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Columbia TriStar Television

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"Columbia TriStar Domestic Television", "Columbia TriStar Television Distribution", and "Columbia TriStar International Television" redirect here. For other uses, see Columbia TriStar.

Columbia TriStar Television, Inc.
Company typeDivision
IndustryTelevision production
Broadcast syndication
PredecessorsColumbia Pictures Television
TriStar Television
FoundedFebruary 21, 1994; 30 years ago (1994-02-21)
DefunctSeptember 16, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-09-16)
FateRebranded as Sony Pictures Television
SuccessorSony Pictures Television
Headquarters10202 West Washington Boulevard,
Culver City, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Samuel White (co-president)
ParentSony Pictures Entertainment
DivisionsAdelaide Productions
Columbia Pictures Television
TriStar Television
Trackdown Productions
Columbia TriStar International Television
SubsidiariesELP Communications
Califon Productions
Jeopardy Productions
Rastar Television

Columbia TriStar Television, Inc. (abbreviated as CTT) was an American television production and distribution company active from 1994 to 2002 as the third iteration of what had originated as Columbia Pictures's television studio, Screen Gems.

History

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Beginnings

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Columbia TriStar Television was launched on February 21, 1994, from the merger of Columbia Pictures Television and TriStar Television, under the leadership of Jon Feltheimer, who was president of TriStar Television from 1991 to 1994 and of New World Television until 1991. After the merger, Columbia Pictures Television Distribution was renamed Columbia TriStar Television Distribution,[1][2][3], though most traces of the former name were not removed in full until the start of the 1995–96 television season. It officially subsumed Merv Griffin Enterprises on June 4, 1994 and took over the role of production of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune (distributed by King World) starting in September 1994, with both shows continuing to utilize King World for distribution, an arrangement that continues today under successor company CBS Media Ventures.[4][5] In 1994, SPE acquired Stewart Television, which was known for the Pyramid franchise, to burnish the library for Sony's Game Show Network, which would launch on December 1, 1994.

Its global subsidiary, Columbia TriStar International Television, distributed Sony's programs globally, and was created in 1992 with the combination of Columbia Pictures International Television with TriStar Television.

On January 30, 1997, Sony streamlined its American domestic operations.[6] On March 12, 1997, CTT signed a deal with Procter & Gamble Productions (P&G) to launch shows that P&G products sponsor, after the original agreement with Paramount Television expired.[7] On August 26, 1997, Addis-Wechsler inked a five-year joint venture agreement with the studio to produce all forms of its own television programming.[8]

On July 1, 2000, Barry Thurston stepped down as president of Columbia TriStar Television Distribution after 17 years and was succeeded by then-current president, Steve Mosko. Thurston was originally president of Embassy Telecommunications in 1983.[9]

On October 25, 2001, Sony combined the domestic network and syndication divisions (Columbia TriStar Television and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution, respectively) into one unit known as Columbia TriStar Domestic Television.[10]


The start of the 2002–03 television season saw Sony Pictures Entertainment wind down the "Columbia TriStar" monicker permanently from active use, and the television divisions became Sony Pictures Television and Sony Pictures Television International officially on September 16, 2002 with that day's season premieres of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ TriStar President Expected to Head Combined Unit Los Angeles Times. February 11, 1994.
  2. ^ Feltheimer heads new Columbia TriStar TV connection.ebscohost.com, Retrieved on December 18, 2012
  3. ^ "Feltheimer heads new Columbia TriStar TV". Broadcasting. February 21, 1994. p. 20.
  4. ^ Company Town Annex Los Angeles Times, Retrieved on July 1, 2013
  5. ^ Sony-Griffin Deal New York Times, Retrieved on July 1, 2013
  6. ^ Cox, Dan (January 30, 1997). "SONY STREAMLINING". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Levin, Gary (March 12, 1997). "SONY, P&G LATHER UP". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Hontz, Jenny (August 26, 1997). "Col TV, Addis-Wechsler pact". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Schlosser, Joe (May 15, 2000). "Barry Thurston is a firm go". Broadcasting & Cable. NextTV. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Free Library" Sony Pictures Entertainment Unveils Realignment of Columbia TriStar Domestic Television Operations. Archived October 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine thefreelibrary.com, Retrieved on July 3, 2012
  11. ^ Sony Pictures Entertainment Renames Television Operations; Domestic and International Divisions Take Sony Name, prnewswire.com
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Columbia TriStar Domestic Television official website

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