Sony in talks to buy MGM

[droidguy1119]

What do you think of this?

It could be okay. I'm not sure I want the way Columbia runs to influence the way MGM is run, but if they just took MGM under their wing, and MGM continued to do things as its own studio, that wouldn't be bad, the studio might not be in so much financial trouble then.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=4381

[dustindame]

It seems like eventually that one company is going to own all of the movie bussiness

[stonefaced_1]

As long as it isn't Disney I don't care.

[Rizor]

Well, I think MGM being unsuccessful is just unfortunate. They were huge back in the golden years of cinema. The Roaring lion is of course legendary. It's pretty sad to seem them doing so badly.

[Inferno]

so how many different companies have now owned MGM over the last 30 years?

[Pointy Shrub]

Here's some info about the major studios i found while browsing:

"Columbia
Columbia and TriStar are subsidiaries of Sony Pictures Entertainment. They own their own back library.

Columbia/Sony have UK theatrical and video distribution operations and can handle certain rights enquiries in the UK.

Disney
Walt Disney own their own back library. Touchstone, Buena Vista and Miramax are parts of the Walt Disney Company.

Buena Vista have a UK theatrical and video distribution operation.

MGM/UA
United Artists (UA) are owned by MGM. Certain rights to older (pre-1986) MGM titles are owned by Warner Bros. MGM own the rights to recent MGM productions (1986 onwards) and all UA titles.

In the UK, the back catalogue consisting of MGM titles from 1986 onwards and all UA titles is handled theatrically by Blue Dolphin Film & Video. Theatrical distribution for new MGM/UA releases in the UK is now through 20th Century Fox; releases prior to November 2000 were handled by UIP (United International Pictures). Rights enquiries may be referred to USA offices.

Paramount
Paramount are a subsidary of Viacom Inc. They own their back library of titles dating from 1948 onwards. Pre-1948 titles are owned by MCA/Universal.

Current distribution in the UK is through UIP for theatrical release and through Paramount Home Entertainment for video. Rights enquiries should be referred to USA offices.

Twentieth Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox are part of Fox Inc., a subsidiary of the News Corporation. They own their own back library.

Twentieth Century Fox have UK theatrical and video distribution operations. Certain rights enquiries can be handled in the UK, but enquiries may be referred to USA offices.

Universal
Universal/MCA are owned by Vivendi Universal, following the merger of their parent company Seagram with Vivendi in 2000. They own their own back library.

Seagram acquired the European-based Polygram Filmed Entertainment (PFE) in 1998, subsequently selling pre-1996 PFE productions to MGM. The remaining PFE operation was retained and re-named Universal Pictures International (UPI).

UPI ceased UK theatrical distribution in January 2000; UIP (United International Pictures) now handle Universal's UK theatrical releases (including PFE-produced titles from 1996 onwards).

Universal have a UK video distribution operation. Vivendi Universal have UK offices that can field certain rights enquiries.

Warner Bros
Warner Bros. are a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner. They own their own back library and also certain rights to a catalogue (which has previously been called the Turner Library) consisting of pre-1986 MGM titles and titles made by RKO.

Warner Bros. have UK theatrical and video distribution operations and can handle certain rights enquiries in the UK."

[droidguy1119]

Yeah, I knew that, basically. Disney also owns Hollywood Pictures and Dimension films.

Warner Brothers also owns New Line.

Universal's new studio brand is Focus Features.

[Rizor]

Ideally, I'd like for Warners to buy MGM. They already own a lot of MGM's catologue titles for DVD releases and treat MGM with respect (for example, Warner's SE of Singin' in the Rain heaps praise all over MGM).

As far as DVD releases go (which I'm assuming is part of Sony wanting MGM - they'd own all of their classic titles not owned by WB along with the Bond franchise!), Sony just seems to whore out their films on disc.

[Hypestyle]

hmm... this is wild..

I hope this deal goes through.. at the very least, you may finally get some new versions of the old-school blaxploitation movies that MGM acquired from Orion years ago in the late 90's (and Orion acquired many of them from American International Pictures in the 80's)...

[Hatter]

I'm worried by this excerpt from the article:

Sony is expected to shut down MGM's current film productions, except possibly the James Bond film franchise.

What films would this affect, exactly? Hopefully it won't have much of an effect on the Bond series.

[droidguy1119]

That's dumb...I wouldn't want Sony to kill MGM...

Here's what's on their schedule -- nothing wild, but still.

2005 & Beyond:
• The Amityville Horror (4/15/05)
• The Pink Panther (7/22/05)
• James Bond 21 (11/18/05)
• Blood and Chocolate (TBA 2005)
• Mexicali (TBA 2005)

In Development
• 3001: The Final Odyssey
• The Bellboy
• Bunny
• The Extractors
• Fast Flash to Bang Time
• The Fireflies
• Godspeed, Lawrence Mann
• I Want Kandee
• Nosebleed
• One for the Ages
• The Paperboy
• Pretty Ugly
• Quiller Solitaire
• Rising Stars: Born in Fire
• Risk Addiction
• Rocky VI
• Romantic Comedy
• Stargate: SG-1
• Taking on the Neighborhood
• The Tree
• The Two Fridas
• Ump
• Wildest Dreams

[ruban]

It has happened. MGM agreed to be bought by Sony.

[PsychoMike]

Universal
Universal/MCA are owned by Vivendi Universal, following the merger of their parent company Seagram with Vivendi in 2000. They own their own back library.

Seagram acquired the European-based Polygram Filmed Entertainment (PFE) in 1998, subsequently selling pre-1996 PFE productions to MGM. The remaining PFE operation was retained and re-named Universal Pictures International (UPI).

UPI ceased UK theatrical distribution in January 2000; UIP (United International Pictures) now handle Universal's UK theatrical releases (including PFE-produced titles from 1996 onwards).

Universal have a UK video distribution operation. Vivendi Universal have UK offices that can field certain rights enquiries.

Universal has under gone changes recently. The entertainment divison of Vivendi Universal (Vivendi Universal Etertainment (VUE)), which includes Universal pictures, theam parks, DVD/video, Universal Televison, and all the subsidaries have merged with NBC, forming NBC Universal. 80% of NBC Universal is owned by General Electric (GE) while 20% is still owned by Vivendi Universal.

[neo5595]

Here's some info about the major studios i found while browsing:

"Columbia
Columbia and TriStar are subsidiaries of Sony Pictures Entertainment. They own their own back library.

Columbia/Sony have UK theatrical and video distribution operations and can handle certain rights enquiries in the UK.

Disney
Walt Disney own their own back library. Touchstone, Buena Vista and Miramax are parts of the Walt Disney Company.

Buena Vista have a UK theatrical and video distribution operation.

MGM/UA
United Artists (UA) are owned by MGM. Certain rights to older (pre-1986) MGM titles are owned by Warner Bros. MGM own the rights to recent MGM productions (1986 onwards) and all UA titles.

In the UK, the back catalogue consisting of MGM titles from 1986 onwards and all UA titles is handled theatrically by Blue Dolphin Film & Video. Theatrical distribution for new MGM/UA releases in the UK is now through 20th Century Fox; releases prior to November 2000 were handled by UIP (United International Pictures). Rights enquiries may be referred to USA offices.

Paramount
Paramount are a subsidary of Viacom Inc. They own their back library of titles dating from 1948 onwards. Pre-1948 titles are owned by MCA/Universal.

Current distribution in the UK is through UIP for theatrical release and through Paramount Home Entertainment for video. Rights enquiries should be referred to USA offices.

Twentieth Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox are part of Fox Inc., a subsidiary of the News Corporation. They own their own back library.

Twentieth Century Fox have UK theatrical and video distribution operations. Certain rights enquiries can be handled in the UK, but enquiries may be referred to USA offices.

Universal
Universal/MCA are owned by Vivendi Universal, following the merger of their parent company Seagram with Vivendi in 2000. They own their own back library.

Seagram acquired the European-based Polygram Filmed Entertainment (PFE) in 1998, subsequently selling pre-1996 PFE productions to MGM. The remaining PFE operation was retained and re-named Universal Pictures International (UPI).

UPI ceased UK theatrical distribution in January 2000; UIP (United International Pictures) now handle Universal's UK theatrical releases (including PFE-produced titles from 1996 onwards).

Universal have a UK video distribution operation. Vivendi Universal have UK offices that can field certain rights enquiries.

Warner Bros
Warner Bros. are a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner. They own their own back library and also certain rights to a catalogue (which has previously been called the Turner Library) consisting of pre-1986 MGM titles and titles made by RKO.

Warner Bros. have UK theatrical and video distribution operations and can handle certain rights enquiries in the UK."

What about New Line? I think their owned by AOL Time Warner...right?

[pockybot]

That's dumb...I wouldn't want Sony to kill MGM...

Here's what's on their schedule -- nothing wild, but still.

2005 & Beyond:
• The Amityville Horror (4/15/05)
• The Pink Panther (7/22/05)
• James Bond 21 (11/18/05)
• Blood and Chocolate (TBA 2005)
• Mexicali (TBA 2005)

In Development
• 3001: The Final Odyssey
• The Bellboy
• Bunny
• The Extractors
• Fast Flash to Bang Time
• The Fireflies
• Godspeed, Lawrence Mann
• I Want Kandee
• Nosebleed
• One for the Ages
• The Paperboy
• Pretty Ugly
• Quiller Solitaire
• Rising Stars: Born in Fire
• Risk Addiction
• Rocky VI
• Romantic Comedy
• Stargate: SG-1
• Taking on the Neighborhood
• The Tree
• The Two Fridas
• Ump
• Wildest Dreams


so basically all out suckage. MGM has become a tumbleweed laughing stock, and except for a back catalog, I have no idea why anyone would wanna buy them. What made MGM ok was Universal.

[Faithless Eye]

ok, so here's the rundown AFAIK on the anticompetitiveness of the entertainment industry:

AOL/TimeWarner
Movies: Warner Brothers, New Line, RKO, Fine Line, Castle Rock
TV: CNN, HBO, Cinemax, Comedy Central, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner
Music: WB, Atlantic, Elektra, Rhino
Other: Time, Life, People, MAD, DC Comics, Netscape, ICQ

Viacom
Movies: Paramount, Nickelodeon, MTV, Blockbuster Video
TV: UPN, MTV, VH1, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Sundance, TNN, The Movie Channel
Other: Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books

Disney
Movies: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax, Dimension, Buena Vista, Hollywood Pictures
TV: ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN, Lifetime

News Corp.
Movies: 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, New Regency
TV: FOX, FOX News, National Geographic, TV Guide
Music/Other: Festival Mushroom Records, HarperCollins, NY Post, Sun, Times, News of the World, Daily Telegraph

Vivendi
Movies: Universal, StudioCanal, PolyGram, Gramercy, Interscope, CIC
TV: USA, SciFi Channel
Music: Geffen, Def Jam, MCA, Universal, Mercury, Motown, Pressplay
Also Houghton Mifflin

Sony
Movies: Columbia, Tristar, Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Revolution Studios, MGM, United Artists, Loews Theatres
Music: American, Epic, Sony Music (not to mention the HUGE monopoly they've got in devices, i.e. walkman)


Kind of disgusting when you think about it.

[gnarley]

Ideally, I'd like for Warners to buy MGM. They already own a lot of MGM's catologue titles for DVD releases and treat MGM with respect (for example, Warner's SE of Singin' in the Rain heaps praise all over MGM).

I agree. I liked how WB released the 6 movie Tarzan Collection set, including a feature length doc, shorts and trailers. The entire packaging was well done. I hope more MGM movie get the same treatment.

[dustindame]

i stand by my post at the top of this thread.