Columbia TriStar Television

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"Columbia TriStar Domestic Television" redirects here. For other uses, see Columbia TriStar.
"Columbia TriStar Television Distribution" redirects here. For other uses, see Columbia TriStar.

Columbia TriStar Television, Inc.
TypeDivision
IndustryTelevision production
Broadcast syndication
PredecessorPioneer Telefilms (1947–1948)
Screen Gems (1948–1974)
Columbia Pictures Television (1974–2001)
TriStar Television (1986–1988, 1991–1999, 2015—present)
FoundedFebruary 21, 1994; 27 years ago (February 21, 1994)
DefunctSeptember 16, 2002; 18 years ago (September 16, 2002)
FateRebranded as Sony Pictures Television
SuccessorSony Pictures Television (2002–present)
Headquarters10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California, United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Samuel White (co-president)
ParentSony Pictures Entertainment
DivisionsAdelaide Productions
Columbia Pictures Television
TriStar Television
Trackdown Productions
Columbia TriStar International Television
SubsidiariesELP Communications
Califon Productions
Jeopardy Productions
Rastar Television

Columbia TriStar Television, Inc. (abbreviated as CTT) was an American television production and distribution company that was active from 1994 to 2002. It was formed in 1994, by the merger of Columbia Pictures Television and TriStar Television. It was operated as the third name of the early television studio Screen Gems and the fourth name of Pioneer Telefilms, both part of Sony Pictures Entertainment and the third company to use the Columbia and TriStar names together (the first being Columbia TriStar Home Video, later Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the second, Columbia TriStar International Television).

History[]

Columbia TriStar Television was launched on February 21, 1994 under the leadership of Jon Feltheimer, who was president of TriStar Television from 1991 to 1994 and of New World Television until 1991. After the merger, Columbia Pictures Television Distribution was renamed Columbia TriStar Television Distribution,[1][2][3] but the old name continued to appear on-screen until 1995. The new studio entered production after dismantling and folding Merv Griffin Enterprises on June 4, 1994, by producing Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune (distributed by King World) starting in September 1994.[4][5] In 1994, SPE acquired Stewart Television.

Its global subsidiary, Columbia TriStar International Television, distributed Sony's programs globally. It was created in 1992 by merging Columbia Pictures International Television with TriStar Television. The launch of Columbia TriStar Television Group came two years later. In 1997, most new shows dropped the CPT and TriStar logos, and began putting the CTT logo in its place. Also, in mid-1997, CTT signed a deal with Procter & Gamble Productions to launch shows that P&G products sponsor.[6] Also that year, it was changed from Sony Television Entertainment to Columbia TriStar Television Group.[7]

While dismantling of Columbia Pictures Television in 2001 and TriStar Television in 1999, these studios were folded into Columbia TriStar Television. In 1998, it partnered with Global Maritime Group to create the company called Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Co. Medien KG used for copyright purposes. Exceptions: Columbia TriStar Television, Inc. remains the copyright holder for The King of Queens, TriStar Television, Inc. remains as the copyright holder for Early Edition, and Adelaide Productions, Inc. is the copyright holder for animated series, except for Dilbert (see below).[8] In 1999, they went back to the old way, and ELP and TriStar TV ceased production operations. TriStar Television, however, remained in-name-only until relaunch in May 2015. In mid-1999, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment inked a co-production/joint venture agreement with Columbia TriStar Television to launch its own production company.[9]

On October 25, 2001, Columbia TriStar Network Television shut down. They learned that this path was blocked by Sony thanks to its Japanese ownership. On the same day, CTT and CTTD merged to form Columbia TriStar Domestic Television.[10]

End of Columbia TriStar Television[]

On September 16, 2002, Sony Pictures Entertainment retired the "Columbia TriStar" name from television and renamed the American studio as Sony Pictures Television and its international division as Sony Pictures Television International.[11] Some shows continued using the CTDT name, although many stopped using it in November 2002, while Hollywood Squares continued using it until early 2003. It is still shown on some reruns today even when other episodes use the updated Sony logo.

See also[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ "Los Angeles Times" http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-11/business/fi-21622_1_vice-president latimes.com February 11, 1994, Retrieved on June 28, 2012
  2. ^ "EBSCO Host Connection" Feltheimer heads new Columbia TriStar TV connection.ebscohost.com, Retrieved on December 18, 2012
  3. ^ "Feltheimer heads new Columbia TriStar TV". Broadcasting: 20. February 21, 1994.
  4. ^ "Los Angeles Times" Company Town Annex articles.latimes.com, Retrieved on July 1, 2013
  5. ^ "New York Times" Sony-Griffin Deal nytimes.com, Retrieved on July 1, 2013
  6. ^ Levin, Gary; Levin, Gary (March 12, 1997). "SONY, P&G LATHER UP". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Cox, Dan; Cox, Dan (January 30, 1997). "SONY STREAMLINING". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  8. ^ The actual first season was done by Global Entertainment Productions GmbH and Co. Meiden KG, while Adelaide Productions provided the animation.
  9. ^ Littleton, Cynthia; Littleton, Cynthia (March 25, 1999). "U ponders TV biz return". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "The Free Library" Sony Pictures Entertainment Unveils Realignment of Columbia TriStar Domestic Television Operations. thefreelibrary.com, Retrieved on July 3, 2012
  11. ^ Sony Pictures Entertainment Renames Television Operations; Domestic and International Divisions Take Sony Name, prnewswire.com

External links[]

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