Tribune Entertainment

Tribune Entertainment was a television production and broadcast syndication company owned and operated by Tribune Broadcasting. The company was started in the mid-1980s. Many programs offered from Tribune Entertainment have been broadcast on the company's television stations.

Tribune Entertainment
TypeDivision
IndustryTelevision
FoundedChicago, United States (1980 (1980))
DefunctDecember 18, 2007 (2007-12-18)
Headquarters
Chicago
,
United States
Production output
TV shows
ParentTribune Broadcasting

Throughout the company's existence, Tribune Entertainment mainly produced first-run syndicated programs (including Geraldo, At the Movies and Earth: Final Conflict), along with some television special (such as the Hollywood Christmas Parade and Soul Train Music Awards).

History

Tribune Entertainment

Tribune Entertainment was founded in 1980. The first programs that Tribune distributed for syndication were the agricultural news program U.S. Farm Report, which debuted in 1975; and Independent Network News, a syndicated news program designed for Independent station that was produced by Tribune's New York City station WPIX and debuted in 1980.

In 1982, Tribune picked up newspaper film critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel under the show name of At the Movies before losing the hosts four years later to Buena Vista Television.[1] In 1985, another long-running program that Tribune had distributed was the syndicated musical Soul Train, just 9 years after it moved to WGN-TV, from syndication, which debuted in 1971.[2] In 1989, Tribune signed comedienne Joan Rivers to host the daytime syndicated talk program, The Joan Rivers Show, five years before doing Can We Shop?.[3] On March 1, 1991, Tribune had its Geraldo show as the first US program in the USSR under the recent Glasnost policy.[4]

In January 1994, Tribune Entertainment started a country music initiative across broadcast television, concert touring, direct marketing, home video distribution, pay-per-view and radio syndication. Under the initiative, programming would start in the fall 1994 with a weekly syndicated country music television and companion radio program then home video releases and pay-per-view events in 1995.[5] With Nashville Country Club Inc., Tribune announced as a part of this initiative to operate "Road" performance clubs and restaurants with the first to open in 1995.[6] In July 1995, Tribune sold 22 episodes of "Road", their canceled country music show, to The Nashville Network for broadcast starting in January 1996.[7]

In July 2003, the company purchased syndication rights to 34 DreamWorks Pictures feature films to use on Tribune stations starting in August 2006. The films would be also sold to other stations via barter or sale while supervising marketing for the films.[8]

On December 18, 2007, Tribune Entertainment announced it would exit the program distribution business.[9] In 2008, it sold its Tribune Studios for $125 million to Hudson Capital, LLC.[10]

In 2010, Tribune announced that it would be considering a re-entry into the syndication market with two new talk shows: one a tabloid talk show hosted by Bubba the Love Sponge, and another, "Big Willie" (since renamed The Bill Cunningham Show). Both programs filmed pilot programs and Bill Cunningham's show aired during a week long test on Tribune stations.[11]

Tribune Studios
Tribune Studios
TypeDivision
IndustryTelevision
FateAcquired by Nexstar
FoundedChicago, United States (March 19, 2013 (2013-03-19))
DefunctSeptember 17, 2019 (2019-09-17)
Key people
Matt Cherniss (president)[12]
Production output
TV shows
Parent

On March 19, 2013, Tribune appointed Warner Bros. executive Matt Cherniss as president/general manager of a newly formed[13][14] production division called Tribune Studios (not to be confused with the physical Sunset Bronson Studios, which formerly held the Tribune Studios name and continues to house the facilities of Tribune's KTLA). Tribune Studios will produce programs primarily for the company's 23 television stations and WGN America, some of which will receive national distribution. The initial programs produced by the company starting with the 2012–13 season will include The Bill Cunningham Show (originated through Tribune Broadcasting, now produced by ITV Studios America), The Arsenio Hall Show and The Test (the latter two programs were co-productions with CBS).[12]

Tribune Studios's first original drama, since its formation,[13][14] for its sister company WGN America was Manhattan which aired from 2014 to 2015 for 2 seasons.[15][16]

Filmography

This is a listing of programs which were either produced or distributed by Tribune Entertainment & then later on, Tribune Studios:

This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.

Animated series

Comedies
  • South Park (1997–present) ad sales only from 2005-2008 and co-distributed with Debmar-Mercury until 2008, produced by Celluloid Studios (1997); Braniff Productions (1997–2006); Parker-Stone Productions (2006–2007); South Park Studios (2007–present) and Comedy Partners

Daytime shows

First-run syndicated shows
  • The 5th Wheel (2001-2004) ad sales only from 2001 to 2002, produced and distributed by Universal Worldwide Television (now NBCUniversal Television Distribution)
  • Adventure Inc. (2002–2003) co-produced with Fireworks Entertainment[19]
  • American Idol Rewind (2006–2008) distributor, co-produced by 19 Entertainment and produced by FremantleMedia North America)
  • Animal Rescue (2006–present) producer, distributed by Telco Productions
  • The Apollo Comedy Hour (1992–1995) distributed by Tribune Entertainment and produced by Apollo Theatre Productions
  • At the Movies (1982–1990; no relation to the later At the Movies series although both series shared original hosts Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert[1]) replacement hosts: Rex Reed (1986–90), Bill Harris (1986-88), Dixie Whatley (1988-1990)[20]
  • Blind Date (1999-2006) ad sales only from 1999 to 2002, produced and distributed by Universal Worldwide Television (now NBCUniversal Television Distribution)
  • Beastmaster (1999–2002)
  • Bzzz! (1996–1997)
  • Dog Tales (2007–present) produced, distributed by Telco Productions
  • Earth: Final Conflict (1997–2002)
  • Family Feud (2001–2007) distributor, produced by Pearson Television (now FremantleMedia North America)
  • Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda (2000–2005) co-produced with Fireworks Entertainment[19]
  • Malibu, CA (1998-2000) co-produced with NBC Enterprises
  • Missing (2003–present) producer, distributed by Telco Productions
  • Monsters (1988–1991) distributor
  • Mutant X (2001–2004) co-produced with Fireworks Entertainment[19]
  • Night Man (1997–1999)
  • The Road (1994–1995) country-and-more music television show produced with High Five Productions, 22 episodes[7][21]
  • Soul Train (distributor, 1985–2008) produced by Don Cornelius Productions
  • Tales from the Darkside (1983–1988) distributor & co-producer
  • T. and T. (1988–1990)

Teen Sitcoms

Late night talk/variety shows

Made-for-TV movies/Mini-series

News/information series

Specials

Daytime shows
  • The Bill Cunningham Show (2011–2016), produced with ITV Studios America
  • The Robert Irvine Show (2016–present), produced with Robert Irvine Productions and Irwin Entertainment

Late night talk/variety shows

Dramas

References
  1. Daley, Steve (April 16, 1986). "Wbbm To Air New Show By Siskel, Ebert". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  2. "Love, Peace & Soul: Celebrating 44 Years of Soul Train". SoulTrain.com. August 15, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  3. "Joan Rivers paved the way for ranchy comedians". Boston Herald.com. September 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  4. Warren, James (January 27, 1991). "'Geraldo' Goes To Moscow". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  5. "Going country: Tribune Entertainment Co. announced plans..." Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. January 19, 1994. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  6. "Entertainment road: Tribune Entertainment Co. and..." Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. May 12, 1994. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  7. "To Nashville Network". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. July 11, 1995. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  8. "Entertainment unit acquires film rights". Chicago Tribune. July 24, 2003. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  9. Pursell, Chris (July 8, 2010). "Tribune Entertainment Ends Distribution Operation". TV Week. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  10. "Hudson Capital LLC Acquires Hollywood's Tribune Studios and Real Estate for $125..." Reuters. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  11. "Tribune looking to get back into syndication". TPR. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  12. Morabito, Andrea (March 19, 2013). "Tribune Re-Launching Studio With Matt Cherniss at Helm". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved March 9, 2016. the newly formed Tribune Studios
  13. "Tribune Media | Tribune Studios". www.tribunemedia.com. Launched in 2013
  14. "Tribune Media | Tribune Names Cherniss President/GM of WGN America And Tribune Studios". www.tribunemedia.com. the newly formed Tribune Studios
  15. Littleton, Cynthia. "WGN America Renews 'Manhattan' for Season 2". Variety. Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  16. Graser, Marc (November 29, 2013). "How Matt Cherniss is Building Provocative New Worlds for WGN America". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2016. “Salem” is a co-production with 20th Century Fox TV’s cable arm Fox 21, while “Manhattan” will be produced through Tribune Studios, ...
  17. Ziemba, Stanley (January 24, 1996). "Tribune, King World Enter Tv Deal". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  18. "Talking shopping: Tribune Entertainment, Barry Diller's..." Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. August 25, 1993. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  19. Dillon, Mark (8 July 2002). "Tribune and Fireworks embark on Adventure Inc". Playback. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  20. Sternberg, Joel. "Siskel and Ebert". Encyclopedia of Television. Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  21. Hurst, Jack (September 29, 1994). "A Smooth 'Road'". Chicago Tribune. September 29, 1994. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  22. Kogan, Rick (January 24, 1992). "Smoothed Edges". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  23. Kogan, Rick (April 8, 1992). "Cliches Mar 'The Hank Gathers Story'". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  24. Szul, Barbara (April 20, 1987). "Geraldo Rivera investigates the problems of growing up in..." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  25. Andreeva, Nellie (November 12, 2014). "Thomas M. Wright To Co-Star In 'Outsiders' On WGN America". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  26. Petski, Denise (December 14, 2015). "'Underground' Gets March Premiere Date On WGN America". Deadine Hollywood. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
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