Lionsgate Television
Lionsgate Television is the television division of Lionsgate, which is a Canadian–American entertainment company.
Company type
1997
History[edit]
The company was established in 1997 as Lions Gate Television, Inc. with the establishment of Lionsgate Films. In 1998, it acquired documentary/reality production company Termite Art Productions but was itself acquired by Erik Nelson in 2004 and renamed Creative Differences.[2][3][4] The company acquired Mandalay Television in 1997,[5] before acquiring a minority investment in Mandalay Entertainment outright before splitting in 2002.[6] Lionsgate sold off its shares in Mandalay Television in 1999.[7]
In 1999, Lions Gate Television, Inc. became an incorporated entity.[8][9] In 2003, Lionsgate and New Line Television set up a partnership to provide 20 motion pictures designed for television.[10] In 2006, Lionsgate expanded into television syndication when the company acquired television distribution company Debmar-Mercury.[11][12] Before the acquisition, Debmar-Mercury syndicated Lionsgate's film library.
20th Television handled advert sales to the series distributed by Debmar-Mercury with the exception of Meet the Browns, as the advert sales are handled by Disney–ABC Domestic Television with Turner Television Co. distributing the series.[13]
On March 13, 2012, Lionsgate Television formed a new 50/50 joint venture, Sea to Sky Entertainment, with Thunderbird Films, the company founded by Lionsgate's founder and chairman, Frank Giustra.[14][15][16]
Chairman & Chief Creative Officer Kevin Beggs is the longest-tenured television studio Chairman.