Disney–ABC Domestic Television explained

Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Trade Name:Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution
Former Name:Buena Vista Television LLC (1985–2007)
Predecessor:20th Television (original and syndication company)
Type:Subsidiary
Hq Location City:Burbank, California
Hq Location Country:U.S.
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:Television syndication
Parent:Disney Platform Distribution

Disney–ABC Domestic Television (also referred to as ABC Syndication & doing business as Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, and formerly named Buena Vista Television) is the in-home sales and content distribution firm of Disney Platform Distribution, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, which is a division of The Walt Disney Company. Content distribution responsibilities include domestic television syndication, domestic pay TV, Internet and cable video-on-demand (VOD), and pay-per-view outlets.[1] Disney–ABC Domestic TV replaces the original 20th Television since August 10, 2020, and is currently running as a syndication and distribution arm.

Background

ABC's first syndication arm, ABC Films (established in July 1953), was spun off as Worldvision Enterprises (now CBS Media Ventures) in March 1973 due to fin-syn laws (which have since been repealed).

Despite having some TV shows and feature films, Disney only had two syndicated shows, The Mickey Mouse Club and The Mouse Factory, prior to the formation of this unit.[2]

History

Buena Vista Television, Inc.

Disney established a television syndication unit in 1985, with Robert Jacquemin as senior vice president of domestic television distribution. None of its animated feature films were planned to enter syndication at the time.[2] The division was incorporated as Buena Vista Television, Inc. on November 5, 1985,[3] with its first release in the first-run syndication market called Siskel & Ebert. The company produced the business-oriented morning show, Today's Business, in August 1986, only to put an end to the show in April 1987, indicating that they were unable to get enough advertisers.[4] In 1990, the company offered its first game show, The Challengers, into first-run syndication.[5]

In late 1986, Buena Vista was shopping DuckTales for a 1987 debut, with a 4–6 p.m. placement and a 2.5/3.5 syndicator/station ad split.[6] In late 1990 and early 1991, after launching The Disney Afternoon syndicated block, Buena Vista had considered starting a new one-hour morning block to start in 1992.[7]

On August 24, 1994, a reorganization of Disney took place in which Richard H. Frank became head of a newly formed Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications, which was split from Walt Disney Studios and included Buena Vista TV.[8]

In April 1996, due to the ongoing post Disney–Capital Cities/ABC Inc. merger realignment and the retirement of its president, Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications' divisions were reassigned to other groups. Therefore, Buena Vista TV, as a part of Walt Disney Television International, was transferred to Disney–ABC Television Group.[9]

In February 1997, Buena Vista began development on the Comedy Central original daytime game show Win Ben Stein's Money, presided over by actor, financial planner, motivator and author Ben Stein. The series debuted July 27, 1997 on Comedy Central; and Jimmy Kimmel was named co-host and quizmaster opposite Stein himself.

In March 2007, Starz Inc. sued Buena Vista TV for breaching their agreement by allowing films to be available online through Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store and other outlets. The introduction of the Apple TV device forced Starz to file suit, which hinged on the "contractual definition of 'television'" and whether complete TV exclusivity was granted, as Starz then had a secondary distribution deal with Netflix.[10]

Disney–ABC Domestic Television

In May 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to semi-retire the use of the Buena Vista brand in favor of focusing on the three core brands of Disney, ABC, and ESPN instead.[11] As a result, Buena Vista Television was rebranded as Disney–ABC Domestic Television (DADT).[10] Buena Vista TV converted to a limited liability business form on April 10, 2009.[3] [12]

By July 2008, Disney–ABC Domestic TV signed additional carriage agreements with Vudu and CinemaNow, which was then added to the Starz lawsuit. On December 2, 2008, Disney–ABC Domestic TV and Starz Entertainment settled their online distribution lawsuit with the terms undisclosed.[10]

Distribution units were transferred to Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) as part of The Walt Disney Company’s March 14, 2018 strategic reorganization in anticipation of integrating 21st Century Fox's assets.[13] In February 2020, Disney licensed 21 TV series, from Ally McBeal to Witches of East End including Lost and Desperate Housewives, to Amazon-owned IMDb ad supported streaming service.[14] On August 10, 2020, Disney–ABC Domestic TV took over the syndication function of the original 20th Television.

First-run programming

Current

Films

The Walt Disney Studios libraries (including Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures) except Titanic and Braveheart (both distributed by Paramount Pictures in North America)

Off-net syndication

Former

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Disney–ABC Domestic Television Company Profile. Yahoo Finance. July 2, 2013.
  2. News: Harmetz. Aljean. Disney Creates TV syndication Unit . September 13, 2017. The New York Times . March 6, 1985.
  3. Web site: Buena Vista Television (C1356512). Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. December 11, 2014.
  4. News: Adelson. Rea. A Push for All-Business Radio . September 13, 2017. The New York Times. November 27, 1987.
  5. News: Gerard. Jeremy. The Media Business: Television; Syndicators Find a Winner: The Successful Game Show. September 11, 2017. The New York Times. January 22, 1990.
  6. Sobel. Robert. Kids syndication marketplace moving at frenzied pace. Television/Radio Age. August 4, 1986. XXXIV. 1. 59. September 13, 2017. https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20141127203506/http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-TV-Radio-Age/Issues/80s/1986/1986-08-04-RTVA.pdf. November 27, 2014. dead.
  7. INTV DISPATCHES. Broadcasting. January 7, 1991. 14. September 15, 2017.
  8. News: Weintraub. Bernard. Chairman of Disney Studios Resigns. April 28, 2014. Los Angeles Times. August 25, 1994.
  9. News: Roth, Iger Assume Expanded Responsibilities at the Walt Disney Company. March 11, 2013. PR Newswire. April 16, 1996. September 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063707/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/ROTH,+IGER+ASSUME+EXPANDED+RESPONSIBILITIES+AT+THE+WALT+DISNEY+COMPANY-a018198127. dead.
  10. Web site: Spangler. Todd. Coda. (a lawsuit between Starz Entertainment and Disney-ABC Domestic Television). https://web.archive.org/web/20150329042408/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-190612064.html. dead. March 29, 2015. December 15, 2008. Multichannel News.
  11. Web site: Fixmer. Andy. Disney to Drop Buena Vista Brand Name, People Say (Update1). November 28, 2012. Bloomberg.com. April 25, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20110918060836/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a0MG17nO.PG8&refer=home. 18 September 2011.
  12. Web site: Buena Vista Television LLC (200910010281). Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. December 11, 2014.
  13. News: Chmielewski. Dawn C.. Disney Announces Reorganization, Names Kevin Mayer Head Of New Direct-To-Consumer Unit, Adds Consumer Products To Bob Chapek's Portfolio. March 16, 2018. Deadline. March 14, 2018.
  14. News: Spangler . Todd . Amazon's IMDb TV Inks Disney Pact for Free Streaming of 'Lost,' 'Desperate Housewives,' More . February 18, 2020 . Variety . February 5, 2020 . en.
  15. Web site: ABC Syndication Members Profiles. Syndicated Network Television Association. July 2, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203064953/http://www.snta.com/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=4. December 3, 2013.
  16. News: Petski . Denise . 'Tamron Hall' Syndicated Daytime Talk Show Gets Fall Premiere Date . March 4, 2019 . Deadline . March 4, 2019 . en.
  17. News: Villarreal. Yvonne. ABC stations pick up Tyra Banks-led daytime talk show for 2015. December 11, 2014. Los Angeles Times. October 20, 2014.
  18. Web site: Benson . Jim . 1995-04-03 . BVTV aims high with new strips . 2023-07-04 . Variety . en-US.
  19. Web site: Benson . Jim . 1995-01-09 . Hours Lose Power In Syndie Market . 2023-07-04 . Variety . en-US.
  20. Web site: Sam Raimi banks on Disney's 'Seeker'. 2008-11-07. Thielman. Sam. August 1, 2008. Variety.
  21. Web site: Katie to End Production in June After Two Seasons. Carter. Bill. The New York Times. December 19, 2013. December 19, 2013.
  22. Web site: Albiniak. Paige. Disney-ABC Goes Wall-to-Wall With 'On the Red Carpet'. December 3, 2014. Broadcasting & Cable. April 29, 2013.
  23. News: Wagmeister . Elizabeth . 'FABLife' Officially Canceled Following Tyra Banks' Departure, Disney/ABC Picks Up 'Right This Minute' . August 7, 2019 . Variety . January 20, 2016 . en.
  24. Web site: Faith Hill-Produced 'Pickler & Ben' Talk Show Launching in September. August 24, 2017 . Taste of Country. October 1, 2018.
  25. News: Wayne Friedman. Syndicated TV: Hardball With the Big Guys . September 13, 2017. The New York Times. April 15, 1990.
  26. MORE NEW CHILDREN'S PLAYERS FOR DISNEY. Broadcasting. September 14, 2017.
  27. Web site: Low ratings spell end of Brady show. December 11, 2014. Los Angeles Times. AP. January 13, 2004.
  28. News: Just. Olivia. Disney moves filming of 'Millionaire' to Stamford. May 22, 2015. CT Post. July 3, 2014.
  29. News: Stelter. Brian. Head of ABC's Daytime Programming Is Leaving. 11 January 2013. New York Times. December 2, 2011.

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