Misplaced Pages

#235764

47-401: Alliance Atlantis was the result of a merger of two companies: Atlantis Communications , founded in 1978 by Michael MacMillan , and Alliance Communications , founded in 1984 by Stephen Roth, Denis Héroux , John Kemeny , Robert Lantos , Andras Hamori and Susan Cavan as Alliance Entertainment. Alliance Communications and Atlantis Communications merged to form Alliance Atlantis in 1998 which

94-671: A high definition DVD , Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Extreme Edition) . The release was a promotion for the Windows Media version 9 format ; it could only be played on a personal computer with Windows XP . Artisan had released the movie in 2002 on D-VHS . In the summer of 2003, Marvel Enterprises placed an offer for Artisan, with then-Disney-owned and Weinstein-operated Miramax Films to provide backing for Marvel's bid. On December 15, 2003, Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation acquired Artisan for $ 220 million and video releases through Artisan have now been re-released under

141-454: A Dream , Pi , Killing Zoe , The Blair Witch Project , Grizzly Falls , Startup.com , Novocaine , and National Lampoon's Van Wilder . Artisan, unlike most movie studios, had its roots in the home video industry. Artisan Entertainment was founded in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom as Family Home Entertainment, Inc. , and it was initially operated as a subsidiary of adult film distributor Caballero Control Corporation . It received

188-566: A European co-financing and distribution deal with German studio TV-Loonland AG . The distribution deal was valued at $ 14 million. In 2001, the company purchased Salter Street Films , which produced a number of television shows for both the Canadian and international market. However, soon after the acquisition, Salter Street was disbanded and its active projects were transferred to Alliance Atlantis' own television production/development division. Citing lower profits, Alliance Atlantis later closed

235-591: A company, StudioCanal got full rights to their film library; LIVE, under a new deal with the French-based production company, continued to distribute Carolco's films for video. Also that year, in July, WEA's role has been mostly decreased, with LIVE took control of its sales, while WEA continue to handle distribution of its products. In 1997, LIVE was acquired by Bain Capital and was taken private. Though Burlage

282-541: A deal with Warner-Elektra-Atlantic. In 1993, Carolco restructured itself and was forced to sell its shares in LIVE Entertainment to a group of investors led by Pioneer Electronic Corporation . In August 1994, Carolco and LIVE plotted another merger attempt, but the plans fell apart once again that October. Under new CEO Roger Burlage, the unprofitable retail assets were sold and more focus was placed upon film production. In 1996, when Carolco ceased to exist as

329-735: A distribution pact with Wizard Video . In 1982, the latter had sold The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 10,000 copies a week. Also that year, the label started distributing titles by Monterey Home Video . Later on, it received a distribution deal with MGM/UA Home Video to distribute the library. In 1983, it received a new agreement with Filmation in order to distribute the library on videocassette. In 1983, FHE began operating its new subsidiary U.S.A. Home Video , when tapes were usually packaged in large boxes and included non-family films such as Supergirl , Silent Night, Deadly Night , several Lorimar titles and many B-movies , including those that begin and end with B-actress Sybil Danning talking about

376-641: A five-ten year period. This was followed in October 1999 with a four-year home video deal with Discovery Communications to release programming from the Discovery Channel , Animal Planet and TLC networks through dedicated labels under Family Home Entertainment. On February 10, 2000, Artisan acquired a minority stake in The Baby Einstein Company in exchange for a three-year North American home video distribution agreement for

423-711: A market in flux in the wake of several notable independent film companies, including Orion Pictures , Miramax Films and others being subsumed into larger corporate organizations. On December 18, 1997, LIVE entered into a domestic home video deal with Hallmark Entertainment to handle the distribution of products from its Hallmark Home Entertainment subsidiary, including Crayola -branded releases and Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. These releases would be distributed under Family Home Entertainment, while Hallmark Home Entertainment would retain marketing rights. By 1998, products from Cabin Fever Entertainment were added to

470-663: A million dollars to finance the 1992 film Reservoir Dogs , which marked the directorial debut of Quentin Tarantino . Other films included Paul Schrader 's Light Sleeper . On January 11, 1991, Live announced that it would acquire Vestron, Inc. for $ 24 million after its downfall; Vestron had been known best for Dirty Dancing , which had been the second highest-grossing independent film of all time. Vestron releases continued into 1992. For several years starting in 1993, LIVE Entertainment distributed anime released by Pioneer Entertainment , including Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki and

517-704: A minority interest in the latter a year earlier. That year, it secured a deal with MCA Distributing Corporation to handle distribution of its titles. The unrated release of Angel Heart was the first Carolco film released by IVE on video. The studio hired José Menendez, previously of RCA , as head of IVE; he was responsible for creating product deals with Sylvester Stallone 's White Eagle Enterprises and producer Edward Pressman . In 1989, Menendez and his wife were murdered by their two sons . Also in 1987, Noel C. Bloom left IVE, following disputes with Carolco, to start out Celebrity Home Entertainment , with some of IVE's employees defecting to Celebrity. Later that year,

SECTION 10

#1732775697236

564-475: A new distribution deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment . In addition to adding more theatrical releases, the company's home video subsidiary, Artisan Home Entertainment, continued to expand with more home video deals. The company began releasing products from TSG Pictures around this time, and by September 1998, Artisan signed a deal with Spelling Entertainment Group to distribute films from its Republic Pictures unit for home video release throughout

611-510: A number of Canadian specialty services, which, in addition to those listed above, later included Food Network , Discovery Health (now FYI Canada), BBC Canada , BBC Kids and more. Throughout the years, the company had purchased assets of several bankrupt studios, including Norstar Entertainment, Telescene, Peace Arch, Cinemavault, Odeon Films and in 2005, had bought out the television library of Fireworks Distributing Corporation from CanWest Global Communications . In 2007, Alliance Atlantis

658-491: The Alliance Cinemas banner until January 1, 2021; the theaters under the chain are now owned by Cineplex Entertainment . Alliance Atlantis was formed in 1998 from the merger of two former production companies, Alliance Communications (founded in 1984) and Atlantis Communications (founded in 1978). As President and Board Director of the subsequent combined Alliance Atlantis, Lewis Rose was responsible for leading

705-1010: The Baby Einstein catalog. The deal was eventually revoked early at the end of 2001 following The Walt Disney Company 's purchase of The Baby Einstein Company. In May 2000, Marvel Studios negotiated a deal with Artisan Entertainment for a co-production joint venture that included rights to 15 Marvel characters including Captain America , Thor , the Black Panther , Iron Fist , and Deadpool . Artisan would finance and distribute while Marvel would developing licensing and merchandising tie-ins. The resulting production library, which would also include TV series, direct-to-video films and internet projects, would be co-owned. On September 13, 2000, Artisan launched Artisan Digital Media and iArtisan . The last major deal Artisan undertook that year

752-849: The AAC Fact unit. Alliance Films was a major motion picture distribution/production company which serves Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Formally known as Motion Picture Distribution LP, it was re branded and relaunched in 2007 due to the break-up of its preceding company, Alliance Atlantis, which was sold off piece by piece to Canwest Global , GS Capital Partners , along with several other smaller companies. Alliance Atlantis and Vivafilm home video releases were manufactured and distributed by NBCUniversal 's Universal Pictures Home Entertainment . Entertainment One (eOne) later acquired Alliance Films on January 9, 2013 for $ 225 million and merged Alliance Films and all of their subsidiaries under

799-582: The United States, and hired Ironstar executive Derek McGillvay to join the company as VP of sales. In 1998, the company would get into the network television business, by teaming up with Beth Sullivan to produce dramas, and produce its UPN series Legacy . Later that year, it merged with Alliance Communications , forming Alliance Atlantis Communications . Currently, the majority of the former assets of Atlantis Communications are owned by Lionsgate Canada , via its acquisition of eOne in 2023, while

846-692: The acquisitions of such stores as Strawberries and Waxie Maxie, and its Lieberman subsidiary acquired Navarre Corporation . Also that year, it partnered with distributor Radio Vision International to launch a music-oriented label, Radio Vision Video . In 1990, IVE became LIVE Home Video . Carolco formed its own home video division under a partnership with LIVE. The company also formed Avid Home Entertainment , which reissued older IVE products, as well as ITC Entertainment 's back catalogue, on videocassette at discount prices. Also in 1990, LIVE acquired German video distributor VCL. LIVE Entertainment also branched out into film production. The company spent more than

893-440: The broadcasting unit is owned by Corus Entertainment . Artisan Entertainment Artisan Entertainment (formerly known as U.S.A. Home Video , International Video Entertainment ( IVE ) and LIVE Entertainment ) was an American film studio and home video company . It was considered one of the largest mini-major film studios until it was purchased by later mini-major film studio Lions Gate Entertainment in 2003. At

940-477: The companies launched History Television and HGTV Canada respectively. Earlier that year, Alliance Atlantis teamed up with Hallmark Cards to create Crayola Kids Adventures, a series of three direct-to-video adaptations of well-known children's novels. Atlantis had also been a major investor in YTV in its first few years before selling out to Shaw Communications and later, Corus Entertainment from 1999. In 1998,

987-458: The company had acquired the assets of home video distributor Vista Home Video from The Vista Organization for $ 38 million. In 1988, IVE and FHE consolidated into LIVE Entertainment after a merger with wholesale media distributor Lieberman Enterprises. LIVE formed new ventures outside the home video business, including ownership of retail music and video chains across the East Coast, after

SECTION 20

#1732775697236

1034-501: The company purchased 75% of Cineplex Odeon Films . In 1999, Kinowelt purchased an interest in Alliance Atlantis' UK distribution arm, which was soon renamed to Momentum Pictures in 2000. Also that year, the company secured the Canadian rights to distribute features by Destination Films. Also in 2000, it purchased the rights to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from Disney's Touchstone Television . Another major deal in 2000

1081-566: The company was an applicant for a Canadian version of HGTV , which would later launch in 1997. In 1997, the company had signed a distribution deal with CBS Broadcast International to begin distributing content or the Canadian market, for $ 10 million. Also that year, the company gained a 50% interest in Calibre Digital Pictures, a visual effects company. Later that year, the company had acquired Ironstar Communications, in order to expand Atlantis' distribution operations in

1128-587: The deal after Hallmark purchased and folded the company in March of that year. As part of a restructuring process, in April 1998, LIVE Entertainment was rebranded as Artisan Entertainment; the rebranding was in part motivated by LIVE's reputation for mediocre product and lingering memories of their connection to the Menendez brothers case. In August 1998, the distribution deal with WEA has been expired and replaced by

1175-575: The film that is being shown under the Adventure Video label. U.S.A. also released sports videos under the U.S.A. Sports Video label. In 1984, FHE and U.S.A. became part of Noel Bloom's NCB Entertainment Group (which also included Bloom's other labels Caballero Home Video , Monterey Home Video and Thriller Video), and then later on that year, both were consolidated into International Video Entertainment, Inc. , formed under NCB and also taking ownership of Monterey and Thriller Video. The IVE name

1222-603: The first Tenchi Muyo! movie, Tenchi Muyo! in Love . Much of LIVE's earnings were partially thanks to Carolco's investment in the company, but by 1991, the studio was in such debt that a plan to merge the two companies was called off that December; around this time, the Lieberman assets were sold to another video distributor, Handleman, in an effort to stem LIVE's financial bleeding. In 1992, its distribution agreement with Uni Distribution Corporation has been expired, and signed

1269-528: The former Atlantis sales office in Amsterdam. As part of the merger deal, Robert Lantos , founder of Alliance, signed a deal for film and TV production with Alliance Atlantis through his own firm, Serendipity Point Films. At the time of the merger, both companies had launched various Canadian specialty television services; in 1995, Alliance launched Showcase Television while Atlantis launched Life Network (which has since been renamed "Slice"); in fall 1997

1316-505: The fourth season of Airwolf . In 1983, the same year the company founded, it started Atlantis Television International to serve as international distributor for Atlantis productions and, later, the distribution of outside projects, which in 1987 became Atlantis Releasing, and establishes offices in Toronto , Amsterdam , London and Sydney . In 1986, it launched a partnership with P.S. Production Services to set up Cinevillage, which

1363-648: The international distribution rights to the Degrassi franchise, to DHX Media . In 2017, producer Steven Paul announced that he would acquire the non-family assets of Echo Bridge Entertainment, including the international distribution rights to Alliance Atlantis' library (with the exception of its children's programs that are still owned by DHX Media/WildBrain) and later folded it into SP Releasing, in turn licensed most of Alliance Atlantis, Cineplex Odeon Films, Echo Bridge and PM Entertainment libraries to FilmRise for digital distribution and online streaming. eOne in turn

1410-528: The international television distribution division was sold to Echo Bridge Entertainment . All of the former Alliance Atlantis specialty networks, except for the now-defunct BBC Kids , are now owned by Corus Entertainment . The films division was later acquired by Entertainment One group and folded into eOne on January 9, 2013. Most of the assets of eOne, which included Alliance Atlantis' films division and television library, were later acquired by Lionsgate on December 27, 2023. The Alliance name survived under

1457-685: The latter brand. Most of the assets of eOne, as well as Alliance Films libraries was subsequently bought by Lionsgate in late 2023. Atlantis Communications Atlantis Communications was a Canadian production company and television broadcaster that was formed in 1978 by Queen's University students Michael MacMillan , Janice L. Platt and Seaton S. MacLean. It was later merged in 1998 with Alliance Communications to form Alliance Atlantis Communications . The company made its start in April 1978, first as Birchbark Films Limited, then as Atlantis Films Limited by Queen's University students Michael MacMillan , Janice L. Platt and Seaton S. MacLean, and it

Alliance Atlantis - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-473: The majority of its production arm, aside from the highly profitable CSI: Crime Scene Investigation family of series, which it co-produces with CBS Television Studios . It briefly maintained Salter Street's long-running This Hour Has 22 Minutes before transferring the show to the Halifax Film Company , made up of former Salter Street employees. It's primary business became its ownership of

1551-686: The most likely bidder. A similar announcement was made previously regarding the Motion Picture Distribution unit, which is also expected to be sold separately while finding a bidder to acquire most parts of the company. On January 10, 2007, it was announced that Alliance Atlantis would be acquired by a consortium of Canwest Global and GS Capital Partners , an affiliate of Goldman Sachs . Following Canwest seeking creditor protection in late 2009, Shaw Communications subsequently took over most of Alliance Atlantis's former broadcasting assets as of October 27, 2010. after CRTC approval for

1598-633: The sale was announced on October 22. Alliance Atlantis (CW Media) became part of the Shaw Media division. Corus Entertainment acquired Shaw Media on April 1, 2016. Entertainment One would later acquire Alliance Films on January 9, 2013 and all of their subsidiaries from Goldman Sachs Group, similar to the purchase of Maple Pictures a year prior. eOne subsequently adopted the 2004 Alliance Atlantis fanfare, still in use by Alliance Films, for their own logo. On November 20, 2014, Echo Bridge Entertainment sold Alliance Atlantis' children's programs, including

1645-637: The series TekWar . The company previously held an interest in the YTV network, for which it owned a minority interest in 1994. Also that year, the company had acquired Soundmix Ltd., which was an audio post-production facility in Toronto, and also has interests in Great North Communications and Salter Street Films. In 1995, a minority interest of the company was sold to the Interpublic Group of Companies . In 1996,

1692-499: The teams which arranged the merger financing of $ 545 million and which achieved in excess of $ 20 million in savings and synergies from the combination of the two companies in the year following the merger. (The merger was also parodied on Made in Canada , when that show's Pyramid Productions merged with a company called Prodigy.) After the merger, the company laid off 15% of their staff (much of them from pre-merger Aliiance), and closed

1739-784: The time of its acquisition, Artisan had a library of thousands of films developed through acquisition, original production, and production and distribution agreements. Its headquarters and private screening room were located in Santa Monica, California . It also had an office in Tribeca in Manhattan , New York . The company owned the home video rights to the film libraries of Republic Pictures , ITC Entertainment , Gladden Entertainment , Miramax Films , Hemdale Film Corporation , The Shooting Gallery , and Carolco Pictures before it went defunct. Artisan's releases included Requiem for

1786-431: Was a 4-acre film and video production center in Toronto. In 1993, the company pushed its operations in the United States, with several made-for-cable movies, such as an adaptation of A Life and His Dog , and two years later, the company entered the cable television business with the launch of Life Network , which in 1996, took control of the network. Also that year, it teamed up with Universal Television to produce

1833-574: Was a member of the North American Broadcasting Association (NABA). The company ceased to exist in 2007 as the broadcasting division was acquired by Canwest Global Communications and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs that year. The motion picture division was then spun off and operated independently as Alliance Films , headquartered in Montreal (subsequently sold to Entertainment One and later, Lionsgate ), and

1880-418: Was a renewal of their distribution pact with Artisan Entertainment , including Canadian distribution of Artisan material, and UK theatrical distribution of Artisan films via Momentum Pictures. The company expanded its business with its launch of its children's production label AAC Kids in 1999, and its nonfiction production label, AAC Fact in 2000. These labels were dissolved in 2003. In 2000, AAC Kids signed

1927-479: Was acquired by U.S. toy maker Hasbro in 2019. On August 3, 2023, Hasbro announced that it would sell most of eOne's assets, including the copyrights and Canadian distribution rights to the library of Alliance Atlantis, to Lionsgate (which Hasbro attempted to acquire in 2017). The deal closed on December 27, 2023. Specialty Channels Websites NOTE: Channels marked in BOLD lettering indicates Alliance Atlantis

Alliance Atlantis - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-529: Was named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers , as published in Maclean's magazine, the only broadcaster to be included on the list. On December 20, 2006, the company announced that it was "exploring strategic alternatives", effectively putting the company up for sale. Expected bidders included Canwest Global , Corus Entertainment , Astral Media , and Rogers Communications . The rights to CSI were expected to be sold separately, with CBS Paramount Television as

2021-437: Was retained as chairman initially, a new trio of executives took power: former International Creative Management agent Bill Block and former October Films partner Amir Malin became co-presidents, while former Bain Capital financial consultant Mark Curcio handled financial matters. Their goal was to utilize the large video library and the consistent profit from that area to invest in independent film production, which they saw as

2068-525: Was started on $ 150, making documentaries. A year later, the company set up operations in Toronto to produce films for industry and government. In 1980, the company started making dramas with an adaptation of The Olden Days Coat . Three years later, the company hit big when the short Boys and Girls won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film . In the mid-1980s, the company entered television production with Ray Bradbury Theater and

2115-539: Was the managing partner. Proposed but never launched Alliance Atlantis owned a chain of cinemas called Alliance Cinemas . The chain owned movie theatres in British Columbia and Ontario and is based in Toronto . This division of Alliance Atlantis developed and distributed various television programmes to Canadian, American and International broadcasters. The programs ranged from series, lifestyle and documentaries. Some documentaries were produced through

2162-464: Was their renewal of a distribution pact with Canadian media firm Alliance Atlantis , which included distribution rights to Artisan product in Canada, and theatrical distribution of Artisan films in Britain via AAC's Momentum Pictures unit. In 2001, the company acquired Canadian film and TV company Landscape Entertainment. In May 2003, Artisan and Microsoft jointly announced the first release of

2209-449: Was used for non-family releases (although the U.S.A. name continued until 1987) and the FHE name was used for family releases. Also that year, Bloom launched Concept Productions to develop live programming. In the late 1980s, the company also branched out into film distribution for television. In 1987, IVE was acquired by Carolco Pictures from NCB Entertainment after Carolco had taken

#235764