Disney Media Distribution

Disney–ABC International Television
Private subsidiary
Founded Burbank, California
Headquarters Burbank, California, U. S.
Area served
 U. K., Canada, Australia, Germany and more non-U. S. operations
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Parent Disney–ABC Television Group

Disney Media Distribution (DMD) is responsible for The Walt Disney Company's branded and non-branded filmed entertainment distribution, now distributing more than 30,000 hours of content to over 1300 broadcasters across 240 territories worldwide.

The television distributor licenses movies from producers including:

The television distributor licenses programming from :

DMD currently distributes the DreamWorks live-action library to international television audiences.

History

Capital Cities/ABC Video Enterprises

Capital Cities/ABC Video Enterprises (CAVE) was incorporated on January 27, 1987[1] as an ancillary production, video and distribution company owned by Capital Cities/ABC. In December 1992, CAVE realigned its upper management by the creating of president of Capital Cities/ABC Video Productions to oversea its production units Ultra Entertainment, the Hemisphere Group and CapCities/ABC Video Productions and naming Archie C. Purvis to fill the position. Joseph Y. Abrams was promoted to replace Purvis as President of ABC Distribution Co. Both would report to President, CAVE International John T. Healy.[2]

By July 25, 1993, CAVE and DIC Animation City formed a production joint venture, DIC Entertainment LP, to provide material for CAVE to distribute in the international market.[3]

ABC Cable and International Broadcast Group

In Early October 1993, CAVE was promoted to a group, ABC Cable and International Broadcast Group (ACIBG), being moved out of the broadcasting group to being a direct report to CC/ABC CEO with Herb Granath continuing as president. The group continued over site of stakes in ESPN, A&E and Lifetime cable companies, international program sales and co-production and foreign program services interest in Eurosport, Germany's RTL-2, Japan Sport Network and animator DIC.[4] On October 12, Ambroco Media Group, Inc. was formed[5] under Purvis to work with foreign partners for the development and production of programs.[6] Capital Cities/ABC Video Enterprises changed its legal name on October 21, to Capital Cities/ABC Cable and International Broadcasting, Inc. then on December 15, to ABC Cable and International Broadcast, Inc.[1]

In January 1994, ABC Network announced Purvis' retirement and the end of Ambroco operations.[6]

Disney–ABC International Television

With the Disney-CC/ABC merger led to Disney Television and Telecommunications being split up in April 1996, Walt Disney Television International was transferred to Capital Cities/ABC in April 1996.[7] CC/ABC combined the international units, Walt Disney Television International and ACIBG, into Disney–ABC International Television (DAIT) in July 1996.[8] ABC Cable and International Broadcast on October 19, 1999 was renamed Disney–ABC International Television, Inc.[1] By February 1999, DAIT began operating under the name, Buena Vista International Television.[9]

On May 14, 2007, the Buena Vista International Television name was dropped for Disney–ABC International Television.[10]

The Asia Pacific office in April 2008 renewed its multi-year movie agreement with Zee Studio, an Indian basic-cable movie channel.[11]

AMBROCO Media Group filmography

Ultra Entertainment

Ultra Entertainment was a TV production division of Capital Cities/ABC Video Enterprises for cable, network home video and foreign outlets. Ultra was expected to development and produce for cable channels Arts & Entertainment and Lifetime, both of which has a stake owned by CAVE, but also for other cable channels.[13]

History

On May 8, 1989, Ultra Entertainment was announced to be formed by CC/ABC Video Enterprises (CAVE) to produce for cable, home video and foreign markets. A staff of three was assembled to get the unit off the ground with Bob Rubin as executive director.[13] It first work was a telefilm, Death Dream, with Dick Clark Film Group and Roni Weisberg Productions for Lifetime which premiered on June 25, 1991.[14]

Filmography

DMD shows owned by other companies in North America

Several shows in the Disney–ABC library are owned by other companies in North America, but by DMD internationally for free-to-air broadcast.

Examples include:

Entertainment One US owned

Zodiak Media Group US owned

CBS Television Distribution US owned

Sesame Workshop US owned

As of 2011, Sony Pictures Television has taken over international distribution of Sesame Street.

NBC Universal Television US owned

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "DISNEY–ABC INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION, INC. Entity Information". Corporation & Business Entity Database. State of New York. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Huff, Richard (December 21, 1992). "Purvis, Abrams upped at ABC Vid". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lowry, Brian (July 26, 1993). "DIC Ent. formed for kids TV fare". Variety. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ Schmuckler, Eric (October 11, 1993). "Herb Granath named president of ABC Cable and International Broadcast". Mediaweek. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  5. ↑ "AMBROCO MEDIA GROUP, INC. (Entity Number: C1867617)". California Business Search. State of Califorinia. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Guider, Elizabeth (January 11, 1994). "Purvis exits CapCities/ABC". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Roth, Iger Assume Expanded Responsibilities at the Walt Disney Company". PRNewswire. April 16, 1996. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Debra (July 1, 1996). "Granath takes top slot at Disney–ABC International". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Buena Vista International Television". Screen Digest (Screen Digest Ltd.). February 1, 1999. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Buena Vista International Television renamed Disney-ABC International Television". Asia Image (Reed Business Information, Inc.). June 1, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Disney-ABC renew multi-year movie deal With Zee Studio". Business of Cinema. April 12, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Prouty (September 1, 1996). Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews, 1993-1994. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved June 3, 2014. Weekly January 10, 1994, Daily January 14, 1994.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "New ABC program unit negotiating first shows". Broadcasting. May 15, 1989. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Lifetime World Premiere Movie: Death Dreams". Variety. July 1, 1991. Retrieved June 2, 2014.

External links