Dick Clark Productions

Dick Clark Productions, LLC

Company type	Private
Industry	Television production
Founded	January 1, 1957 (1957-01-01) in California, United States
Founder	Dick Clark
Headquarters	Beverly Hills , United States
Area served	Global
Key people	Todd Boehly (owner), Amy Thurlow (former president), Allen Shapiro (former CEO)
Products	Award ceremonies, music-related entertainment content, television shows
Owner	Penske Media Eldridge (joint venture of Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge Industries)
Parent	Penske Media Eldridge

Dick Clark Productions, LLC (abbreviated as DCP and presented as dick clark productions or dcp) is a global American television production company established by the renowned radio and television personality Dick Clark. Based in Beverly Hills, California, DCP focuses primarily on creating award ceremonies and music-related entertainment content.

Among its prominent productions are the Golden Globe Awards—fully acquired in 2023—the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards originally developed by DCP, the Billboard Music Awards produced in collaboration with the co-owned Billboard, as well as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and So You Think You Can Dance (in partnership with 19 Entertainment). Earlier shows such as American Bandstand, New Year's Rockin' Eve, and TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes featured Clark himself as host.

The company’s expansion has involved multiple ownership transitions: it was sold in 2007 for $150 million to a consortium led by Daniel Snyder; in 2012, it was purchased for $350 million by a group including Guggenheim Partners, Mandalay Entertainment, and Mosaic Media Investment Partners, with Guggenheim’s share later transferring to former president Todd Boehly. A 2016 acquisition attempt by Chinese firm Wanda Group was discontinued due to regulatory complications. Subsequently, DCP became part of MRC (previously Valence Media) within its Live & Alternative division.

In September 2021, MRC phased out the Dick Clark Productions brand, integrating its projects under MRC Live & Alternative. Nevertheless, Eldridge Industries reclaimed ownership in August 2022, reinstating the Dick Clark Productions name. In January 2023, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge Industries acquired DCP, forming Penske Media Eldridge.

History

The syndication of Dick Clark’s radio program commenced in the late 1950s through MARS Broadcasting. The name and branding of Dick Clark Productions date back at least to 1964, when public relations executive Henry Rogers proposed naming the company after Clark to enhance recognition following American Bandstand’’’s relocation to Hollywood. Clark founded the enterprise on Sunset Strip, producing content beneath a modest sign labeled "dick clark productions."

During the 1970s, Dick Clark Productions managed subsidiaries such as Dick Clark Teleshows, which created the inaugural American Music Awards along with specials like 200 Years of American Music. Another division, Dick Clark Cinema Productions, focused on telefilms and feature movies; Daniel Paulson was appointed vice president there in 1983. By 1985, the company had launched a home video branch named Dick Clark Video that distributed titles including American Bandstand through Vestron Video. In 1987, it secured a five-year contract to produce telecasts of the Golden Globe Awards.

The company went public on NASDAQ in 1986 but was taken private again in 2002 by an investment consortium comprising Mosaic Media Group and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Mandalay Entertainment acquired a stake in DCP in 2004.

In 2007, Daniel Snyder—owner of the Washington Redskins and former chairman of Six Flags—bought DCP for $175 million. After Clark passed away in 2012, Snyder expressed pride in owning the firm. Up until that year, Red Zone Capital Management (under Snyder’s control) held majority ownership while Six Flags owned 40%. By June 2012, Red Zone engaged Raine Group to explore potential buyers like CORE Media Group and Ryan Seacrest Productions.

On September 4, 2012, an acquisition led by Guggenheim Partners, Mandalay Entertainment, and Mosaic Media Investment Partners purchased DCP for about $350 million. Later that year, Guggenheim-owned Los Angeles Dodgers considered collaborating with DCP on a regional sports network but ultimately selected Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA.

In October 2013, DCP launched Keshet DCP—a joint venture with Israeli broadcaster Keshet Media Group—to adapt unscripted formats for American audiences; its first project was ABC’s version of Rising Star. In 2014, DCP assumed production responsibilities for the Billboard Music Awards and resolved litigation with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association concerning Golden Globe broadcast contracts.

Due to financial losses across Guggenheim Partners’ media holdings, DCP was spun off in December 2015 to a group headed by former president Todd Boehly; CEO Allen Shapiro continued playing an influential role. Boehly’s ownership stake is held through Eldridge Industries.

In 2016, Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group initiated negotiations to acquire DCP and announced a $1 billion deal later that year. However, regulatory obstacles in China prevented completion; Eldridge Industries terminated the sale in March 2017 and received $50 million as breakup fees. Subsequently, DCP licensed Chinese rights for the Golden Globes and New Year's Rockin' Eve to STX Entertainment.

On February 1, 2018, DCP merged with Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group and Media Rights Capital to create Valence Media; Mike Mahan took over as CEO. Amy Thurlow was appointed president in November 2019. Valence rebranded as MRC in July 2020, integrating DCP into MRC Live & Alternative.

Thurlow departed in June 2021; by September of that year, MRC discontinued use of the Dick Clark Productions brand under its Live & Alternative division leadership. In August 2022, Eldridge reacquired MRC Live & Alternative assets and reinstated the Dick Clark Productions name.

In January 2023, Penske Media Corporation partnered with Eldridge Industries to establish Penske Media Eldridge for acquiring DCP; Adam Stotsky resigned as president amid workforce reductions. This acquisition expanded PMC’s existing portfolio which includes Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

On June 12, 2023, DCP obtained ownership of the Golden Globe Awards assets from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association amid its transition into a for-profit entity overseen by Boehly.