Telepictures

Telepictures

File:Telepictures logo.png Logo in use since 2009
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Entertainment, television production/filmmaking, broadcast syndication
Predecessor	Lorimar-Telepictures
Founded	1979 (1979)
Founders	David Salzman Michael Jay Solomon Michael Garin
Headquarters	4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California , United States
Parent	Lorimar-Telepictures (1986–1989) Warner Bros. Television Studios (1989–present)
Divisions	Telepictures Distribution (1995–2003) AND Syndicated Productions
Website	telepicturestv.com

Telepictures—also referred to as Telepictures Productions and previously known as Telepictures Distribution or Telepictures Corporation—is a U.S.-based company specializing in television and film production, functioning under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Established in 1979 by David Salzman, Michael Jay Solomon, and Michael Garin, the company initially focused on television syndication.

Founding and Initial Development

At its inception, Telepictures handled distribution for various projects, including a game show produced alongside Jerome Schnur Productions. It also created content for network television and public broadcasters such as PBS, collaborating with Charles Fries Productions and distributing Time-Life Television programming across the Middle East.

Between 1974 and 1988, Telepictures syndicated the works of Rankin-Bass, featuring acclaimed animated series like ThunderCats and SilverHawks. The company acquired full ownership of Rankin-Bass in 1983. Additionally, it operated the NIWS news service and, in 1982, partnered with Gannett Broadcasting to launch the Newscope news program.

The firm syndicated well-known shows including My Favorite Martian, Here's Lucy, Love Connection, and the original The People's Court presided over by Judge Joseph Wapner. It also maintained a publishing division that produced magazines such as The Muppets Magazine and Challenge of the GoBots Magazine.

In 1983, Konigsberg Co., led by Frank Konigsberg, merged into Telepictures. The company also established its Perennial division to distribute classic programming like Mayberry, R.F.D. and The New Dick Van Dyke Show. On March 21, 1984, Telepictures expanded its distribution portfolio by signing an agreement with Dick Clark Productions, acquiring rights to most of Dick Clark's productions and specials.

Merger to Form Lorimar-Telepictures

On February 19, 1986, Telepictures merged with Merv Adelson and Lee Rich's Lorimar Television, creating the entity known as Lorimar-Telepictures. This merger brought production and distribution responsibilities for prominent series such as Dallas and Knots Landing. The company also began syndicating first-run episodes of Mama's Family starting in June 1986.

During this period, Lorimar-Telepictures briefly ventured into owning television stations by acquiring Fox affiliate WPGH-TV located in Pittsburgh. It also attempted to purchase CBS affiliate WTVJ in Miami. However, after CBS expressed interest in Fox affiliate WCIX, Lorimar-Telepictures withdrew its bid for WTVJ. After holding WPGH-TV for approximately one year, the station was sold to Renaissance Broadcasting. Stability in ownership was later established when Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired the station in 1990.

Acquisition by Warner Communications and Transition to Telepictures Productions (1988–present)

In 1987, Lorimar Television was established as an independent production division within Lorimar-Telepictures. The company acquired a 9% ownership interest in Warner Communications, which initiated discussions about a potential merger. Subsequently, in 1988, Warner Communications completed the acquisition of Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar Television continued to function as a subsidiary under Warner Bros. Television Studios until 1993, whereas Lorimar-Telepictures was merged into Warner Bros. Television Distribution. By 1990, the entity was rebranded as Telepictures Productions, concentrating on syndicated content distributed through Warner Bros. Television. That same year, co-founder David Salzman departed to launch a Warner-affiliated production company in partnership with Millennium Productions.

Beginning in 1994, several Telepictures programs such as Extra were jointly produced alongside sibling company Time Inc. under the banner Time-Telepictures Television. Depending on the production’s location, copyrights displayed either "TTT West Coast" or "TTT East Coast." This collaborative venture concluded in 2003, after which all productions were unified under the Telepictures name.

In 2004, John Rieber and Alex Duda from Streamroller Entertainment secured an exclusive overall agreement with Telepictures, broadening the company's production scope.

Telepictures Distribution (1995–2003)

Established in 1995 by Time Warner Entertainment, Telepictures Distribution operated as a subdivision of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution under the leadership of EVP Scott Carlin. This division handled distribution for both non-Warner Bros. programs licensed to Warner and Turner, along with titles owned by Warner.

Following Time Warner’s acquisition of Turner in 1996, significant assets from Turner Program Services were integrated into Telepictures Distribution. In 2003, this division was consolidated into Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

Programs produced by Telepictures

• The People's Court (1981–1993, 1997–2023)
• Love Connection (1983–1994, 1998–1999, 2017–2018)
• Rituals (1984–1985)
• The All New Let's Make a Deal (1984–1986)
• Catchphrase (1985–1986)
• ThunderCats (1985–1989)
• SilverHawks (1986)
• Trump Card (1990–1991)
• Fun House (1990–1991, for Fox Kids)
• The Jesse Jackson Show (1990)
• The Jenny Jones Show (1991–2003)
• The Jane Whitney Show (1992–1994)
• Extra (1994–present)
• Carnie! (1995–1996)
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996–2002)
• In Person with Maureen O'Boyle (1996–1997)
• Change of Heart (1998–2003)
• The Queen Latifah Show (1999–2001)
• Judge Mathis (1999–2023)
• Street Smarts (2000–2005)
• ElimiDate (2001–2006)
• The Caroline Rhea Show (2002–2003)
• Celebrity Justice (2002–2005)
• SlamBall (2002-2003)
• The Bachelor (2002–2006; seasons 1–8 only)
• Are You Hot? (2003)
• The Sharon Osbourne Show (2003–2004)
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003–2022)
• The Bachelorette (2003–2005; seasons 1–3 only)
• The Larry Elder Show (2004–2005)
• The Tyra Banks Show (2005–2010)
• The Dr. Keith Ablow Show (2006–2007)
• TMZ on TV (2007–2021; later transferred to Fox Corporation and distributed via Fox First Run with advertising sales handled by CBS Media Ventures)
• The Bonnie Hunt Show (2008–2010)
• Judge Jeanine Pirro (2008–2011)
• Lopez Tonight (2009–2011)
• Dr. Drew's Lifechangers (2011–2012)
• Anderson Live (2011–2013)
• Let's Ask America (2012–2015)
• Bethenny (2013–2014)
• The Real (2013–2022)
• Just Keke (2014)
• Candidly Nicole (2014–2015)
• Crime Watch Daily (2015–2018)
• Revival of Mad TV series (2016)
• Ellen's Game of Games (2017–2021)
• Talk show hosted by RuPaul (2019)
• The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022–present)
• True Crime News (2024–present)

Television stations previously owned by Telepictures

Market	Station	Ownership Period	Present Ownership and Affiliation
Pittsburgh	WPGH-TV 53	1986–1987	Operates as a Fox affiliate under the management of Sinclair Broadcast Group
Springfield, Missouri	KSPR 33	1984–1987	Functions as an ABC affiliate owned by Gray Television; the full-power license was relinquished in 2017, with the affiliation and call sign moving to the low-power station KSPR-LD