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Classic Media
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Classic Media, Inc. is an American production company/distributor of family programming, acquired in 2007 by UK-based rival Entertainment Rights. Formed in 1998 after acquiring Golden Books Family Entertainment, their library consists of properties which they acquired from other in-name-only companies, including Harvey Comics, Jay Ward Productions, and many others.
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- Rankin-Bass' pre-1974 library (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, etc.)
- The Jack Wrather catalog (The Lone Ranger, Lassie, The Green Hornet)
- The Harvey Comics animated catalog (Casper the Friendly Ghost1, Richie Rich1, Baby Huey, etc.)
- The Jay Ward Productions catalog* (Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle, The Dudley Do-Right Show, etc.)
- Underdog
- US rights to the French-Belgian comics catalog (The Adventures of Tintin and Blake and Mortimer)
- Most of the UPA animated catalog (Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing-Boing, etc.)
- Gerald McBoing Boing (the 2005 edition co-produced with Cookie Jar)
- Shari Lewis' two PBS series (Lamb Chop's Play Along, and The Charlie Horse Music Pizza)
- Turok, Little Lulu, and other comic characters created/owned by Western Publishing (though most of the Lulu cartoons themselves are currently owned by other entities like CINAR)
- US rights to certain Godzilla films
- The Christian animated video producer Big Idea, Inc (VeggieTales).
On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival Entertainment Rights (ER) for $210.0 million, and the deal was completed on January 11, 2007.
Before the acquisition of Classic Media by ER was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products, LLC, replacing the deal with Sony Wonder.[1]
1. In regards to Richie Rich and Casper, the only exceptions are the characters' appearances in media produced by Hanna-Barbera, including Casper and the Angels, the 1980 Richie Rich series, and various Casper TV specials; these are owned by Hanna-Barbara's parent company, Time Warner.
Additionally, The Program Exchange currently holds the TV distribution rights to Underdog, and the Ward catalog, except for George of the Jungle, which is handled via CBS Paramount Television.