Amblin Television
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Amblin Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Universal City, California , United States |
Key people | Justin Falvey (co-president), Darryl Frank (co-president), Steven Spielberg (founder) |
| Parent | Amblin Partners |
Storyteller TV Distribution Co., LLC, operating under the name Amblin Television, serves as the television production branch of Amblin Partners. Established in 1984 by Amblin Entertainment to create the small-screen adaptation of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories anthology for NBC, the company has since built an extensive catalog of television programs including Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, SeaQuest DSV, ER, Falling Skies, and The Americans.
The year 2013 marked a significant growth phase for Amblin Television with its merger with DreamWorks Television, noted for producing critically acclaimed shows such as Spin City, Taken, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific. This strategic consolidation broadened Amblin’s content offerings and strengthened its position in the television market. Since the merger, the division has delivered prominent series including The Borgias, Under the Dome, The Haunting, and Roswell, New Mexico.
Leading the division’s strategic direction are co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, who operate from the company’s base in Universal City, California. As part of Amblin Partners, Amblin Television benefits from the notable industry stature and visionary guidance of its founder Steven Spielberg, helping it sustain a competitive edge within the global television production arena.
History
During the 1980s and 1990s, Amblin Television was active in producing an array of television content including series, specials, made-for-TV movies, cable films, and animated children’s shows such as Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. The company also developed TV adaptations based on Amblin’s feature films like Back to the Future, An American Tail, Casper, and Men in Black. Expanding into live-action during the 1990s, they produced titles such as Harry and the Hendersons, seaQuest DSV, and Earth 2. Among their productions, ER stands out as their longest-running show, airing for 15 seasons from 1994 until 2009.
In 2013, DreamWorks Television, originally founded in 1996 by Steven Spielberg together with DreamWorks SKG partners Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, was integrated into Amblin Television. This merger led to Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey being named co-presidents, bolstering Amblin’s leadership team within television production.
Current
| Title | Years | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Alien | 2021–present | Syfy (seasons 1–3) / USA Network (season 4) | produced in collaboration with Jocko Productions, Dark Horse Entertainment, and Universal Content Productions |
| Billy the Kid | 2022–present | Epix (season 1) / MGM+ (season 2) | co-produced alongside One Big Picture (season 1), De Line Pictures, MGM Television, and MGM+ Studios |
| Gremlins | 2023–present | Max / Cartoon Network | joint production with Warner Bros. Animation |
| Jurassic World: Chaos Theory | 2024–present | Netflix | co-produced with Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation Television, credited under Amblin Entertainment |
Upcoming Projects
| Title | Years | Network | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear | To Be Announced | Apple TV+ | collaboration with Eat the Cat and Universal Content Productions |
| Easy Rawlins | To Be Announced | co-produced alongside B.O.B FilmHouse, Inc. and JB Pictures | |
| Friends Like These | |||
| Our Time | Disney+ | joint production with Warner Bros. Television, The Jackal Group, and The Donners' Company | |
| Rashomon | Max | partnership with Opus7 Entertainment and Atmosphere Entertainment | |
| Signs of Survival: A Memory of the Holocaust | To Be Announced | produced in cooperation with Scholastic Entertainment and Solo One Productions | |
| The Afghanistan Papers | collaboration with Jigsaw Productions | ||
| The Talisman | Netflix | co-developed with Upside Down Pictures and Paramount Television Studios | |
| The Woman's Hour | The CW | produced jointly with Warner Bros. Television |
Past Productions
}Television specials
| # | Title | Years | Network | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazing Stories | 1985–1987 | NBC | co-produced with Universal Television credited as Amblin Entertainment |
| 2 | Tiny Toon Adventures | 1990–1995 | CBS (episode 1) / Syndication (seasons 1–2) / Fox Kids (season 3) | collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation credited under Amblin Entertainment |
| 3 | Harry and the Hendersons | 1991–1993 | Syndication | credited as Amblin Entertainment during season 1 |
| 4 | Back to the Future | 1991–1992 | CBS | joint production with Universal Cartoon Studios, Zaloom/Mayfield Productions, and BIG Pictures |
| 5 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | 1992–1993 | ABC | co-produced alongside Lucasfilm and Paramount Television |
| 6 | Fievel's American Tails | 1992 | CBS | partnership with Nelvana and Universal Cartoon Studios |
| 7 | The Plucky Duck Show | Fox Kids | co-production with Warner Bros. Animation credited as Amblin Entertainment | |
| 8 | Family Dog | 1993 | CBS | collaboration with Tim Burton, Nelvana, Universal Television, and Warner Bros. Television |
| 9 | seaQuest DSV | 1993–1996 | NBC | co-produced with Universal Television |
| 10 | Animaniacs | 1993–1998 | Fox Kids (seasons 1–2) / Kids' WB (seasons 3–5) | joint effort with Warner Bros. Animation credited as Amblin Entertainment |
| 11 | ER | 1994–2009 | NBC | co-produced alongside Constant C Productions and Warner Bros. Television |
| 12 | Earth 2 | 1994–1995 | collaboration with Universal Television | |
| 13 | Fudge | 1995–1996 | ABC | partnership with Kevin Slattery Productions and MCA Television Entertainment |
| 14 | Freakazoid! | 1995–1997 | Kids' WB | joint production with Warner Bros. Animation credited as Amblin Entertainment |
| 15 | Pinky and the Brain | 1995–1998 | ||
| 16 | The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper | 1996–1998 | Fox Kids | co-production with Harveytoons and Universal Cartoon Studios |
| 17 | Men in Black: The Series | 1997–2001 | Kids' WB | collaboration with Adelaide Productions and Columbia TriStar Television credited as Amblin Entertainment |
| 18 | Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain | 1998–1999 | co-produced alongside Warner Bros. Animation credited as Amblin Entertainment | |
| 19 | The Land Before Time | 2007–2008 | Cartoon Network | joint production with Universal Animation Studios credited as Amblin Entertainment |
| 20 | On the Lot | 2007 | Fox | collaboration with Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television |
| 21 | The Borgias | 2011–2013 | Showtime | co-produced along with CTV, Bell Media, Myriad Pictures, ImageMovers, Take 5 Productions, Octagon Films, and Showtime Networks |
| 22 | Terra Nova | 2011 | Fox | joint effort with Chernin Entertainment, Kapital Entertainment, Siesta Productions, and 20th Century Fox Television |
| 23 | The River | 2012 | ABC | co-produced alongside Blumhouse Productions, J.A. Green Construction Corp., and ABC Studios |
| 24 | The Americans | 2013–2018 | FX | collaboration with Nemo Films, Fox Television Studios/Fox 21 Television Studios, and FX Productions; initially produced by DreamWorks Television for pilot |
| 25 | Under the Dome | 2013–2015 | CBS | joint production with Baer Bones and CBS Television Studios |
Television films
| Airdate | Title | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 24, 1992 | The Water Engine | TNT | produced together with Brandman Productions, Majestic Films International, and Planet Productions |
| September 8, 1992 | The Habitation of Dragons | collaboration with Brandman Productions and Planet Productions | |
| January 26, 1993 | Cooperstown | co-produced with Brandman Productions | |
| February 20, 1993 | The Heart of Justice | joint production with Brandman Productions and Planet Productions | |
| April 12, 1993 | Class of '61 | ABC | co-produced alongside Universal Television |
| August 23, 1993 | Arthur Miller's The American Clock | TNT | produced in partnership with Brandman Productions |
| September 7, 1993 | Percy & Thunder | co-production with Brandman Productions | |
| October 3, 1993 | Trouble Shooters: Trapped Beneath the Earth | NBC | produced jointly with Walter Mirisch Productions, Gingko Productions, and Universal Television |
| October 15, 1994 | Young Indiana Jones and the Hollywood Follies | The Family Channel | made in collaboration with Lucasfilm and Paramount Television credited to Amblin Entertainment |
| January 15, 1995 | Young Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Peacock's Eye | co-produced with Lucasfilm credited under Amblin Entertainment | |
| October 8, 1995 | Young Indiana Jones and the Attack of the Hawkmen | ||
| June 16, 1996 | Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father | ||
| May 21, 2016 | All the Way | HBO | co-produced with HBO Films, Moon Shot Entertainment, Tale Told Productions, and Everyman Pictures |
| May 5, 2020 | Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind | HBO Max | produced together with Nedland Media and HBO Documentary Films |
| October 18, 2022 | Mama's Boy | HBO / HBO Max | collaboration with LD Entertainment, Playtone, Nedland Media, and HBO Documentary Films |
| November 4, 2022 | Good Night Oppy | Amazon Prime Video | produced alongside Amazon Studios, Film 45, and Tripod Media credited under Amblin Entertainment |
| March 15, 2024 | The Bloody Hundredth | Apple TV+ | co-production with Playtone and Herzog & Co. |
| July 13, 2024 | Faye | HBO / Max | collaboration with HBO Documentary Films and Nedland Media credited as Amblin Documentaries |
| July 17, 2024 | Wild Wild Space | co-produced with HBO Documentary Films, Planet Labs, Hyperobject Industries, and Zero Point Zero Production credited as Amblin Documentaries | |
| November 1, 2024 | Music by John Williams | Disney+ | joint production with Lucasfilm Ltd., Imagine Documentaries and Nedland Media credited as Amblin Documentaries |
| July 10, 2025 | Jaws @ 50 | National Geographic | produced together with Nedland Media credited as Amblin Documentaries |
References
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- Amblin Partners
- Amblin Entertainment
- American companies founded in 1984
- Companies located in Los Angeles
- 1984 establishments in California
- Mass media firms founded in 1984
- Steven Spielberg
- U.S. television production companies
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- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1984