Republic Entertainment (1984-2010)

Republic Entertainment Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Film and television distribution
Founded	1954
Founder	Ely Landau, Oliver A. Unger, Harold Goldman
Fate	Acquired by Spelling Entertainment; later integrated into Paramount Pictures
Headquarters	Newark, New Jersey , United States
Area served	United States, international (through licensing partners)
Key people	Charles C. Barry, Bernard Tabakin, Chuck Larsen
Products	Film and television syndication, home video distribution, film production (until 1996)
Parent	Paramount Pictures (via Spelling Entertainment)

Republic Entertainment Inc. operated as a distribution firm specializing in the syndication of American film libraries for television broadcast, notably handling the Republic Pictures collection alongside the National Telefilm Associates (NTA) archive. Its achievements in cable television from 1983 to 1985 prompted a rebranding to Republic Pictures and facilitated its growth into film production and home video distribution.

National Telefilm Associates

Established in 1954 by Ely Landau and Oliver A. Unger, NTA emerged from the reorganization of Ely Landau, Inc., with Unger and Harold Goldman joining as partners. It took over U.M. & M. TV Corporation in 1956, marking a significant expansion.

In October 1956, NTA inaugurated the NTA Film Network, a syndication platform delivering films and live programming to independent television stations, aiming to position itself as a "fourth TV network." Its flagship outlet was WNTA-TV based in New York City. The network launched with more than 100 affiliate stations, featuring syndicated series such as Police Call (1955), How to Marry a Millionaire (1957-1959), Man Without a Gun (1957-1959), and distributed a package of 52 Twentieth Century Fox movies. Fox acquired half ownership of the network later that year, contributing original programming.

By January 1959, Charles C. Barry succeeded Landau as president overseeing network operations, while Landau continued as NTA chairman. In 1962, Bernard Tabakin assumed the presidency, guiding NTA to become the foremost independent distributor of television content through acquisitions including NBC Films and Republic Pictures' libraries.

Despite Fox's investment, the NTA Film Network never achieved parity with the dominant "Big Three" networks and is primarily recognized as a syndication service rather than a full-fledged network.

In 1973, NTA acquired NBC Films for $7.5 million after FCC regulations prohibited networks from syndicating their own programs. This purchase enriched NTA’s catalog with popular titles such as Bonanza, The High Chaparral, Car 54, Where Are You?, Kimba the White Lion, and Get Smart.

To manage distribution rights, NTA modified original Paramount black-and-white cartoons by replacing their title cards and logos with its own branding; some shorts retained partial original elements due to technical limitations. During the 1970s, select black-and-white animations like Betty Boop were colorized to improve appeal in an era increasingly dominated by color television.

By 1982, following the conclusion of its agreement with The Nostalgia Merchant, NTA launched NTA Home Entertainment to release its titles on VHS and Betamax formats. Additionally, it created Spotlite Video for public domain content and Inspiration Video focusing on Christian and faith-oriented productions.

Republic Pictures Corporation

Following its effective syndication of the Republic Pictures catalog on cable TV, National Telefilm Associates acquired Republic Pictures Corporation’s trademarks, copyrights, and logos on December 28, 1984, subsequently adopting the Republic Pictures name. Under this banner, a television production division was established to distribute off-network reruns such as CBS’s Beauty and the Beast and game show Press Your Luck. The company also produced theatrical releases including Freeway, Ruby in Paradise, Dark Horse, Live Nude Girls, and Bound. Its home video subsidiary was renamed Republic Pictures Home Video to better market the original film library. In 1985, Republic purchased Blackhawk Films but discontinued its operations by 1987.

That same year, Republic Pictures Home Video entered an agreement with Hawk Company—headed by Robert Clouse—securing home video rights for 31 projects along with acquiring a 24% ownership stake in Hawk. On August 27, 1986, Republic Pictures Home Video partnered with Eagle Productions Ltd. to create family-friendly outdoor-themed programming under The Eagle Heritage Video Collection label; Republic managed sales, marketing, and distribution responsibilities.

In 1987, Republic broadened its television production efforts through collaboration with Jaffe/Lansing Productions on ABC’s TV movie When the Time Comes plus two CBS projects titled Indiscreet and Mistress, part of a three-picture arrangement. That year also saw Chuck Larsen appointed president of domestic television distribution to oversee series acquisition from ongoing development initiatives.

Republic Entertainment Inc.

In January 1993, Blockbuster Entertainment acquired a 35% ownership interest in Republic, marking a strategic move into the home video sector. By June of that year, Republic formed a partnership with Children's Television Workshop to enter the children's video market, though this agreement excluded Sesame Street titles due to an existing contract with Random House Home Video. Later in 1993, Republic capitalized on the Stewart v. Abend ruling to restore the copyright for Frank Capra's 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life, thereby enriching its film library.

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, finalized in April 1994. This transaction transformed Republic into a fully owned subsidiary of Spelling Entertainment and led to its rebranding as Republic Entertainment Inc., broadening its corporate footprint and market reach.

After Blockbuster merged with Viacom in September 1994, Viacom indirectly gained control over 67% of Spelling Entertainment and Republic. Subsequently, Spelling consolidated its Worldvision Home Video division with Republic Pictures Home Video, unifying home video operations under the Republic banner.

In 1996, Republic halted film production to concentrate on distribution activities. By September 1997, Paramount Home Video assumed responsibility for Republic's video rental business while Republic continued managing sell-through sales. In 1998, Spelling licensed the American and Canadian video rights for the Republic catalog to Artisan Entertainment, ensuring ongoing brand visibility in home entertainment; international distribution was handled by partners such as PolyGram Video and Universal Pictures Video.

Toward the end of the decade, Viacom completed full acquisition of Spelling Entertainment, making Republic a wholly owned division within Paramount Pictures. Artisan (later integrated into Lionsgate) maintained licensing of the Republic brand and library from Paramount. The collection includes roughly 3,000 films and television series, comprising original Republic productions as well as titles inherited from NTA and Aaron Spelling.

In 2012, Richard Feiner & Co. initiated legal action against Paramount over unauthorized use of 17 films initially released by Warner Bros., alleging violations of licensing agreements concerning key U.S. territories. The dispute concluded with Feiner obtaining shared royalties, underscoring the complexities of rights administration in the industry.

Paramount ultimately integrated Republic Entertainment into its operations and established Melange Pictures as a holding entity for the Republic catalog and brand assets. Following expiration of Lionsgate’s domestic license, Paramount collaborated with Olive Films and Kino Lorber to distribute the Republic library under licensed use of its brand identity, maintaining its presence in classic film distribution markets.

Library

The Melange Pictures collection encompasses significant holdings such as:

• The majority of pre-1949 films produced by 20th Century Fox (with NTA managing distribution licenses; ownership retained by Fox)
• Paramount’s short film archive featuring Fleischer Studios’ works and Famous Studios cartoons produced before October 1950 (excluding Popeye the Sailor and Superman), along with Puppetoons and various live-action comedies and musicals starring renowned entertainers like Burns and Allen, Robert Benchley, 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 Pictures Corporation
• Portions of the pre-1952 United Artists catalog (excluding reverted rights)
• Liberty Films’ Frank Capra classic It's a Wonderful Life originally distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
• Leo McCarey’s Rainbow Productions films including The Bells of St. Mary's and Good Sam
• Enterprise Productions’ library containing titles such as Body and Soul, Arch of Triumph, and Force of Evil
• Reissued movies from Budd Rogers Releasing Corporation like The Dark Mirror and A Double Life
• Pre-1960 United States Pictures catalog
• The 1947 Universal Pictures release The Lost Moment
• In the early 1970s, Cary Grant granted NTA television distribution rights for several independently produced films for $2 million plus royalties; these included titles like Penny Serenade, Indiscreet, and Operation Petticoat
• Select productions from The Landau Company
• Most films released by Commonwealth United Entertainment, an NTA subsidiary
• The original Republic Pictures library acquired following cessation of production in 1957
• Thirty films produced by Robert L. Lippert’s Regal Films released through 20th Century Fox

NTA also operated WNTA-AM-FM-TV licensed in Newark, New Jersey, serving the New York City area on Channel 13 starting in 1958. Among its notable productions was the syndicated dramatic anthology series The Play of the Week. The television station ceased operations in 1961, with its license sold in 1962 to Educational Broadcasting Corporation which relaunched it as WNDT (later WNET), becoming the primary PBS station for greater New York. The radio stations were divested separately and currently operate as WNYM AM 970 and WXBK 94.7 FM.