramount Television), the rest of the television shows by United Artists Television are owned by MGM Television.