DreamWorks Classics is an American
entertainment company owned by
DreamWorks Animation, a subsidiary of
Universal Pictures, a division of
NBCUniversal, which in turn is a subsidiary of
Comcast. Founded as Classic Media in 2000 by
Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman,[5] The studio's library consists of acquired
intellectual property catalogs and character brands, as well as the licensing rights for various third-party properties. In 2012, Boomerang Media sold Classic Media to DreamWorks Animation, who rebranded the company as DreamWorks Classics (the legal name is still Classic Media, LLC).[6][7] DreamWorks Animation became a subsidiary of NBCUniversal in 2016.[8]
History
Classic Media was founded by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman in May 2000 after acquiring the
United Productions of America (UPA) catalog and assets from the estate of
Henry Saperstein.[5]Frank Biondi, the former head of
Universal Studios, and film producer
Steve Tisch invested in the company.[9] Classic Media then bought the
Harvey Films catalog on March 11, 2001.[9][10] On August 16, 2001, Classic Media and
Random House won a joint bid for the assets of
Golden Books, with Random House, and Classic Media acquiring Golden Books' entertainment division (including the
Dell Comics and
Gold Key Comics libraries[11]) and Random House acquiring Golden Books' book publishing properties. Classic then purchased much rights to the Jay Ward characters and formed Bullwinkle Studios, a joint venture with
Jay Ward Productions, to manage them sometime in 2002.[12][13] On October 31, 2003, Classic Media purchased the assets of the bankrupt
Big Idea Entertainment catalog.[14] By 2007, Bullwinkle Studios became converted to a functioning studio.[6][15]
On April 7, 2005, the company was recapitalized by a group of investors consisting of Spectrum Equity Investors plus existing investors led by Pegasus Capital Advisors. A $100 million senior debt facility was also arranged from JP Morgan Chase Bank-led bank group. With the deal, Spectrum became a majority owner over the existing investors, with a representative on the company board of directors.[11]
On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival
Entertainment Rights for $210.0 million.[17] Before the acquisition was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with
Genius Products LLC, replacing the
Sony Wonder deal.[18]
Entertainment Rights fell in to administration on April 1, 2009. On the same day, Boomerang Media LLC, formed by Ellenbogen and Engelman in 2008 with equity funding from GTCR, announced that it would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal UK and American subsidiaries, including Classic Media, Inc. and
Big Idea Entertainment, from its administrators.[19] On May 11, 2009, Boomerang Media announced that the former UK and American subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the name Classic Media, while Big Idea would operate under its own name.[3][4]
On February 20, 2010, Classic Media purchased the then-upcoming manga-inspired television series My Life Me from the bankrupt
TV-Loonland AG.[20][21]
Classic Media bought the Noddy brand on March 7[22] and later bought the Olivia brand on March 19, both in 2012 from
Chorion.[23]
Sale to DreamWorks Animation (2012–present)
On July 23, 2012,
DreamWorks Animation announced that they would acquire Classic Media for $155 million from Boomerang Media, with the deal closing in September of that year.[6][7] Afterwards, Classic Media began trading as DreamWorks Classics to associate itself with its parent company, although the parent company remained under its former name.
On October 3, 2012, Classic Media made its first post-DreamWorks sale by securing licensing and distribution rights to Studio Hari's The Owl & Co outside of France and other French-speaking territories.[24]
On September 17, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced they had purchased the programming library of the British animation studio
Chapman Entertainment, and placed distribution through DreamWorks' UK-based TV distribution operation.[25]
On June 18, 2014, DreamWorks Animation bought the Felix the Cat brand and added it to the DreamWorks Classics portfolio.[26]
On April 28, 2016,
NBCUniversal announced it would buy out DreamWorks Animation in a $3.8 billion deal.[27] The buyout was completed on August 22.[8]
^Tuchow, Ryan (January 13, 2020).
"CBS All Access scoops up DreamWorks Classics". Kidscreen.
Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020. US SVOD CBS All Access is growing its children's programming with three new animated series from DreamWorks Animation-owned distributor Classics Media.