Lorimar-Telepictures
Lorimar-Telepictures was an American entertainment company. It was created on April 21, 1986. The company was created by the merger of Lorimar and Telepictures. Its assets included television production and syndication, movies, home video and broadcasting.
 | |
| Industry | Television and film production, syndication, home video, television broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 21, 1986 |
| Defunct | January 11, 1989 |
| Fate | Purchased by Warner Communications |
| Headquarters | , |
History
The merger of Lorimar-Telepictures was announced on October 7, 1985 by Merv Adelson.[1][2] On April 21, 1986, the two companies merged. Lee Rich was one of the founders of Lorimar. In 1986, he sold his shares and left the company. On January 11, 1989, Warner Communications acquired Lorimar-Telepictures after a failed hostile takeover of the company.[3]
List of shows produced/distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures
Note: Most series listed here are owned and distributed by Warner Bros. Television.
- The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime
- ALF (1986–1989) (Currently distributed by Debmar-Mercury)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (1986–1989)
- Animalympics
- Blood & Orchids
- Chiller
- The Comic Strip
- Dallas (1986–1989)
- A Death in California
- Falcon Crest (1986–1989)
- Full House (1987–1989)
- Fun House (technically Lorimar Television, Telepictures & Warner Bros. in 1990)
- Ghost of a Chance
- Gumby (1986-1989)
- Hard Choices (movie)
- Here's Lucy
- The Hogan Family (1986–1989)
- Hunter (1986–1989) (Sony Pictures Television is the US television distributor)
- It's A Living (1986-1989)
- Jack Frost
- Jake's Journey (1988-1989 pilots for CBS starring Graham Chapman)
- Knots Landing (1986–1989)
- Legendary Ladies of Rock & Roll
- Max Headroom (not the original pilot by Chrysalis Visual Programming for Channel Four UK)
- Love Connection (1986-1989)
- Made in Heaven
- Mama's Family
- "Master Harold"...and the Boys
- Our House
- The People's Court
- Perfect Match
- Perfect Strangers (1986–1989)
- Polyester
- Mayberry R.F.D.
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
- Second Serve
- Shattered Innocence°
- SilverHawks
- Summer Girl
- Superior Court
- ThunderCats[4]
- The Waltons
Broadcasting
In the mid-1980s, Lorimar-Telepictures went into the broadcasting business. It bought six television stations. They were as follows:
| City of License / Market | Station | Channel TV (RF) | Sold To | Current Ownership Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico - Redding | KNVN | 24 (24) | Goltrin Communicactions (1987) |
NBC affiliate owned by K4 Media Holdings (Operated through a LMA by GOCOM Media, LLC) |
| Springfield - Branson | KSPR | 33 (19) | Goltrin Communications (1987) |
ABC affiliate owned by Perkin Media, LLC (Operated through a LMA by Schurz Communications) |
| Pittsburgh | WPGH-TV | 53 (43) | Renaissance Broadcasting (1987) |
Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| Midland - Odessa | KMID | 2 (26) | Goltrin Communications (1987) |
ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group |
| San Juan - Caguas - Ponce - Mayagüez |
WLII | 11 (11) | Malrite Communications (1991) |
Univision Owned & Operated (O&O) (Simulcasts on locally-owned WORA-TV 5 in Mayagüez) |
| WSUR-TV | 9 (9) |
There was no success of this broadcast division. This led to the sale of each of these stations by 1991.
References
- "Lorimar in Merger." The Pittsburgh Press (October 7, 1985).
- "A TV TITAN WAGERS A WAD ON MOVIES Lorimar-Telepictures makes a ton of money producing and distributing such TV hits as Dallas and The People's Court. Unsatisfied, chief Merv Adelson is trying to expand in theatrical films. The profits are potentially huge -- but a lot less certain." CNN Money (May 12, 1986).
- "Warner Completes Merger With Lorimar Telepictures". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
- Boyer, Peter J. (1986-02-03). "TOY-BASED TV: EFFECTS ON CHILDREN DEBATED". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-10.