Republic Entertainment (1984–2010)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film distribution, Television syndication, Home video |
| Predecessor | National Telefilm Associates |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Fate | Dissolved; assets transferred to Melange Pictures |
Key people | Ely Landau (founder of NTA), Bernard Tabakin (former president of NTA) |
| Products | Film and television distribution, home video releases |
| Parent | Spelling Entertainment (from 1994), later Paramount Pictures |
Republic Entertainment, Inc. operated as a distribution firm specializing in the syndication of American film collections for television, notably handling the Republic Pictures archive along with the National Telefilm Associates (NTA) catalog. Its achievements in cable television from 1983 to 1985 prompted a rebranding to Republic Pictures and a strategic move into producing films and distributing home video content.
National Telefilm Associates
Established in 1954 by Ely Landau and Oliver A. Unger, NTA emerged from the restructuring of Ely Landau, Inc., in collaboration with Unger and Harold Goldman. It took over U.M. & M. TV Corporation in 1956. That same year, 20th Century Fox granted NTA the rights to distribute its pre-1948 film library on television.
In October 1956, NTA introduced the NTA Film Network, a syndication platform delivering films and live broadcasts to stations outside the major networks NBC, CBS, and ABC. WNTA-TV in New York served as its flagship station. Promoted as a "fourth TV network," it launched with upwards of 100 affiliates, offering syndicated programs such as Police Call, How to Marry a Millionaire, and Man Without a Gun, alongside 52 Twentieth Century Fox movies. Fox held a 50% ownership in the network and contributed original programming.
Leadership transitions included Charles C. Barry replacing Ely Landau as network president in 1959, while Landau continued as NTA chairman. In 1962, Bernard Tabakin assumed the presidency of NTA, guiding its expansion into the largest independent television distributor and acquiring significant assets like NBC Films and Republic Pictures.
Although Fox invested heavily, the NTA Film Network functioned primarily as a syndication service rather than evolving into a major commercial broadcasting network.
In 1973, following FCC regulations prohibiting networks from syndicating their own content, NTA acquired NBC Films for $7.5 million. This library featured series such as Bonanza, The High Chaparral, Car 54, Where Are You?, Kimba the White Lion, and Get Smart.
NTA altered original Paramount black-and-white animated shorts by substituting titles with its own logo and obscuring Paramount branding, though some prints preserved partial original elements. During the early 1970s, NTA colorized Betty Boop cartoons to improve appeal amid the growing popularity of color television.
By 1982, after ending its partnership with The Nostalgia Merchant, NTA launched NTA Home Entertainment to distribute its catalog on VHS and Betamax formats. It also established two imprints: Spotlite Video for public domain works and documentaries, and Inspiration Video dedicated to Christian-themed content.
Republic Pictures Corporation
Capitalizing on its success syndicating Republic Pictures' film catalog to cable outlets, National Telefilm Associates acquired Republic Pictures Corporation’s logos, copyrights, and trademarks on December 28, 1984, subsequently adopting the Republic Pictures name. A television production division under this banner was formed, offering syndicated reruns of CBS programs such as Beauty and the Beast and game show Press Your Luck. The company also distributed theatrical releases including Freeway, Ruby in Paradise, Dark Horse, Live Nude Girls, and Bound. Concurrently, NTA Home Entertainment was rebranded as Republic Pictures Home Video to promote the original Republic film collection. In 1985, Republic acquired Blackhawk Films, although it ceased operations by 1987.
That year saw Republic Pictures Home Video enter into an agreement with Hawk Company, led by Robert Clouse, securing rights to release 31 titles on home video alongside acquiring a 24% ownership stake in Hawk Company.
On August 27, 1986, Republic Pictures Home Video formed a partnership with Eagle Productions Ltd. to develop family-friendly outdoor programming. Republic managed sales, marketing, and distribution for Eagle’s productions under The Eagle Heritage Video Collection brand, targeting enthusiasts of hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities. In 1987, Republic broadened its television production through a collaboration with Jaffe/Lansing Productions, producing ABC’s movie When the Time Comes and two CBS projects—Indiscreet and Mistress—as part of a three-film contract. Chuck Larsen was appointed president of domestic television distribution to supervise series development and acquisitions.
Republic Entertainment Inc.
In January 1993, Blockbuster Entertainment secured a 35% ownership interest in Republic. That same year, Republic's home video division collaborated with Children's Television Workshop to broaden its presence in the children's video segment, though Sesame Street titles were excluded due to an existing agreement with Random House Home Video. Utilizing the Stewart v. Abend ruling, Republic reinstated the copyright for Frank Capra's 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life.
Following Blockbuster's acquisition of a 48.2% share in Aaron Spelling's Spelling Entertainment, Spelling announced a $100 million deal to acquire and merge with Republic Pictures Corporation, which was completed in April 1994. This transaction transformed Republic into a fully owned subsidiary of Spelling Entertainment and resulted in its rebranding as Republic Entertainment Inc.
After Blockbuster merged with Viacom in September 1994, Viacom gained control over 67% of both Spelling Entertainment and Republic. Subsequently, Spelling consolidated its home video operations by merging Worldvision Home Video with Republic Pictures Home Video under the unified Republic banner.
Republic halted its film production activities in 1996. By September 1997, Paramount Home Video assumed responsibility for Republic's video rental segment, while Republic maintained control over sell-through distribution. In 1998, Spelling licensed the American and Canadian video distribution rights for the Republic catalog to Artisan Entertainment, which continued issuing titles under the Republic brand. For international markets, distribution rights were granted to companies such as PolyGram Video/Universal Pictures Video in the United Kingdom.
By the close of the decade, Viacom had acquired full ownership of Spelling, making Republic a wholly owned division within Paramount Pictures. Artisan (later Lionsgate) held licensing rights from Paramount for the Republic name, logo, and film library. The Republic collection includes roughly 3,000 movies and television series encompassing its original holdings along with assets inherited from NTA and Aaron Spelling.
In 2012, Richard Feiner & Co. initiated legal action against Paramount over unauthorized usage of 17 films from the 1940s and 1950s originally released by Warner Bros., which Feiner had sold to Republic in 1986 but retained U.S. licensing rights for. The dispute concluded with a settlement granting Feiner shared royalties.
Eventually, Paramount dissolved Republic Entertainment Inc., establishing Melange Pictures as the holding entity for the Republic library and brand. Following the expiration of Lionsgate’s domestic license, Paramount entered new distribution agreements for the Republic catalog with Olive Films and Kino Lorber, both continuing to operate under license using the Republic brand.
Library
The Melange Pictures archive features an extensive assortment of film and television properties, including:
- The majority of pre-1949 films produced by 20th Century Fox (with NTA holding distribution licenses; Fox retaining ownership)
- Paramount’s short film collection comprising Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios cartoons produced before October 1950 (excluding Popeye the Sailor and Superman), along with Puppetoons, plus live-action comedies and musicals starring performers such as Burns and Allen, Robert Benchley, Eddie Cantor, Rudy Vallee, and Louis Armstrong
- Fleischer Studios’ animated features Gulliver's Travels and Mr. Bug Goes to Town
- Selected post-1938 titles from Monogram Pictures and Allied Artists
- Portions of United Artists’ pre-1952 catalog (excluding rights reverted to original producers)
- Frank Capra’s It's a Wonderful Life (originally Liberty Films/RKO Radio Pictures)
- Titles from Leo McCarey’s Rainbow Productions including The Bells of St. Mary's and Good Sam
- Enterprise Productions’ slate featuring films such as Body and Soul, Arch of Triumph, Force of Evil, and Caught
- Reissued movies from Budd Rogers Releasing Corporation like The Dark Mirror, Magic Town, and A Double Life
- Holdings from Richard Feiner & Company encompassing pre-1960 United States Pictures titles
- Universal Pictures’ 1947 feature The Lost Moment
- In the early 1970s, Cary Grant licensed television distribution rights for several independently produced films to NTA for $2 million plus royalties; these included Penny Serenade, Indiscreet, Operation Petticoat, The Grass is Greener, That Touch of Mink, and Father Goose
- Selected productions from Landau Company
- The film library owned by Bank of America
- Most titles from NTA’s subdivision Commonwealth United Entertainment
- The original Republic Pictures catalog acquired after ceasing production in 1957
- Thirty films produced by Robert L. Lippert’s Regal Films released through 20th Century Fox
- WNTA-AM-FM-TV stations licensed in Newark, New Jersey serving the New York City area; notable for producing the syndicated anthology series The Play of the Week. NTA sold this TV license in 1962; it became WNDT (later WNET), a primary PBS station. The radio licenses were also sold and now operate as WNYM AM 970 and WXBK 94.7 FM.