Coca-Cola Telecommunications
| File:Coca-Cola Telecommunications.png | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television syndication |
| Founded | November 4, 1986 |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Fate | Integrated into Columbia Pictures Television Distribution |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | Coca-Cola Television |
Coca-Cola Telecommunications, Inc. (CCT) functioned as the first-run syndication branch of Columbia Pictures Television, which was then a division of The Coca-Cola Company. It was launched on November 4, 1986, through the consolidation of Columbia Pictures Television's syndication division with The Television Program Source, Inc., a collaborative enterprise initiated in 1984 by Alan Bennett, former King World president Robert King, and Columbia Pictures Television.
History
CCT reinstated the Screen Gems label to distribute classic and previously unreleased content from Columbia Pictures Television’s catalog, including efforts to colorize black-and-white series such as The Real McCoys and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. To facilitate this initiative, the company acquired a minority interest in Color Systems Technology (CST).
In 1987, Coca-Cola completed the acquisition of The Television Program Source's assets and appointed Bob King as president of CCT. The division managed first-run syndicated programming alongside content for basic cable, pay television, home shopping networks, and home video markets. That same year, CCT collaborated with CST to create the Screen Gems/CST Entertainment joint venture aimed at monetizing vintage film and television libraries.
Building on the success of The New Gidget, CCT developed pilots for weekly series including one inspired by Ben Casey. The company also formed partnerships with entities such as Tribune Entertainment and DIC Entertainment to launch programming blocks like Funday Sunday and Funtastic Saturday, designed specifically for children’s weekend viewing.
In March 1987, CCT joined forces with Paramount Domestic Television, Inc. and Orbis Communications to establish an international advertising sales division responsible for managing barter advertising slots for CCT productions as well as projects from Merv Griffin Enterprises and Paramount.
Later that month, Screen Gems/CST Entertainment was rebranded as Screen Gems Classicolor. This new venture capitalized on CST’s library valued at over $100 million, which included titles such as The Abbott & Costello Show. The focus remained on colorizing black-and-white content from combined archives for distribution throughout 1988 and beyond.
By May 1987, CCT had entered into a non-exclusive agreement with Grosso-Jacobson Productions to produce four made-for-television movies intended for first-run syndication. The following month, CCT partnered with HBO to co-produce fifteen made-for-cable films under a $70 million budget; HBO retained domestic premiere rights and home video distribution for ten films while CCT kept rights to five films plus all international distribution.
On December 31, 1987, CCT was absorbed into the newly reorganized Columbia Pictures Television Distribution after the merger of Columbia/Embassy Television with Tri-Star Television. This corporate restructuring resulted in the exit of key executives Herman Rush, Peter Seale, and Barbara Corday. Barry Thurston assumed control over the combined syndication operations.
Subsequent efforts by Rush and Seale to establish a successor company to oversee former CCT assets were ultimately unsuccessful.
Television series
- Hardcastle and McCormick (1983–1986; produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions; initially distributed through Colex Enterprises)
- Punky Brewster (1984–1988; created by Lightkeeper Productions alongside NBC Productions; syndicated during 1987–1988; domestic syndication handled by Sony Pictures Television, while ownership and international distribution are managed by NBCUniversal Television Distribution in partnership with MGM Television. DVD rights are licensed to Shout! Factory through NBC)
- The Price Is Right (1985–1986; a production of Mark Goodson; nighttime edition currently owned by Fremantle North America)
- Card Sharks (1986–1987; created by Mark Goodson; the nighttime version is now under Fremantle North America’s ownership)
- The New Gidget (1986–1988)
- The Real Ghostbusters (1987–1988; in collaboration with DIC Enterprises)
- Dinosaucers (1987; produced by DIC Enterprises)
- Hulk Hogan's Rock 'N' Wrestling (special episode from 1985; produced by DIC Enterprises, currently owned by WWE)
- Merv Griffin at the Coconut Ballroom (pilot aired in 1987)
- New Monkees (1987)
- Sylvanian Families (1987; a DIC Enterprises production, presently owned by WildBrain)
- That's My Mama Now (pilot from 1987)
- What's Happening Now!! (1987–1988; distributed by LBS Communications Inc.)
- Starcom: The U.S. Space Force (1987; produced by DIC Enterprises, now part of WildBrain’s catalog)
Unrealized series
- A revival attempt for Now You See It, featuring host Jack Clark, did not proceed beyond the pilot stage.
- Plans for a Match Game revival, which was to star original host Gene Rayburn, were also considered but never came to fruition.
Television specials
- Dennis the Menace: Dinosaur Hunter (1987; co-produced with DIC Enterprises, distributed via LBS Communications Inc., currently owned by Sony Pictures Television)
- Meet Julie (aired in 1987)