Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Television production and distribution
Founded	June 30, 1956 (1956-06-30)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Television series, miniseries, broadcast syndication

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television, previously known as MGM/UA Television, operates as the television production branch of the American cinema company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Founded on June 30, 1956, its primary activities include broadcast syndication along with the creation and distribution of television series and miniseries.

Between February 11, 2005, and May 31, 2006, the distribution of its TV content was managed by Sony Pictures Television through a Sony-led consortium that had acquired MGM. After this period, MGM resumed full ownership of its television assets and reentered the local first-run syndication arena with shows such as Paternity Court.

Background

The initial use of television by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) was promotional, tied to The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS during the early 1950s. When that program transitioned to 20th Century Fox, MGM attempted but failed to negotiate a similar promotion deal with NBC. One of MGM's earliest TV ventures was MGM Parade, a 30-minute anthology series produced by the studio’s trailer department and inspired by the Disneyland anthology series on ABC. This program was discontinued by ABC by mid-1956.

Origins

In 1956, MGM invited bids for its film library, receiving an offer of $50 million from Lou Chesler representing PRM, Inc.. Rather than selling outright, MGM chose to lease film packages such as Andy Hardys, Maisies, and Dr. Kildares to television distributors while deciding to enter the TV market directly.

The establishment of MGM Television occurred in June 1956 with Bud Barry appointed as head. The division’s goals included distributing MGM’s collection of approximately 770 films to networks, producing original television content, and acquiring broadcast stations. Production efforts commenced in the 1957–58 season, emphasizing half-hour remakes or series derived from MGM’s film properties. The initial sales strategy focused on network distribution. On August 6, 1956, C. Pete Jaeger and Monroe Mendelsohn joined from Guild Films as sales executives. By August 20, MGM took a 25% ownership stake in Los Angeles station KTTV, coupled with a $4 million film lease agreement. By April 1957, MGM Television had begun producing commercials for clients including Knickerbocker and Standard Oil of Indiana.

In April 1957, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against MGM Television alleging block booking practices involving its film library for TV stations. MGM refuted these claims, clarifying that licensing arrangements were flexible with discounts applied depending on package size and film value.

By December 1957, MGM had ten television series deals under review—two fully owned and six in co-production with independent companies—and was negotiating syndication agreements with NBC's California National Productions.

By 1959, after NBC declined the Jeopardy pilot, MGM halted primetime production but resumed for the 1960–61 season. During this interval, executive producers Paul Monash and subsequently Norman Felton joined the company. Toward the end of 1960, MGM secured contracts with NBC for two series already airing.

In September 1973, MGM introduced the MGM Family Network (MFN), a television network distributed across 145 stations.

Due to financial difficulties and a decline in production output, MGM shut down its distribution offices in October 1973, outsourcing film library distribution for a decade and divesting its music publishing division to United Artists.

1980s−1990s

In 1981, InterMedia Entertainment, led by Fred Silverman and George Reeves, secured an agreement with the studio to develop both films and television programs. The following year, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television was rebranded as MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television after merging with United Artists. By 1984, the company introduced the MGM/UA Premiere Network, an ad hoc platform dedicated to broadcasting movies. That same year, producer David Gerber, who had been recruited from Columbia Pictures, entered into a production contract with MGM. In 1983, Jerry Ludwig also inked a two-year deal to create programming content. Gerber was elevated to president of MGM/UA Television in 1985.

Ted Turner purchased MGM/UA from Kirk Kerkorian in 1986, acquiring its film and television libraries; however, burdened by financial obligations, he returned United Artists and the MGM trademark to Kerkorian after just 74 days. Turner retained ownership of MGM television series produced before May 1986 (through Associated Artists Productions), which later became part of Warner Bros. following Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Broadcasting in 1996. After this transaction, the television division was renamed MGM/UA Television Productions and merged with United Artists Television under the leadership of John J. McMahon.

On October 15, 1986, MGM/UA's international television division sought to expand global distribution of fourteen James Bond films at MIPCOM in Cannes. The next year marked the launch of the MGM/UA Telecommunications Group under the umbrella of MGM/UA Communications Co.. During this period, MGM/UA continued producing series such as Fame (until 1987), The Twilight Zone (until 1989), and Kids Incorporated (until 1993). In 1987, MGM/UA initiated legal action against a Danish distributor over exclusive Scandinavian rights and collaborated with CBS Broadcast International to syndicate new episodes of The Twilight Zone globally.

In 1992, MGM/UA Television Productions reverted to the name MGM Television and reorganized as MGM Worldwide Television Group, with its distribution arm called MGM Telecommunications Group. That same year saw the dissolution of the MGM TV Group and the departure of David Gerber.

Following Credit Lyonnais' acquisition of MGM in mid-1993 and Frank Mancuso's appointment as CEO, a new division for television production was established. In 1995, Gross-Weston Productions entered into an agreement with MGM, while MGM/UA Telecommunications formed a partnership with Australia's Seven Network for co-production ventures.

By 1996, the studio rebranded its television operations under various banners including MGM Television Entertainment, MGM Domestic Television Distribution, and MGM International Television Distribution, although multiple corporate names appeared in program credits.

In 1997, MGM expanded its holdings by acquiring Orion Pictures Corporation, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, and Motion Picture Corporation of America from Metromedia for $573 million, thereby obtaining extensive television series libraries. As a result, MGM Television now controls most properties originally overseen by Filmways, Orion Television, American International Television, Heatter-Quigley Productions, and Samuel Goldwyn Television.

On July 27, 1997, MGM debuted the long-running cable series Stargate SG-1.

2000s−present

In March 2001, MGM entered into a multi-year international distribution agreement covering the NBC Studios catalog, which included both existing and upcoming shows. The following year, in 2002, MGM and NBC Enterprises established a joint advertising venture to manage national advertising barter time sales for their syndicated programs and to oversee licensing of film and television content within the domestic syndication sector. This partnership concluded on December 31, 2004, coinciding with NBC Enterprises’ merger with Universal Domestic Television, which later evolved into NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.

The year 2005 saw MGM being acquired by a consortium comprised of Sony Corporation, Comcast, and private equity firms. As a result, Sony Pictures Television assumed responsibility for global distribution as well as select domestic distribution rights for MGM Television’s library. Post-acquisition, the entity was rebranded as MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.

On May 31, 2006, MGM declared it would terminate its distribution collaboration with Sony, transferring home video distribution duties to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment while revitalizing its television production and distribution operations. In October of that year, MGM took on distribution of New Line Cinema’s film and television library; however, these rights reverted to Warner Bros. in 2008 after Time Warner integrated New Line into Warner Bros. Pictures.

During the mid-2000s, MGM expanded its footprint into television networks and cable channels. On November 1, 2006, it launched This TV in partnership with Weigel Broadcasting. The following year saw the debut of the MGM HD cable channel. In August 2008, MGM collaborated with Comcast to introduce the Impact video-on-demand channel. The Me-TV national network premiered on December 15, 2010, with MGM’s domestic television sales division handling distribution for Weigel Broadcasting. Additionally, MGM co-founded KIN TV—an African-American subchannel developed alongside Basil Street Media’s Lee Gaither—and played a role in launching TV One, an African-American cable network marketed to stations in late 2011. In April 2014, MGM introduced The Works digital network.

In 2009, MGM Television produced eight new series and secured a first-look agreement with Emma Roberts' production company Bossy Boots Production for projects intended for MTV. Concurrently, MGM created Orion TV Production to serve as its television financing and distribution division. By December 2012, through Orion TV Productions, MGM launched Paternity Court, a tabloid talk/nontraditional court show.

MGM Television Group and Digital

On September 22, 2014, MGM acquired a majority (55%) stake in Lightworkers Media and One Three Media—companies founded by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey with partial ownership by Hearst Corporation—merging them into United Artists Media Group (UAMG) with Burnett appointed as CEO. On December 14, 2015, MGM completed acquisition of the remaining UAMG shares via a stock and cash transaction and named Burnett CEO of MGM Television in place of Roma Khanna. Burnett’s reality franchises—including Survivor, The Voice, The Celebrity Apprentice, and Shark Tank—became co-produced by MGM Television alongside their original producers.

Continuing its first-look arrangement with Content Media Corporation, Caryn Mandabach Productions entered into a multi-year scripted production contract with MGM Television in October 2015. In November 2016, MGM launched Gato Grande Productions through a joint venture with Mexican entrepreneurs Miguel Aleman and Antonio Cué; this partnership debuted with a series centered on recording artist Luis Miguel.

On October 31, 2015, MGM teamed up with Sinclair Broadcast Group to introduce Comet—a digital network dedicated to science fiction programming sourced from MGM’s content library. December 2016 marked the launch of Light TV by MGM, focusing on family-friendly and faith-based shows. Subsequently, on February 28, 2017, MGM and Sinclair unveiled Charge!, an action-themed network that replaced The Works.

MGM Television expanded further by acquiring Evolution Media—known for producing the Real Housewives franchise—on July 18, 2017. In June 2018, it purchased Big Fish Entertainment, the production company behind A&E's Live PD. That same year saw the appointment of Sam Toles as senior vice president of digital and new platforms in March 2017.

July 2017 marked the revival of the Stargate franchise through the digital-only series Stargate Origins, released via the Stargate Command streaming platform launched during Q3 of that year. By August 2018, United Artists Digital Studios was established to produce similar digital content. However, the Stargate streaming service ceased operations on December 31, 2019 after attracting only about 75,000 subscribers.

In June 2018 Burnett was elevated to chairman following renewal of his contract through 2022. Toward the end of 2019, MGM Television secured first-look agreements with multiple production companies including British-American firm 42; The Big Picture Co., owned by Renee Zellweger and Carmella Casinelli; Weed Road Pictures; and Escape Artists.

Further expanding its operations in April 2019, MGM introduced new divisions such as MGM Global Formats and Unscripted Content under leadership from Scot Cru and Patrice Choghi aimed at international format development. That year also saw the creation of MGM International TV focused on projects involving Latinx talent; its inaugural announced project was Tacowood, a comedy starring and produced by Paz Vega based on an original concept by Frank Ariza, revealed in February 2020.

By 2020 Orion Television was formed under Barry Poznick to intensify scripted development efforts and collaborate with Brat TV on young adult programming. In February that year, the MGM/UA Television division was established with Steve Stark appointed president; Stark had previously overseen scripted television production and development at MGM.

Later in 2021 Tresor entered into a first-look deal for global formats with MGM Television.

Podcast creation partnership with Audio Up

In 2020, MGM Television formed a strategic alliance with podcast creator Audio Up, agreeing that Audio Up would develop and distribute five podcasts each year on behalf of MGM.

Divisions

• MGM Domestic Television Distribution LLC
• MGM On Demand Inc.
  • Impact (collaborative venture with Comcast)
  • MGM Sci-Fi channel (launched January 2020 on Roku linear platform)
• MGM Global Formats and Unscripted Content (established 2019), focusing on international format development
• MGM/UA Television
• MGM Television (Europe) Limited
• MGM UK TV Productions LLC
• MGM UK Alternative TV Productions Ltd.
• MGM International Television Productions LLC
• MGM International Television Productions (Germany) GmbH

MGM channels

MGM Television operates three distinct channels:

• MGM+: a group of multiplex cable channels, wholly owned as of 2023
• Impact: a video-on-demand channel co-managed with Comcast
• ScreenPix: an offshoot of MGM+ introduced in 2019

Between late 2016 and early 2017, MGM debuted two subchannel networks, including Light TV, created in partnership with Burnett, Downey, and Hearst. Earlier network initiatives include the 1973 MGM Family Network and the 1984 MGM/UA Premiere Network movie service. The Works subchannel discontinued operations in early 2017 as affiliates transitioned to Charge!. In January 2020, Roku rolled out the MGM Sci-Fi channel.

In October 2020, Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group purchased This TV and Light TV from MGM.

Following Amazon’s acquisition of MGM, it was announced on October 25, 2022, that MGM HD would cease broadcasting on October 31; its programming assets are set to merge into Epix, which will rebrand as MGM+ in early 2023.

Impact

Impact is an action-focused video on demand channel jointly operated by Comcast and MGM Television.

Background

Introduced in August 2008 by Comcast and MGM, Impact provides action films and television series, expanding gradually across markets. At the time of launch, Comcast held a 20% stake in MGM and was actively seeking additional cable carriers for the channel. Impact represents MGM’s third television broadcast endeavor following its collaborations with Weigel Broadcasting for the digital subchannel network This TV and the cable channel MGM HD. Plans were made to enable streaming through its website by 2009.

Content

Impact showcases between 20 and 30 titles monthly from MGM’s collection of approximately 1,000 action-oriented films spanning thrillers, crime dramas, war stories, martial arts, westerns, and espionage. The majority of programming is ad-supported and available free of charge, sourced from the post-DVD release window following pay-TV distribution. Prominent franchises featured include James Bond, Rocky, and Robocop. Initial lineup highlights were The Terminator, Enter the Ninja, and Windtalkers, with subsequent additions like The Magnificent Seven, American Ninja 2, Bulletproof Monk, Into the Blue, and Roadhouse.

See also

• Charge! (TV network)
• Comet (TV network)
• United Artists Television