Multimedia Entertainment
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production and syndication |
| Predecessor | Avco Broadcasting Corporation Syndicated Division |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Fate | Acquired by Gannett Company in 1995; syndication division sold to MCA in 1996 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Bob Turner (CEO) |
| Products | Television programs and syndication |
| Parent | Multimedia, Inc. (until 1995), Gannett Company (1995–1996) |
Multimedia Entertainment, Inc.—initially known as Avco Broadcasting Corporation Syndicated Division, and later operating under the names Avco Program Sales, Multimedia Program Sales, and Multimedia Program Productions—was a television production and syndication firm based in the United States, established in 1968.
History
The enterprise originated as the Avco Broadcasting Corporation Syndicated Division, a subsidiary of Cincinnati’s Avco Corporation. Among its early projects was the nationally syndicated The Phil Donahue Show, which debuted in 1970. While Avco Program Sales concentrated on producing original content internally, the distribution of Embassy Pictures’ film catalog was managed by Avco Embassy Television until the division's sale in 1982.
In 1971, Avco collaborated with Hanna-Barbera Productions to create holiday-themed specials and, by 1973, teamed up with Meredith Corporation to develop family-friendly syndicated specials. A 1973 initiative to expand The Paul Dixon Show to a national audience was ultimately brief.
By 1976, Multimedia, Inc., a Greenville-based company involved in newspaper publishing and broadcasting, acquired the production and syndication rights for The Phil Donahue Show and Bob Braun 50-50 Club from Avco amid its media asset divestiture. Multimedia also purchased Avco’s principal Cincinnati station WLWT and underwent several rebrandings of its syndication division before settling on Multimedia Entertainment in 1983. The company became known for producing audience-engagement daytime talk shows, with Donahue serving as its flagship program.
In 1981, Multimedia expanded its portfolio by acquiring Show Biz Inc., entering the country music television market with programs such as Pop! Goes the Country. It also secured distribution partnerships with Jim Owens Productions. The company launched prominent talk shows including The Sally Jessy Raphael Show (1983), originating from St. Louis’ KSDK, and The Jerry Springer Show (1991), produced at WLWT. Additionally, Multimedia developed content for conservative commentators like Rush Limbaugh and Dennis Prager. During this era, Bob Turner held the position of CEO.
On September 17, 1991, Multimedia purchased Orbis Communications—the television distribution division of Carolco Pictures—thereby acquiring syndication rights to programs like The Joker's Wild and The $100,000 Pyramid. Carolco Television Productions was renamed Multimedia Television Productions (later Multimedia Motion Pictures), with Robert Turner appointed president, succeeded by Neil Russell.
Multimedia Entertainment became part of Multimedia’s acquisition by Gannett Company in 1995. Gannett subsequently sold the syndication division to MCA in 1996; by 1997, it had been integrated into Universal Television Enterprises. Following Universal Television’s sale to Barry Diller in 1998, it became part of Studios USA.
Gannett retained ownership of the Multimedia Entertainment brand name, transferring it to Tegna, Inc. after its corporate split in 2015. Currently, the name is assigned to Tegna’s subsidiary that holds the license for WGRZ in Buffalo, New York. Other Tegna-owned stations operate under Multimedia Holdings Corporation. In 2017, Tegna reentered the syndication market with programs including Daily Blast Live and Sister Circle.
Syndicated programs
Below is a selection of prominent shows either created or distributed by Multimedia Entertainment:
- Almost Live! (late 1990s)
- Crook & Chase (1996–1997)
- The Pat Bullard Show (1996–1997)
- The Phil Donahue Show / Donahue (1970–1996)
- Rush Limbaugh: The Television Show (1992–1996)
- The Dennis Prager Show (1994–1995)
- The Sally Jessy Raphael Show / Sally (1983–1997)
- Big Break (1990–1991)
- The Jerry Springer Show (1991–1997)
- Sweethearts (1988–1989)
- The $100,000 Pyramid (season 2, 1991)
- Young People's Specials (1984–1985)
Films
- Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood (also known as The River Pirates) (1988)
- Murder Between Friends (produced in 1993, broadcast in 1994)
See also
- Avco
- Crosley Broadcasting Corporation (subsequently Avco Broadcasting Corporation)
External links
- Articles with short description
- Television production companies of the United States
- Defunct film and television production companies of the United States
- Entertainment companies established in 1968
- Mass media companies established in 1968
- Mass media companies disestablished in 1997
- Universal Television
- American companies established in 1968
- American companies disestablished in 1997
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment