Tribune Entertainment
Encyclopedia
Tribune Entertainment was a television production and syndication
company owned and operated by Tribune Broadcasting
in the mid-1980s. Many programs offered from Tribune Entertainment have been broadcast on the company's television stations.
On December 18, 2007, Tribune Entertainment announced it would exit the program distribution business. Two of the programs on its roster, American Idol Rewind
and Soul Train
, were transferred to Trifecta Entertainment & Media
; Rewind has since been transferred to TV Guide Network and Soul Train has suspended distribution to local stations (cable channel Centric now carries the program, through new rightsholder MadVision Entertainment).
South Park
, which Tribune distributed along with Debmar-Mercury
, is now co-distributed by Twentieth Television. Another program, the revival of Family Feud
, was sold to Debmar-Mercury for the 2007-08 season. Some producers of Tribune-distributed programs, such as Telco Productions (producer of Animal Rescue, Missing and Dog Tales), opted to distribute the programs themselves.
The only other program that was affected was U.S. Farm Report
, which as it involves personalities from Chicago
sister operation WGN Radio
and still had a loyal audience, moved to the cable channel RFD-TV
. It syndicated and produced shows from/with DiC
, Village Roadshow and other producers.
Tribune continues to syndicate some programming among its owned and operated stations, most commonly parades and holiday specials.
In 2010, Tribune announced that it would be considering a reentry into the syndication market, with two new talk shows, one a tabloid-style show
hosted by Bubba the Love Sponge
, and another, "Big Willie," hosted by current WGN radio host Bill Cunningham
. Both programs have filmed pilot programs which have aired in late night time periods on several Tribune stations. As of 2011, only Cunningham's show has been picked up, but will air exclusively on Tribune's O&Os as they look for a co-partner. A weekly game show entitled On the Spot
is set to be launched through Tribune in fall 2011, but will be distributed by Twentieth Television.
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
company owned and operated by Tribune Broadcasting
Tribune Broadcasting
The Tribune Broadcasting Company is a group of radio and television stations located throughout the United States which are owned and operated by the Tribune Company, a media conglomerate based in Chicago, Illinois and named for the flagship Chicago Tribune newspaper.- History :Tribune Broadcasting...
in the mid-1980s. Many programs offered from Tribune Entertainment have been broadcast on the company's television stations.
On December 18, 2007, Tribune Entertainment announced it would exit the program distribution business. Two of the programs on its roster, American Idol Rewind
American Idol Rewind
American Idol Rewind is a syndicated television series that ran from September 30, 2006 to May 15, 2010. The hour-long weekly series was a repurposed edition of the hit reality talent show American Idol, featuring present day interviews with the contestants, semi-finalists and rejected auditioners...
and Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
, were transferred to Trifecta Entertainment & Media
Trifecta Entertainment & Media
Trifecta Entertainment & Media is an American entertainment company founded in 2006. The company's founders previously held jobs as executives at MGM Television. Trifecta is primarily a distribution company and also handles advertising sales in exchange for syndication deals with local television...
; Rewind has since been transferred to TV Guide Network and Soul Train has suspended distribution to local stations (cable channel Centric now carries the program, through new rightsholder MadVision Entertainment).
South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, which Tribune distributed along with Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury is a television syndication company that is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Lions Gate Entertainment, which acquired the company in July 2006...
, is now co-distributed by Twentieth Television. Another program, the revival of Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
, was sold to Debmar-Mercury for the 2007-08 season. Some producers of Tribune-distributed programs, such as Telco Productions (producer of Animal Rescue, Missing and Dog Tales), opted to distribute the programs themselves.
The only other program that was affected was U.S. Farm Report
U.S. Farm Report
The U.S. Farm Report is a weekly syndicated United States television news program, presented in magazine format, which has a focus on agriculture and agribusiness....
, which as it involves personalities from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
sister operation WGN Radio
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
and still had a loyal audience, moved to the cable channel RFD-TV
RFD-TV
RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery, the name for the United States Postal Service's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons...
. It syndicated and produced shows from/with DiC
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
, Village Roadshow and other producers.
Tribune continues to syndicate some programming among its owned and operated stations, most commonly parades and holiday specials.
In 2010, Tribune announced that it would be considering a reentry into the syndication market, with two new talk shows, one a tabloid-style show
Tabloid talk show
Tabloid talk shows are a genre of American television programming talk shows that achieved peak viewership during the late 20th century. Airing mostly during the day and distributed mostly through broadcast syndication, this genre originated with The Phil Donahue Show and was popularized by the...
hosted by Bubba the Love Sponge
Bubba the Love Sponge
Todd Alan Clem is an American radio personality better known by his Legal name Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. He is the host of The Bubba the Love Sponge Show on various Cox Radio and Beasley Broadcast Group stations, formerly on Sirius XM Howard 101, as well as on RadioIO.-Early career and the...
, and another, "Big Willie," hosted by current WGN radio host Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham is an American talk radio host. His full-time job is hosting The Big Show with Bill Cunningham, a local show on 700 WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cunningham now hosts Live on Sunday Night, it's Bill Cunningham, which is syndicated to over 300 stations by Premiere Radio Networks. He is...
. Both programs have filmed pilot programs which have aired in late night time periods on several Tribune stations. As of 2011, only Cunningham's show has been picked up, but will air exclusively on Tribune's O&Os as they look for a co-partner. A weekly game show entitled On the Spot
On the Spot (2011 TV series)
-Synopsis:On the Spot is a weekly syndicated trivia show that puts everyday people “on the spot" by asking them questions they should know the answers to, but often don’t. On the Spot is hosted by comedian Eric Schwartz, and produced and distributed by LongNeedle Entertainment.The show's questions...
is set to be launched through Tribune in fall 2011, but will be distributed by Twentieth Television.
Programs
This is a listing of programs which were either produced or distributed by Tribune Entertainment:Animated series
- Ghostbusters (1986; co-produced with FilmationFilmationFilmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
and co-distributed with Group W ProductionsWestinghouse BroadcastingThe Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
)
Daytime shows
- Beyond with James van PraaghJames Van PraaghJames Van Praagh is a self-proclaimed medium who has written several books on spirituality and spirit communication.-Early life and career:Van Praagh was born in Bayside, New York and is the youngest of four children...
(2002–2003) - The Charles Perez ShowCharles PerezCharles Perez Rinehard is a former American television news reporter, anchor and former talk show host.-Career:Before entering the news business, Perez was best known as host of the nationally syndicated The Charles Perez Show...
(1994–1996) - Geraldo/The Geraldo Rivera ShowGeraldo (TV series)Geraldo is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Geraldo Rivera that aired in syndication from September 7, 1987, to June 12, 1998. On the last two seasons, it was known as The Geraldo Rivera Show. Both titles were produced by Investigative News Group in association with Tribune...
(1987–1998), co-distributed with Paramount Television (1987–1988) and King World Productions (1995–1998) - The Joan Rivers ShowJoan RiversJoan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
(1989–1994)
First-run syndicated shows
- Adventure Inc.Adventure Inc.Adventure Inc. is a dramatised adventure television series produced primarily in Canada which aired from September 30, 2002 to May 12, 2003. It was a co-production of Fireworks Entertainment , Tribune Entertainment Tribune Entertainment , M6 , Amy International , and Tele München...
(2002–2003; co-produced with Fireworks EntertainmentFireworks EntertainmentFireworks Entertainment was founded by Jay Firestone in 1996 to produce, distribute and finance television shows and feature films. Fireworks was acquired by Canwest Global in May 1998, and was later sold to ContentFilm, a British company, in April 2005...
) - Animal RescueAnimal RescueAnimal Rescue is a TV show hosted and produced by Alex Paen. The show is about people trying to save animals from danger. Animal control officers try to assist animals in unsafe environments and respond other animal related emergencies. It is an eight-time Daytime Emmy nominated show.-External...
(2006–Present) (Produced By Tribune Entertainment & Distributed By Telco Productions) - American Idol RewindAmerican Idol RewindAmerican Idol Rewind is a syndicated television series that ran from September 30, 2006 to May 15, 2010. The hour-long weekly series was a repurposed edition of the hit reality talent show American Idol, featuring present day interviews with the contestants, semi-finalists and rejected auditioners...
(distributor, 2006–2007) (Co-Produced By 19 Entertanment, & Produced By FremantleMedia North America) - The Apollo Comedy Hour (1992–1995; distributed by Tribune Entertainment—Produced by Apollo Theatre Productions)
- At the MoviesAt the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger EbertAt the Movies was a movie review television program that aired from 1982 to 1990. It was produced by Tribune Entertainment and created by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, who had left Sneak Previews the previous year....
(1982–1990; no relation to the current At the Movies series although both series shared original hosts Gene SiskelGene SiskelEugene Kal "Gene" Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted the popular review show Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1975 until his death....
and Roger EbertRoger EbertRoger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
) - BeastMasterBeastMaster (TV series)BeastMaster is a Canadian television series that aired from 1999 to 2002. It was loosely based on a 1982 MGM movie The Beastmaster. The series aired for three complete seasons...
(1999–2002) - Bzzz!Bzzz!Bzzz! is a relationship game show that first aired in limited syndication from January 22 to March 8, 1996. Following this trial run, it later expanded to full national syndication, airing from September 9, 1996 to September 5, 1997, with reruns continuing on some stations until 2001...
(1996–1997) - Dog TalesDog TalesDog Tales is a weekly half-hour documentary television series which features stories and news about all types of dogs and dog lovers. It is produced by Alex Paen.-External links:*******...
(2007–Present) (Produced By Tribune Entertainment & Distributed By Telco Productions) - Earth: Final ConflictEarth: Final ConflictEarth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
(1997–2002) - Family FeudFamily FeudFamily Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
(distributor, 2002–2007) (Produced by Pearson Television (now FremantleMedia North AmericaFremantleMediaFremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
) - Gene Roddenberry's AndromedaAndromeda (TV series)Andromeda is a Canadian-American science fiction television series, based on unused material by the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett Roddenberry. It starred Kevin Sorbo as High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt...
(2000–2005; co-produced with Fireworks Entertainment) - MissingMissing (TV series)Missing, hosted by Alex Paen, is a weekly syndicated TV series in the United States profiling real cases of missing persons. The series debuted in 2003....
(2003–Present) (Produced By Tribune Entertainment and Distributed By Telco Productions) - MonstersMonsters (TV series)Monsters is a syndicated horror anthology series which originally ran from 1988 to 1991 and reran on the Sci-Fi Channel during the 1990s. As of 2011, Monsters airs on NBC Universal's horror/suspense-themed cable channel Chiller in sporadic weekday marathons.In a similar vein to Tales from the...
(distributor, 1988–1991) - Mutant XMutant X (TV series)Mutant X is a science fiction television series that debuted on October 6, 2001. The show was created by Marvel Studios, and it centers around Mutant X, a team of "New Mutants" who possess extraordinary powers as a result of genetic engineering. The members of Mutant X were used as test subjects...
(2001–2004) - Night ManNight ManNight Man is an American action/adventure/sci-fi series that aired in syndication from September 15, 1997 to May 17, 1999. The series is loosely based on a comic book published by Malibu Comics and was created by Steve Englehart and developed for television by Glen A...
(1997–1999) - Soul TrainSoul TrainSoul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
(distributor, 1985–2008) (Produced By Don Cornelius Productions and Distributed By Tribune Entertainment) - Tales from the DarksideTales from the DarksideTales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series produced by George A. Romero; it originally aired from 1983 to 1988. Similar to Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Crypt, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot...
(distributor, 1983–1988) (Co-Produced By Tribune Entertainment) - T. and T.T. and T.T. and T. is a Canadian-produced television series, in production from 1987 to 1990. The series premiered in first-run syndication in January 1988, later moving to new episodes on the Family Channel in 1990. It was a starring vehicle for Mr...
(1988–1990)
Made-for-TV movies/Mini-series
- Emma: Queen of the South Seas, starring Barbara CarreraBarbara CarreraBarbara Carrera is a Nicaraguan-born American film and television actress as well as a former model. She is best known for her roles as Bond girl Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again and as Angelica Nero on the soap opera Dallas.-Early life:Barbara Kingsbury was born in San Carlos, Río San Juan,...
(1988) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095093/) - Final Shot: The Hank Gathers StoryFinal Shot: The Hank Gathers StoryFinal Shot: The Hank Gathers Story is an American 1992 sports drama biography television film about the life of Loyola Marymount basketball player Eric "Hank" Gathers, written for Tribune Entertainment by Fred Johnson, Don Enright and Ed Fields, and directed by Charles...
, starring Nell CarterNell CarterNell Carter was an American singer, and film, stage, and television actress. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin, as well as an Emmy Award for her reprisal of the role on television...
and George KennedyGeorge KennedyGeorge Harris Kennedy, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in over 200 film and television productions. He is perhaps most familiar as the convict Dragline in Cool Hand Luke , airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni in the Airport series of disaster movies from the 1970s and...
(1992) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104270/) - The Vernon JohnsVernon JohnsVernon Johns was an American minister and civil rights leader who was active in the struggle for civil rights for African Americans from the 1920s....
Story, starring James Earl JonesJames Earl JonesJames Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
(1994, produced by Laurel EntertainmentGeorge A. RomeroGeorge Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111611/) - Voyage of Terror: The Achille LauroMS Achille LauroMS Achille Lauro was a cruise ship based in Naples, Italy. Built between 1939 and 1947 as MS Willem Ruys, a passenger liner for the Rotterdamsche Lloyd. It is most remembered for its 1985 hijacking...
Affair, starring Burt LancasterBurt LancasterBurton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
(1990) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100889/)
News/information series
- Independent Network News/USA TonightIndependent Network News (US)The Independent Network News was a nationally-syndicated nightly news program, seen from June 1980 until June 1990. The newscast was designed to serve the same purpose as the nightly network news programs, and was produced by Tribune Company-owned station WPIX in New York...
(1980–1990) - Now it Can Be Told (1991–1992) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278221/)
- U.S. Farm ReportU.S. Farm ReportThe U.S. Farm Report is a weekly syndicated United States television news program, presented in magazine format, which has a focus on agriculture and agribusiness....
(1975–2008, produced by Farm Journal Media)
Specials
- Hollywood Christmas ParadeHollywood Christmas ParadeThe Hollywood Christmas Parade, formerly the Hollywood Santa Parade or Santa Claus Lane Parade, is an annual parade that takes place on the weekend after Thanksgiving in the Hollywood community in Los Angeles, California, United States...
(1985–1998) - The Mystery of Al Capone's VaultThe Mystery of Al Capone's VaultThe Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults was a one-time live American television special broadcast in syndication in April 1986 hosted by Geraldo Rivera. The program was centered around the opening of a secret vault once owned by noted gangster Al Capone...
s (1986) - Soul Train Christmas Starfest (1998–2006)
- Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (1995–2006)
- Soul Train Music AwardsSoul Train Music AwardsThe Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
(1987–2007)