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Metromedia

Metromedia (also often MetroMedia) was an American media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and controlled Orion Pictures from 1988 to 1997. Metromedia was established in 1956 after the DuMont Television Network ceased operations and its owned-and-operated stations were spun off into a separate company. Metromedia sold its television stations to News Corporation in 1985 (which News Corp. then used to form the nucleus of Fox Television Stations), and spun off its radio stations into a separate company in 1986. Metromedia then acquired ownership stakes in various film studios, including controlling ownership in Orion. In 1997, Metromedia closed down and sold its media assets to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Metromedia, Inc.
TypePublic
IndustryMedia
PredecessorAllen B. DuMont Laboratories
DuMont Broadcasting Corporation
Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation
Founded1931; 92 years ago (1931) as Allen B. DuMont Labs
Defunct1997; 26 years ago (1997) (as a media company)
FateSold off. Corporate name continues as owner of MetroMedia Technologies.[1]
SuccessorMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (content library)
Fox Television Stations (broadcast stations)
HeadquartersNew York City
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
John W. Kluge, founder/chairman/CEO

Stuart Subotnick, Current President/CEO

William Ishida, President/CEO Metromedia Technologies, Inc.
Productstelevision, radio, entertainment, advertising
ServicesAdvertising/Media Display
SubsidiariesOrion Pictures
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Motion Picture Corporation of America
Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation

History

Origins

The company arose from the ashes of the DuMont Television Network, the world's first commercial television network.[2] DuMont had been in economic trouble throughout its existence, and was seriously undermined when ABC accepted a buyout offer from United Paramount Theaters in 1953. The ABC-UPT deal gave ABC the resources to operate a national television service along the lines of CBS and NBC. DuMont officials quickly realized the ABC-UPT deal put their network on life support, and agreed in principle to merge with ABC. However, it was forced to back out of the deal when minority owner Paramount Pictures raised antitrust concerns. UPT had only spun off from Paramount four years earlier, and there were still doubts about whether the two companies were really separate.[3]

By 1955, DuMont realized it could not compete against the other three networks and decided to wind down its operations. Soon after DuMont formally shut down network service in 1956, the parent firm DuMont Laboratories spun off the network's two remaining owned and operated stations, WABD in New York City and WTTG in Washington, D.C., to shareholders as the DuMont Broadcasting Corporation.[4][5] The company's headquarters were co-located with WABD in the former DuMont Tele-Centre (which was later renamed the Metromedia Telecenter) in New York.

In 1957, DuMont Broadcasting purchased two New York area radio stations, WNEW (now WBBR)[6] and WHFI (later WNEW-FM and WWFS),[7][8] and later that year changed its name to the Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation to distance itself from its former parent company.[9] The following year, Paramount sold its shares in Metropolitan Broadcasting to Washington-based investor John Kluge, enough to give Kluge controlling interest. Kluge installed himself as chairman, and later increased his holdings to 75 percent.[10] WABD's call letters were later changed to WNEW-TV to match its new radio sisters.[11]

Expansion

 
1970s logo for WTCN-TV (now KARE) in Minneapolis, which included the corporate logo for Metromedia; this logo was also used by KTTV in Los Angeles

Metropolitan Broadcasting's first acquisitions included WHK-AM-FM in Cleveland (in 1958);[12] the Foster & Kleiser outdoor advertising firm[13] (in 1959); and KOVR in Stockton, California, Benedict Gimbel Jr.-owned WIP-AM-FM in Philadelphia, WTVH-TV (now WHOI) in Peoria, Illinois, and WTVP television (now WAND) in Decatur, Illinois (all in 1960).[14][15] In 1961 Metropolitan purchased KMBC-AM-TV in Kansas City, Missouri.[16] Later that year the company's name was changed to Metromedia;[17] the Metropolitan Broadcasting name was retained for its broadcasting division until 1967.[18]

In separate 1963 deals the company expanded into Los Angeles, buying first KTTV[19] and later KLAC and the original KLAC-FM (now KIIS-FM).[20] The company would later engineer a swap of FM facilities; the second KLAC-FM (later KMET and now KTWV) was established in 1965.[21] Metromedia also entered the realm of live entertainment by purchasing the Ice Capades (in 1963)[22] and the Harlem Globetrotters (in 1967).[23] Later in the decade Metromedia opened a television production center in Los Angeles, known as Metromedia Square, which served as the studio facility for numerous network programs. Metromedia also owned a TV production and distribution company called Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC), established in 1968 from Wolper Productions. MPC produced and syndicated various programs and TV movies, most notably the game show Truth or Consequences and the 1972-86 version of The Merv Griffin Show. Metromedia spent the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s increasing its television and radio station portfolio, and continued to expand its syndication business.[citation needed] In 1976, it teamed up with MTM Enterprises to launch a first-run syndicated variety show.[24]

Metromedia entered the record business in 1969 with the launch of the Metromedia Records label, whose biggest-selling artist was Bobby Sherman. The label was also notable as having issued the first two studio albums of Peter Allen, Peter Allen (1971) and Tenterfield Saddler (1972).[25] The label was closed in 1974. Allen's Tenterfield Saddler, the title song of which has become an Australian standard, was acquired and reissued by A&M Records in 1978.[26]

In 1976, similar to the more successful SFM Holiday Network of syndicated stations launched two years later, Metromedia teamed up with Ogilvy and Mather for a proposed linking of independent TV stations termed MetroNet. The proposed programming would consist of several Sunday night family dramas, on weeknights a half-hour serial and a gothic series similar to Dark Shadows, and on Saturdays a variety program hosted by Charo. The plans for MetroNet failed when advertisers balked at Metromedia's advertising rate, which was only slightly lower than the Big Three's and low national coverage, leaving for another similar operation, Operation Prime Time.[27] In 1979, Metromedia Producers Corporation had also reached a deal with Bob Stewart Productions for an exclusive co-producing agreement.[28]

In 1982, Metromedia made its biggest broadcasting purchase when it acquired WCVB-TV in Boston for $220 million, which at the time was the largest amount ever spent on a single television station property.[29] Two years later, John Kluge bought out Metromedia's shareholders and took the company private.[30]

Also around this time, Metromedia attempted to bring to the air a national newscast for independent stations (much as the rival Tribune Company had created Independent Network News in 1980), planned for launch in the fall of 1983; the company attempted to hire Charles Kuralt away from CBS News to serve as anchor. Kuralt chose to stay to with CBS; John Hart was also considered as an anchor, but ultimately the planned newscast never came to fruition.[31][32][33]

1985-86 divestitures

On May 4, 1985, Kluge announced the sale of Metromedia's television stations, and Metromedia Producers Corp., to News Corporation (owned by Australian newspaper publisher Rupert Murdoch) and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation (owned jointly by Murdoch and Marvin Davis) for $3.5 billion. With the exception of WCVB-TV (which was subsequently sold to the Hearst Corporation), all of the former Metromedia stations formed the nucleus of the Fox Broadcasting Company (which began operations on October 9, 1986), while MPC was folded into 20th Century Fox Television. The transactions became official on March 6, 1986.[34][35] Because of these transactions, and the fact that Metromedia was originally spun off from the DuMont Television Network, radio personality Clarke Ingram has suggested that the Fox network is a revival or at least a linear descendant of DuMont.[36]

Kluge also sold Metromedia's outdoor advertising firm, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Ice Capades in 1985, sold Metromedia Records to Tom Ficara and Combined Artists, its cellular phone and yellow pages divisions to the Southwestern Bell Corporation (now known as the second incarnation of AT&T, due to SBC's acquisition of AT&T Corporation in 2005) and spun off the radio stations into a separate company (which took on the Metropolitan Broadcasting name)[37][38][39][40] before they were sold to various other owners by the early 1990s.[citation needed][41]

Legal battles

In retaliation for a lawsuit brought by Paul Winchell, who sought the rights to his children's television program Winchell-Mahoney Time, which was produced at KTTV in Los Angeles during the mid-1960s, it is believed that KTTV management destroyed the program's video tapes. In 1989 Winchell was awarded nearly $18 million as compensation for Metromedia's capricious behavior.[42][43]

In 1983, Christine Craft, a former evening news co-anchor at KMBC-TV in Kansas City, sued Metromedia on claims of fraud and sexual discrimination. After spending eight months at KMBC-TV in 1981, she was demoted to reporting assignment after a focus group study claimed Craft was "too old, too unattractive and not deferential to men" in the eyes of viewers. Craft declined the reassignment and subsequently resigned from the station. Craft initially won her case, though she lost on appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court.[44][45][46][47]

Ownership of film studios

On May 22, 1986, Metromedia acquired a 6.5% stake in Orion Pictures Corporation; a movie and television studio.[48] By December, the stake in Orion's ownership was increased to 9.3% to 12.6% and on April 12, 1988, to 44.1%[49] On May 20, 1988, Metromedia acquired Sumner Redstone's share for $78 million, holding a majority stake in Orion Pictures worth nearly 67%. In 1995, Kluge merged Orion, MCEG Sterling Entertainment (producer of the Look Who's Talking series), the holding company Actava, and Metromedia into a new Metromedia International Group.[50] In November 1995, Metromedia announced that it would acquire Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) for $32 million, followed by The Samuel Goldwyn Company for $115 million in February 1996.[51][52] On April 11, 1997, Metromedia sold Orion/Goldwyn and MPCA to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for $573 million and was closed on July 10 of the same year.[53][54] In 1998, MPCA broke apart from MGM becoming independent again.

Activities following film sale

Following the sale of the film business to MGM, Metromedia still owned Metromedia Restaurant Group (which it had renamed from S&A Restaurant Group, which was acquired from Grand Metropolitan) in 1990[55] as well as Metromedia Fiber Network. The latter went bankrupt a few years later and became AboveNet, while the former went bankrupt in 2008.

Typeface

Beginning in 1967, Metromedia's television stations began utilizing a sans-serif typeface for their on-air logo. The typeface was a proprietary one called Metromedia Television Alphabet,[18] which was as distinctive as the typeface employed by Group W unit of Westinghouse Electric for its TV and radio stations beginning in 1963. Metromedia Television Alphabet was used for the channel numbers of its television stations until 1977, when another typeface modeled slightly after the Futura family was introduced.[citation needed]

Former Metromedia stations

Stations are listed alphabetically by state and city of license.

Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters (**) indicate a station that was built and signed-on by Metromedia or its predecessor companies. This list does not include WDTV (now KDKA-TV) in Pittsburgh or KCTY in Kansas City. Although DuMont owned the two stations at some point, Metromedia never owned either of these two stations.

Television stations

City of license / Market Station Channel
TV (RF)
Years owned Current ownership status
Los Angeles, CA KTTV 11 (11) 1963–1986 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O)
San FranciscoOaklandSan Jose, CA KNEW-TV 32 (33) 1968–1970 Non-commercial independent station, KMTP-TV, owned by Minority Television Project
StocktonSacramentoModesto, CA KOVR 13 (25) 1959–1964 CBS owned-and-operated (O&O)
Washington, D.C. WTTG ** 5 (36) 1956–1986 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O)
Chicago, IL WFLD-TV 32 (31) 1983–1986 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O)
DecaturSpringfieldChampaignUrbana, IL WTVP 17 (17) 1960–1965 NBC affiliate, WAND, owned by Block Communications
PeoriaBloomington, IL WTVH-TV 19 (19) 1959–1965 TBD owned-and-operated (O&O), WHOI
Newport, KYCincinnati, OH WXIX-TV 19 (29) 1972–1983 Fox affiliate owned by Gray Television
Boston, MA WCVB-TV 5 (20) 1982–1986 ABC affiliate owned by Hearst Television
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MN WTCN-TV 11 (11) 1972–1983 NBC affiliate, KARE, owned by Tegna
Kansas City, MO KMBC-TV 1 9 (29) 1961–1982 ABC affiliate owned by Hearst Television
New York City, NY
  • WABD/
  • WNEW-TV **
5 (44) 1956–1986 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O), WNYW
DallasFort Worth, TX KRLD-TV 33 (32) 1983–1986 The CW affiliate, KDAF, owned by Nexstar Media Group
Houston, TX KRIV-TV 26 (26) 1978–1986 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O)

Radio stations

AM Station FM Station
City of license / Market Station Years owned Current ownership
Los Angeles, CA KLAC 570 1963–1984 iHeartMedia
KLAC-FM 102.7 1963–1965 KIIS-FM, iHeartMedia
KLAC-FM/KMET 94.7 1965–1986 KTWV, Audacy, Inc.
San FranciscoOakland, CA KNEW 910 1966–1980 KKSF, iHeartMedia
KSAN-FM 94.9 1966–1981 KYLD, iHeartMedia
DenverBoulder, CO KHOW 630 1981–1985 iHeartMedia
Washington, D.C. WASH-FM 97.1 1968–1986 iHeartMedia
TampaSt. PetersburgClearwater, FL WWBA-FM 107.3 1981–1986 WXGL, Cox Media Group
Chicago, IL WDHF/WMET-FM 95.5 1972–1983 WCHI-FM, iHeartMedia
Baltimore, MD WCBM 680 1963–1986 WCBM Maryland Inc.
WCBM-FM 106.5 1963–1968 WWMX, Audacy, Inc.
Detroit, MI WOMC 104.3 1972–1986 Audacy, Inc.
Kansas City, MO KMBC–980 1 1961–1967 KMBZ, Audacy, Inc.
KMBC-FM/KMBR 99.7 ** 1962–1967 KZPT, Audacy, Inc.
New York City, NY WNEW 1130 1957–1986 WBBR, Bloomberg L.P.
WNEW-FM 102.7 ** 1958–1986 Audacy, Inc.
Cleveland, OH WHK 1420 2 1958–1972 Salem Media Group
WHK-FM/WMMS 100.7 2 1958–1972 iHeartMedia
Philadelphia, PA WIP 610 1959–1986 WTEL, Beasley Broadcast Group
WIP-FM/WMMR 93.3 1959–1986 Beasley Broadcast Group
DallasFort Worth, TX KRLD 1080 3 1978–1986 Audacy, Inc.
SeattleTacoma, WA KJR 950 1980–1984 iHeartMedia

Notes

  • 1 The acquisition of KMBC-AM-TV also included KMOS-TV in Sedalia, Missouri, and KFRM radio in Concordia, Kansas. Both stations were subsequently spun off by Metropolitan Broadcasting to other firms;[56]
  • 2 DuMont Broadcasting also acquired a construction permit for channel 19 in Cleveland along with its purchase of WHK radio in 1958 but that station, intended to be called WHK-TV, never signed on. The channel 19 allocation was later occupied by WOIO, which signed-on in 1985 under common ownership with WHK (Malrite Broadcasting);
  • 3 The acquisition of KRLD also included the Texas State Network.

Television syndication

This is a list of television programs that were produced and/or syndicated by Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC):

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rights now owned by CBS Media Ventures.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Currently directed by 20th Television.
  3. ^ Currently owned by NBCUniversal (via DreamWorks Animation).
  4. ^ Currently owned by Tanslin Media.
  5. ^ a b Currently distributed by Warner Bros. Television.
  6. ^ Currently distributed by Reelin' In the Years Productions on behalf of The Griffin Group.
  7. ^ a b Currently distributed by the Peter Rodgers Organization.
  8. ^ Rights now owned by StudioCanal.
  9. ^ Later distributed by Worldvision Enterprises and Shout! Factory.
  10. ^ Rights now owned by Paul Winchell's family.

References

  1. ^ . MetroMedia Technologies. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  2. ^ Goldenson, Leonard H.; Wolf, Marvin J. (1991). Beating the Odds. New York: Macmillan. p. 105. ISBN 9780684190556.
  3. ^ . Archived from the original on December 31, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  4. ^ "DuMont network to quit in telecasting 'spin-off.'" Broadcasting - Telecasting, August 15, 1955, pg. 64. [1][permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "DuMont completes spin-off, separates broadcasting, labs.'" Broadcasting - Telecasting, December 5, 1955, pg. 7. [2][permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "DuMont pays $7.5 million for WNEW." Broadcasting, March 25, 1957, pp. 31-32. [3][permanent dead link][4][permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Changing Hands." Broadcasting, November 18, 1957, pg. 96[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "For the Record." Broadcasting - Telecasting, January 6, 1958, p. 108. [5][permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "DuMont revenue grows, name change approved." Broadcasting, May 19, 1958, pg. 84. [6][permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Kluge buying Paramount's 21% of Metropolitan Broadcasting." Broadcasting, December 1, 1958, pg. 9. [7][permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Name change." Broadcasting, September 8, 1958, pg. 84[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 54, no. 16. April 21, 1958. p. 58. Retrieved September 5, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ Spielvogel, Carl. "Advertising: an acquisition set." The New York Times, December 20, 1959.
  14. ^ "3 blessings with 2 rebukes." Broadcasting, January 4, 1960, pg. 40. [8][permanent dead link]
  15. ^ [9][permanent dead link]"Changing hands." Broadcasting, January 18, 1960, pp. 95-96[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Metropolitan buying KMBC." Broadcasting, December 26, 1960, pp. 51-52. [10][permanent dead link][11][permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "It's Metromedia." Broadcasting - Telecasting, April 3, 1961, pg. 56. [12][permanent dead link]
  18. ^ a b Metromedia gets its TV team in uniformBroadcasting, March 25, 1968, pp. 56-57.
  19. ^ "KTTV to Metromedia for $10 million plus." Broadcasting, January 14, 1963, pg. 9. [13][permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Metromedia adds KLAC in $4.5 million deal." Broadcasting, March 18, 1963, pp. 9-10. [14][permanent dead link][15][permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Changing hands." Broadcasting, March 22, 1965, pp. 110-111: Metromedia acquires KRHM (94.7 FM) and sells KLAC-FM (102.7 FM); the FCC allows both facilities to exchange call letters. [16][permanent dead link][17][permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "Ice Capades Acquired By Metromedia, Inc." The New York Times, May 14, 1963.
  23. ^ Gent, George. "Metromedia buys Globetrotters; TV chain will add team to Ice Capades operation." The New York Times, May 24, 1967.
  24. ^ "Programming Briefs" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 14, 1976. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  25. ^ Peter Allen discography; www.allmusic.com.
  26. ^ Peter Allen discography; www5d.biglobe.ne.jp.
  27. ^ Nadel, Gerry (May 30, 1977). "Who Owns Prime Time? The Threat of the 'Occasional' Networks". New York Magazine. New York: 34–35. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  28. ^ "Monitor" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 17, 1979. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  29. ^ Schwartz, Tony. "Metromedia seeks TV station." The New York Times, July 23, 1981.
  30. ^ Cuff, Daniel F. "Business people; Metromedia's founder begins new challenge." The New York Times, December 14, 1983.
  31. ^ "KURALT WOOED". UPI. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  32. ^ Hodges, Ann (October 1, 1982). "Ch. 26 to carry Turner's All-Star NFL package". Houston Chronicle. p. 5:13.
  33. ^ Shales, Tom (June 26, 1983). "Ode to the Road Of Charles Kuralt". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  34. ^ Cole, Robert J.. "Murdoch to buy & TV stations; cost $2 billion." The New York Times, May 7, 1985.
  35. ^ "Rupert Murdoch buys Metromedia". The 10 O'Clock News. New York, NY. May 4, 1985. 00:00 minutes in. WNEW-TV. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  36. ^ Clarke Ingram. "The DuMont Television Network: Channel Nine". Dumont History.
  37. ^ Stevenson, Richard W. "Metromedia ad business sale". The New York Times, January 21, 1986.
  38. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine. "Metromedia set to sell Globetrotters, ice show." The New York Times, March 5, 1986.
  39. ^ "Metromedia, Katz radio groups sold in LBO's." Broadcasting, March 31, 1986, pp. 33-34. [18][permanent dead link][19][permanent dead link]
  40. ^ "In brief." Broadcasting, November 17, 1986, pg. 120[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ "Metromedia Will Sell Its Cellular Units". Los Angeles Times. July 1, 1986. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  42. ^ "Victory for ventriloquist." Broadcasting, July 3, 1989, pg. 37[dead link]
  43. ^ "Paul Winchell Gets Last Word and $17.8 Million." "LA Times", July 3, 1986
  44. ^ "Newsroom issue goes to court." Broadcasting, August 1, 1983, pp. 24-25. [20][permanent dead link][21][permanent dead link]
  45. ^ "Craft decision leaves questions." Broadcasting, August 15, 1983, pp. 28-30. [22][permanent dead link][23][permanent dead link][24][permanent dead link]
  46. ^ "Craft case continues." Broadcasting, December 23, 1985, pg. 69[permanent dead link]
  47. ^ "Christine Craft wins two, loses big one." Broadcasting, March 10, 1986, pp. 74-75. [25][permanent dead link][26][permanent dead link]
  48. ^ Metromedia's Orion Stake, chicagotribune.com
  49. ^ Metromedia's Orion Stake, newyorktimes.com
  50. ^ BATES, JAMES (September 1, 1994). "Orion to Be Folded Into Global Media Concern : Entertainment: Billionaire John Kluge's expanded Metromedia International would be formed via a four-way stock swap worth $1 billion". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  51. ^ "Metromedia to Acquire Motion Picture Corporation of America". AP. November 28, 1995. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  52. ^ "COMPANY NEWS;AT $115 MILLION, A BUYER FOR SAMUEL GOLDWYN". The New York Times. February 1, 1996. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  53. ^ Bates, James. "Metromedia to Sell Film Units to MGM for $573 million." The New York Times. April 29, 1997.
  54. ^ "Years of Hits, Misses Comes to Close." Daily News of Los Angeles. July 10, 1997; Bates, James. "MGM Lays Off 85 in Metromedia Film, TV Units." Los Angeles Times. July 11, 1997.
  55. ^ Bernstein, Charles (August 14, 1989). . bnet. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  56. ^ "$9.65 million sale of KMBC." Broadcasting, July 31, 1961, pp. 45-46. [27][permanent dead link][28][permanent dead link]

https://github.com/microsoft/WindowsAppSDK/issues/3089#issue-1430110636

External links

  • John Kluge at the Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Television
  • New York Times 1986 announcement of Metromedia liquidation
  • Metromedia Radio, a Web based radio station holds the WNEW tape archive and trademark rights to the Metromedia name and Soundmark rights to the WNEW and Metromedia Radio jingles

metromedia, this, article, about, media, company, other, uses, disambiguation, also, often, metromedia, american, media, company, that, owned, radio, television, stations, united, states, from, 1956, 1986, controlled, orion, pictures, from, 1988, 1997, establi. This article is about the media company For other uses see Metromedia disambiguation Metromedia also often MetroMedia was an American media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and controlled Orion Pictures from 1988 to 1997 Metromedia was established in 1956 after the DuMont Television Network ceased operations and its owned and operated stations were spun off into a separate company Metromedia sold its television stations to News Corporation in 1985 which News Corp then used to form the nucleus of Fox Television Stations and spun off its radio stations into a separate company in 1986 Metromedia then acquired ownership stakes in various film studios including controlling ownership in Orion In 1997 Metromedia closed down and sold its media assets to Metro Goldwyn Mayer Metromedia Inc TypePublicIndustryMediaPredecessorAllen B DuMont LaboratoriesDuMont Broadcasting CorporationMetropolitan Broadcasting CorporationFounded1931 92 years ago 1931 as Allen B DuMont LabsDefunct1997 26 years ago 1997 as a media company FateSold off Corporate name continues as owner of MetroMedia Technologies 1 SuccessorMetro Goldwyn Mayer content library Fox Television Stations broadcast stations HeadquartersNew York CityArea servedWorldwideKey peopleJohn W Kluge founder chairman CEO Stuart Subotnick Current President CEO William Ishida President CEO Metromedia Technologies Inc Productstelevision radio entertainment advertisingServicesAdvertising Media DisplaySubsidiariesOrion PicturesThe Samuel Goldwyn CompanyMotion Picture Corporation of AmericaMetropolitan Broadcasting Corporation Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 1 2 Expansion 1 3 1985 86 divestitures 1 4 Legal battles 1 5 Ownership of film studios 1 6 Activities following film sale 2 Typeface 3 Former Metromedia stations 3 1 Television stations 3 2 Radio stations 3 2 1 Notes 3 3 Television syndication 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditOrigins Edit The company arose from the ashes of the DuMont Television Network the world s first commercial television network 2 DuMont had been in economic trouble throughout its existence and was seriously undermined when ABC accepted a buyout offer from United Paramount Theaters in 1953 The ABC UPT deal gave ABC the resources to operate a national television service along the lines of CBS and NBC DuMont officials quickly realized the ABC UPT deal put their network on life support and agreed in principle to merge with ABC However it was forced to back out of the deal when minority owner Paramount Pictures raised antitrust concerns UPT had only spun off from Paramount four years earlier and there were still doubts about whether the two companies were really separate 3 By 1955 DuMont realized it could not compete against the other three networks and decided to wind down its operations Soon after DuMont formally shut down network service in 1956 the parent firm DuMont Laboratories spun off the network s two remaining owned and operated stations WABD in New York City and WTTG in Washington D C to shareholders as the DuMont Broadcasting Corporation 4 5 The company s headquarters were co located with WABD in the former DuMont Tele Centre which was later renamed the Metromedia Telecenter in New York In 1957 DuMont Broadcasting purchased two New York area radio stations WNEW now WBBR 6 and WHFI later WNEW FM and WWFS 7 8 and later that year changed its name to the Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation to distance itself from its former parent company 9 The following year Paramount sold its shares in Metropolitan Broadcasting to Washington based investor John Kluge enough to give Kluge controlling interest Kluge installed himself as chairman and later increased his holdings to 75 percent 10 WABD s call letters were later changed to WNEW TV to match its new radio sisters 11 Expansion Edit 1970s logo for WTCN TV now KARE in Minneapolis which included the corporate logo for Metromedia this logo was also used by KTTV in Los Angeles Metropolitan Broadcasting s first acquisitions included WHK AM FM in Cleveland in 1958 12 the Foster amp Kleiser outdoor advertising firm 13 in 1959 and KOVR in Stockton California Benedict Gimbel Jr owned WIP AM FM in Philadelphia WTVH TV now WHOI in Peoria Illinois and WTVP television now WAND in Decatur Illinois all in 1960 14 15 In 1961 Metropolitan purchased KMBC AM TV in Kansas City Missouri 16 Later that year the company s name was changed to Metromedia 17 the Metropolitan Broadcasting name was retained for its broadcasting division until 1967 18 In separate 1963 deals the company expanded into Los Angeles buying first KTTV 19 and later KLAC and the original KLAC FM now KIIS FM 20 The company would later engineer a swap of FM facilities the second KLAC FM later KMET and now KTWV was established in 1965 21 Metromedia also entered the realm of live entertainment by purchasing the Ice Capades in 1963 22 and the Harlem Globetrotters in 1967 23 Later in the decade Metromedia opened a television production center in Los Angeles known as Metromedia Square which served as the studio facility for numerous network programs Metromedia also owned a TV production and distribution company called Metromedia Producers Corporation MPC established in 1968 from Wolper Productions MPC produced and syndicated various programs and TV movies most notably the game show Truth or Consequences and the 1972 86 version of The Merv Griffin Show Metromedia spent the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s increasing its television and radio station portfolio and continued to expand its syndication business citation needed In 1976 it teamed up with MTM Enterprises to launch a first run syndicated variety show 24 Metromedia entered the record business in 1969 with the launch of the Metromedia Records label whose biggest selling artist was Bobby Sherman The label was also notable as having issued the first two studio albums of Peter Allen Peter Allen 1971 and Tenterfield Saddler 1972 25 The label was closed in 1974 Allen s Tenterfield Saddler the title song of which has become an Australian standard was acquired and reissued by A amp M Records in 1978 26 In 1976 similar to the more successful SFM Holiday Network of syndicated stations launched two years later Metromedia teamed up with Ogilvy and Mather for a proposed linking of independent TV stations termed MetroNet The proposed programming would consist of several Sunday night family dramas on weeknights a half hour serial and a gothic series similar to Dark Shadows and on Saturdays a variety program hosted by Charo The plans for MetroNet failed when advertisers balked at Metromedia s advertising rate which was only slightly lower than the Big Three s and low national coverage leaving for another similar operation Operation Prime Time 27 In 1979 Metromedia Producers Corporation had also reached a deal with Bob Stewart Productions for an exclusive co producing agreement 28 In 1982 Metromedia made its biggest broadcasting purchase when it acquired WCVB TV in Boston for 220 million which at the time was the largest amount ever spent on a single television station property 29 Two years later John Kluge bought out Metromedia s shareholders and took the company private 30 Also around this time Metromedia attempted to bring to the air a national newscast for independent stations much as the rival Tribune Company had created Independent Network News in 1980 planned for launch in the fall of 1983 the company attempted to hire Charles Kuralt away from CBS News to serve as anchor Kuralt chose to stay to with CBS John Hart was also considered as an anchor but ultimately the planned newscast never came to fruition 31 32 33 1985 86 divestitures Edit On May 4 1985 Kluge announced the sale of Metromedia s television stations and Metromedia Producers Corp to News Corporation owned by Australian newspaper publisher Rupert Murdoch and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation owned jointly by Murdoch and Marvin Davis for 3 5 billion With the exception of WCVB TV which was subsequently sold to the Hearst Corporation all of the former Metromedia stations formed the nucleus of the Fox Broadcasting Company which began operations on October 9 1986 while MPC was folded into 20th Century Fox Television The transactions became official on March 6 1986 34 35 Because of these transactions and the fact that Metromedia was originally spun off from the DuMont Television Network radio personality Clarke Ingram has suggested that the Fox network is a revival or at least a linear descendant of DuMont 36 Kluge also sold Metromedia s outdoor advertising firm the Harlem Globetrotters and the Ice Capades in 1985 sold Metromedia Records to Tom Ficara and Combined Artists its cellular phone and yellow pages divisions to the Southwestern Bell Corporation now known as the second incarnation of AT amp T due to SBC s acquisition of AT amp T Corporation in 2005 and spun off the radio stations into a separate company which took on the Metropolitan Broadcasting name 37 38 39 40 before they were sold to various other owners by the early 1990s citation needed 41 Legal battles Edit In retaliation for a lawsuit brought by Paul Winchell who sought the rights to his children s television program Winchell Mahoney Time which was produced at KTTV in Los Angeles during the mid 1960s it is believed that KTTV management destroyed the program s video tapes In 1989 Winchell was awarded nearly 18 million as compensation for Metromedia s capricious behavior 42 43 In 1983 Christine Craft a former evening news co anchor at KMBC TV in Kansas City sued Metromedia on claims of fraud and sexual discrimination After spending eight months at KMBC TV in 1981 she was demoted to reporting assignment after a focus group study claimed Craft was too old too unattractive and not deferential to men in the eyes of viewers Craft declined the reassignment and subsequently resigned from the station Craft initially won her case though she lost on appeal at the U S Supreme Court 44 45 46 47 Ownership of film studios Edit On May 22 1986 Metromedia acquired a 6 5 stake in Orion Pictures Corporation a movie and television studio 48 By December the stake in Orion s ownership was increased to 9 3 to 12 6 and on April 12 1988 to 44 1 49 On May 20 1988 Metromedia acquired Sumner Redstone s share for 78 million holding a majority stake in Orion Pictures worth nearly 67 In 1995 Kluge merged Orion MCEG Sterling Entertainment producer of the Look Who s Talking series the holding company Actava and Metromedia into a new Metromedia International Group 50 In November 1995 Metromedia announced that it would acquire Motion Picture Corporation of America MPCA for 32 million followed by The Samuel Goldwyn Company for 115 million in February 1996 51 52 On April 11 1997 Metromedia sold Orion Goldwyn and MPCA to Metro Goldwyn Mayer MGM for 573 million and was closed on July 10 of the same year 53 54 In 1998 MPCA broke apart from MGM becoming independent again Activities following film sale Edit Following the sale of the film business to MGM Metromedia still owned Metromedia Restaurant Group which it had renamed from S amp A Restaurant Group which was acquired from Grand Metropolitan in 1990 55 as well as Metromedia Fiber Network The latter went bankrupt a few years later and became AboveNet while the former went bankrupt in 2008 Typeface EditBeginning in 1967 Metromedia s television stations began utilizing a sans serif typeface for their on air logo The typeface was a proprietary one called Metromedia Television Alphabet 18 which was as distinctive as the typeface employed by Group W unit of Westinghouse Electric for its TV and radio stations beginning in 1963 Metromedia Television Alphabet was used for the channel numbers of its television stations until 1977 when another typeface modeled slightly after the Futura family was introduced citation needed Former Metromedia stations EditStations are listed alphabetically by state and city of license Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station s call letters indicate a station that was built and signed on by Metromedia or its predecessor companies This list does not include WDTV now KDKA TV in Pittsburgh or KCTY in Kansas City Although DuMont owned the two stations at some point Metromedia never owned either of these two stations Television stations Edit City of license Market Station ChannelTV RF Years owned Current ownership statusLos Angeles CA KTTV 11 11 1963 1986 Fox owned and operated O amp O San Francisco Oakland San Jose CA KNEW TV 32 33 1968 1970 Non commercial independent station KMTP TV owned by Minority Television ProjectStockton Sacramento Modesto CA KOVR 13 25 1959 1964 CBS owned and operated O amp O Washington D C WTTG 5 36 1956 1986 Fox owned and operated O amp O Chicago IL WFLD TV 32 31 1983 1986 Fox owned and operated O amp O Decatur Springfield Champaign Urbana IL WTVP 17 17 1960 1965 NBC affiliate WAND owned by Block CommunicationsPeoria Bloomington IL WTVH TV 19 19 1959 1965 TBD owned and operated O amp O WHOINewport KY Cincinnati OH WXIX TV 19 29 1972 1983 Fox affiliate owned by Gray TelevisionBoston MA WCVB TV 5 20 1982 1986 ABC affiliate owned by Hearst TelevisionMinneapolis St Paul MN WTCN TV 11 11 1972 1983 NBC affiliate KARE owned by TegnaKansas City MO KMBC TV 1 9 29 1961 1982 ABC affiliate owned by Hearst TelevisionNew York City NY WABD WNEW TV 5 44 1956 1986 Fox owned and operated O amp O WNYWDallas Fort Worth TX KRLD TV 33 32 1983 1986 The CW affiliate KDAF owned by Nexstar Media GroupHouston TX KRIV TV 26 26 1978 1986 Fox owned and operated O amp O Radio stations Edit AM Station FM StationCity of license Market Station Years owned Current ownershipLos Angeles CA KLAC 570 1963 1984 iHeartMediaKLAC FM 102 7 1963 1965 KIIS FM iHeartMediaKLAC FM KMET 94 7 1965 1986 KTWV Audacy Inc San Francisco Oakland CA KNEW 910 1966 1980 KKSF iHeartMediaKSAN FM 94 9 1966 1981 KYLD iHeartMediaDenver Boulder CO KHOW 630 1981 1985 iHeartMediaWashington D C WASH FM 97 1 1968 1986 iHeartMediaTampa St Petersburg Clearwater FL WWBA FM 107 3 1981 1986 WXGL Cox Media GroupChicago IL WDHF WMET FM 95 5 1972 1983 WCHI FM iHeartMediaBaltimore MD WCBM 680 1963 1986 WCBM Maryland Inc WCBM FM 106 5 1963 1968 WWMX Audacy Inc Detroit MI WOMC 104 3 1972 1986 Audacy Inc Kansas City MO KMBC 980 1 1961 1967 KMBZ Audacy Inc KMBC FM KMBR 99 7 1962 1967 KZPT Audacy Inc New York City NY WNEW 1130 1957 1986 WBBR Bloomberg L P WNEW FM 102 7 1958 1986 Audacy Inc Cleveland OH WHK 1420 2 1958 1972 Salem Media GroupWHK FM WMMS 100 7 2 1958 1972 iHeartMediaPhiladelphia PA WIP 610 1959 1986 WTEL Beasley Broadcast GroupWIP FM WMMR 93 3 1959 1986 Beasley Broadcast GroupDallas Fort Worth TX KRLD 1080 3 1978 1986 Audacy Inc Seattle Tacoma WA KJR 950 1980 1984 iHeartMediaNotes Edit 1 The acquisition of KMBC AM TV also included KMOS TV in Sedalia Missouri and KFRM radio in Concordia Kansas Both stations were subsequently spun off by Metropolitan Broadcasting to other firms 56 2 DuMont Broadcasting also acquired a construction permit for channel 19 in Cleveland along with its purchase of WHK radio in 1958 but that station intended to be called WHK TV never signed on The channel 19 allocation was later occupied by WOIO which signed on in 1985 under common ownership with WHK Malrite Broadcasting 3 The acquisition of KRLD also included the Texas State Network Television syndication Edit This is a list of television programs that were produced and or syndicated by Metromedia Producers Corporation MPC This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items June 2017 Allen Ludden s Gallery 1969 The Ann Sothern Show 1958 1961 B A D Cats N 1 Charlie s Angels N 2 Chopper One N 2 The Cross Wits 1975 1980 co produced with Ralph Edwards Productions Crusader Rabbit 1950 1952 1956 1959 Dusty s Trail 1973 1974 co produced with Redwood Productions and Writer First Productions Dynasty distributor 1985 1986 N 1 Expedition Danger Family N 2 Firehouse 1974 co produced with Stonehenge Productions Groovie Goolies and Friends N 3 The Great Space Coaster co produced with Sunbow Productions N 4 Hart to Hart N 2 Here We Go Again 1973 Hit Man co produced with Jay Wolpert Productions Jane Goodall and the World of Animal Behavior Jeopardy original version distributor 1974 N 1 Kids Are People Too 1978 1982 Little Gloria Happy at Last 1982 mini series Mayberry RFD distributor N 5 The Merv Griffin Show distributor co producer 1972 1983 N 6 Movin On distributor N 7 My Favorite Martian distributor N 7 National Geographic Specials 1964 1971 The New Avengers U S distributor N 8 The New Howdy Doody Show 1976 1977 Primus 1971 1972 co produced with Ivan Tors Films Queen for a Day 1969 1970 S W A T N 2 Small Wonder production company 1985 1986 Soul Train syndicated by Tribune Entertainment then Trifecta Entertainment amp Media rights now owned by ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks Star Search production company 1983 1986 N 1 Starsky amp Hutch N 2 Strange Paradise Strike Force N 1 The Super 1972 Super Pay Cards 1981 1982 distributor Susie 1953 1957 T J Hooker N 2 That Girl distributor N 9 Thicke of the Night distributor N 5 Too Close for Comfort 1980 1987 co produced with D L Taffner Productions Truth or Consequences distributor 1966 1978 co produced with Ralph Edwards Productions The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau Untamed World co produced with the CTV Television Network Vauldeville Vega 1978 1981 distributor N 1 Wild Times 1980 mini series Winchell Mahoney Time 1965 1968 N 10 Wonderama 1955 1977 1980 1983 Notes Edit a b c d e f Rights now owned by CBS Media Ventures a b c d e f g Currently directed by 20th Television Currently owned by NBCUniversal via DreamWorks Animation Currently owned by Tanslin Media a b Currently distributed by Warner Bros Television Currently distributed by Reelin In the Years Productions on behalf of The Griffin Group a b Currently distributed by the Peter Rodgers Organization Rights now owned by StudioCanal Later distributed by Worldvision Enterprises and Shout Factory Rights now owned by Paul Winchell s family References Edit About Us MetroMedia Technologies Archived from the original on June 5 2011 Retrieved October 3 2018 Goldenson Leonard H Wolf Marvin J 1991 Beating the Odds New York Macmillan p 105 ISBN 9780684190556 DuMont TV Archived from the original on December 31 2006 Retrieved December 31 2006 DuMont network to quit in telecasting spin off Broadcasting Telecasting August 15 1955 pg 64 1 permanent dead link DuMont completes spin off separates broadcasting labs Broadcasting Telecasting December 5 1955 pg 7 2 permanent dead link DuMont pays 7 5 million for WNEW Broadcasting March 25 1957 pp 31 32 3 permanent dead link 4 permanent dead link Changing Hands Broadcasting November 18 1957 pg 96 permanent dead link For the Record Broadcasting Telecasting January 6 1958 p 108 5 permanent dead link DuMont revenue grows name change approved Broadcasting May 19 1958 pg 84 6 permanent dead link Kluge buying Paramount s 21 of Metropolitan Broadcasting Broadcasting December 1 1958 pg 9 7 permanent dead link Name change Broadcasting September 8 1958 pg 84 permanent dead link Changing Hands PDF Broadcasting Vol 54 no 16 April 21 1958 p 58 Retrieved September 5 2022 via World Radio History Spielvogel Carl Advertising an acquisition set The New York Times December 20 1959 3 blessings with 2 rebukes Broadcasting January 4 1960 pg 40 8 permanent dead link 9 permanent dead link Changing hands Broadcasting January 18 1960 pp 95 96 permanent dead link Metropolitan buying KMBC Broadcasting December 26 1960 pp 51 52 10 permanent dead link 11 permanent dead link It s Metromedia Broadcasting Telecasting April 3 1961 pg 56 12 permanent dead link a b Metromedia gets its TV team in uniformBroadcasting March 25 1968 pp 56 57 KTTV to Metromedia for 10 million plus Broadcasting January 14 1963 pg 9 13 permanent dead link Metromedia adds KLAC in 4 5 million deal Broadcasting March 18 1963 pp 9 10 14 permanent dead link 15 permanent dead link Changing hands Broadcasting March 22 1965 pp 110 111 Metromedia acquires KRHM 94 7 FM and sells KLAC FM 102 7 FM the FCC allows both facilities to exchange call letters 16 permanent dead link 17 permanent dead link Ice Capades Acquired By Metromedia Inc The New York Times May 14 1963 Gent George Metromedia buys Globetrotters TV chain will add team to Ice Capades operation The New York Times May 24 1967 Programming Briefs PDF Broadcasting June 14 1976 Retrieved August 27 2021 Peter Allen discography www allmusic com Peter Allen discography www5d biglobe ne jp Nadel Gerry May 30 1977 Who Owns Prime Time The Threat of the Occasional Networks New York Magazine New York 34 35 Retrieved October 4 2009 Monitor PDF Broadcasting December 17 1979 Retrieved September 26 2021 Schwartz Tony Metromedia seeks TV station The New York Times July 23 1981 Cuff Daniel F Business people Metromedia s founder begins new challenge The New York Times December 14 1983 KURALT WOOED UPI Retrieved June 2 2022 Hodges Ann October 1 1982 Ch 26 to carry Turner s All Star NFL package Houston Chronicle p 5 13 Shales Tom June 26 1983 Ode to the Road Of Charles Kuralt Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved June 2 2022 Cole Robert J Murdoch to buy amp TV stations cost 2 billion The New York Times May 7 1985 Rupert Murdoch buys Metromedia The 10 O Clock News New York NY May 4 1985 00 00 minutes in WNEW TV Archived from the original on December 12 2021 Retrieved November 5 2017 Clarke Ingram The DuMont Television Network Channel Nine Dumont History Stevenson Richard W Metromedia ad business sale The New York Times January 21 1986 Fabrikant Geraldine Metromedia set to sell Globetrotters ice show The New York Times March 5 1986 Metromedia Katz radio groups sold in LBO s Broadcasting March 31 1986 pp 33 34 18 permanent dead link 19 permanent dead link In brief Broadcasting November 17 1986 pg 120 permanent dead link Metromedia Will Sell Its Cellular Units Los Angeles Times July 1 1986 Retrieved November 23 2022 Victory for ventriloquist Broadcasting July 3 1989 pg 37 dead link Paul Winchell Gets Last Word and 17 8 Million LA Times July 3 1986 Newsroom issue goes to court Broadcasting August 1 1983 pp 24 25 20 permanent dead link 21 permanent dead link Craft decision leaves questions Broadcasting August 15 1983 pp 28 30 22 permanent dead link 23 permanent dead link 24 permanent dead link Craft case continues Broadcasting December 23 1985 pg 69 permanent dead link Christine Craft wins two loses big one Broadcasting March 10 1986 pp 74 75 25 permanent dead link 26 permanent dead link Metromedia s Orion Stake chicagotribune com Metromedia s Orion Stake newyorktimes com BATES JAMES September 1 1994 Orion to Be Folded Into Global Media Concern Entertainment Billionaire John Kluge s expanded Metromedia International would be formed via a four way stock swap worth 1 billion Los Angeles Times ISSN 0458 3035 Retrieved January 27 2019 Metromedia to Acquire Motion Picture Corporation of America AP November 28 1995 Retrieved November 9 2022 COMPANY NEWS AT 115 MILLION A BUYER FOR SAMUEL GOLDWYN The New York Times February 1 1996 Retrieved November 9 2022 Bates James Metromedia to Sell Film Units to MGM for 573 million The New York Times April 29 1997 Years of Hits Misses Comes to Close Daily News of Los Angeles July 10 1997 Bates James MGM Lays Off 85 in Metromedia Film TV Units Los Angeles Times July 11 1997 Bernstein Charles August 14 1989 Conglomerate menace stalks chains bnet Archived from the original on March 13 2009 Retrieved September 5 2021 9 65 million sale of KMBC Broadcasting July 31 1961 pp 45 46 27 permanent dead link 28 permanent dead link https github com microsoft WindowsAppSDK issues 3089 issue 1430110636External links EditJohn Kluge at the Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Television New York Times 1986 announcement of Metromedia liquidation Metromedia Radio a Web based radio station holds the WNEW tape archive and trademark rights to the Metromedia name and Soundmark rights to the WNEW and Metromedia Radio jingles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metromedia amp oldid 1129982050, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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