Sony Pictures Television, Inc. (SPT) is an American television production/distribution company. It is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.

SPT was previously known as Screen Gems, Columbia Pictures Television, TriStar Television and Columbia TriStar Television. The name was changed to reflect the Sony brand in 2002.

The company also owns and distributes the shows from Tandem Productions, ELP Communications (from TAT to ELP Communications), TeleVentures, Merv Griffin Enterprises, Barris Industries, Barry & Enright Productions and Bob Stewart Productions.

From 2005 until May 31 2006, SPT also distributed MGM's TV shows (including The Pink Panther and All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series) and movie library (due in part to the Sony-led consortium's purchase of MGM). In 2006, SPT joined forces with Program Partners to handle ad-sales and distribution rights to foreign television series in the U.S., mostly shows produced in Canada.

In Summer 2007, the company introduced The Minisode Network; a digital channel for MySpace airing shows from the 1960s to early 2000s from four to five minutes. In Winter 2007, The Minisode Network was also added to a few more sites like AOL TV and their Crackle site.

Shows produced and/or distributed by SPT

In addition to the Columbia TriStar Pictures theatrical library, SPT handles the following:

Current programming

• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1978-1979, 1983,1984-present) (produced by MGP 1964-1975, 1978-1979, and 1983 pilot, MGE 1984-1994, CTT 1994-2002, and SPT 2002-present; distributed in syndication since 1984 by King World, now CBS Television Distribution)
• Days of our Lives (1965-present) (in conjunction with Corday Productions, continued on by CPT 1974-2001, CTT 2001-2002, and SPT 2002-Present)
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present) (in conjunction with Bell Dramatic Serial Company and Corday Productions, continued on by CPT 1974-2001, CTT 2001-2002, and SPT 2002-Present)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present) (produced by Merv Griffin Productions 1975-1984, MGE 1984-1994, CTT 1994-2002, and SPT 2002-present; syndicated nighttime version distributed since 1983 by King World, now CBS Television Distribution)
• Carson's Comedy Classics (1983-Present) (Produced by Carson Productions)
• The Shield (2002-Present) (co-production with The Barn Productions and Fox Television Studios, CTDT then Sony Pictures Television)
• The Boondocks (2005-present)
• Chain Reaction (2006-Present) (with Embassy Row and GSN)
• 'Til Death (2006-Present)
• My Boys (2006-Present)
• 10 Items or Less (2006-Present)
• Damages (2007-Present)
• Judge David Young (2007-present)
• Rules of Engagement (2007-Present)
• Judge Karen (2008-Present)
• The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-Present)
• The Gong Show with Dave Attell (2008-Present)

Library Programming

Screen Gems to Sony Pictures Television

(All series by Screen Gems, CPT, TriStar TV, Columbia TriStar TV, Adelaide Productions, and SPT; some having gone through distribution from Colex Enterprises)

Screen Gems

• The Ford Television Theatre (1948-1957)
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958)
• Captain Midnight (1954-1958)
• Father Knows Best (1954-1960)
• Treasure Hunt (1956-1959)
• Naked City (1958-1963)
• The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966)
• Dennis the Menace (1959-1963)
• Route 66 (1960-1964, 1992) (Columbia Pictures Television in 1992)
• My Sister Eileen (1960-1961)
• Hazel (1961-1966)
• The Farmer's Daughter (1963-1966)
• Grindl (1963-1964)
• Bewitched (1964-1972)
• Gidget (1965-1966)
• I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970)
• Morning Star (1965-1966) (in conjunction with Corday Productions)
• Camp Runamuck (1965-1966)
• The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965-1966)
• The Monkees (1966-1968)
• Love on a Rooftop (1966-1967)
• Everybody's Talking (1967)
• The Flying Nun (1967-1970)
• The Second Hundred Years (1967-1968)
• Dream House (1968-1970)
• Here Come the Brides (1968-1970)
• The Ugliest Girl in Town (1968-1969)
• Playboy After Dark (1969)
• The Young Rebels (1970-1971)
• The Interns (1970-1971)
• The Partridge Family (1970-1974)
• Getting Together (1971-1972)
• The Good Life (1971)
• Temperatures Rising (1972-1974)
• Bridget Loves Bernie (1972-1973)
• The Paul Lynde Show (1972-1973)
• Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1973)
• Needles and Pins (1973)
• Jeannie (1973-1975) (co-produced with Hanna-Barbera Productions; continued on through CPT in 1974) ¹
• Police Story (1973-1978, continued on through CPT from 1974-1978)
• The Girl With Something Extra (1973-1974)

Columbia Pictures Television

• Police Woman (1974-1978)
• Partridge Family 2200 A.D. (1974-1975) (co-produced with Hanna-Barbera Productions)
• That's My Mama (1974-1975)
• Born Free (1974)
• Barney Miller (1975-1982) (with Danny Arnold's Entertainment, Inc.)
• Matt Helm (1975-1976)
• Fish (1977-1978) (with Danny Arnold's Entertainment, Inc.)
• Tabitha (1977-1978)
• Quark (1977-1978)
• Sha Na Na (1977-1981) (Originally syndicated by LBS Communications; CPT assumed rights in 2000)
• David Cassidy: Man Under Cover (1978-1979)
• Salvage 1 (1979)
• 240-Robert (1979-1981)
• From Here to Eternity (1979-1980)
• One in a Million (1980) (with TOY Productions)
• Walking Tall (1981)
• Mr. Merlin (1981-1982)
• One of the Boys (1982) (with TOY II Productions)
• Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982-1983)
• Ripley's Believe It or Not! (1982-1986) and (1999-2004) (CPT 1982-1986, CTT 1999-2002, and SPT 2002-2004)
• Filthy Rich (1982-1983)
• Jennifer Slept Here (1983-1984)
• Lottery! (1983-1984)
• Blue Thunder (1984)
• Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1984-1987)
• Punky Brewster (1984-1988) ²
• Crazy Like a Fox (1984-1986)
• Thomas and Friends (1984-present, international television distribution only, CPT 1984-1994, continued on by CTT 1994-2002, and SPT 2002-present)
• What's Happening Now!! (1985-1988) (with LBS Communications)
• Lime Street (1985)
• Stir Crazy (1985)
• Helltown (1985)
• Designing Women (1986-1993)
• The New Gidget (1986-1990)
• Starman (1986-1987)
• The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991) (co-produced with DiC Entertainment); first season distributed by/as Coca-Cola Telecommunications; subsequent seasons CPT co-syndicated with LBS Communications)
• Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (1988-1990) (co-produced with DiC Entertainment)
• Buck James (1987-1988)
• New Monkees (1987) (co-produced with Straybert Productions; co-produced and co-syndicated with LBS Communications)
• Sometning Is Out There (1988-1989)
• Shining Time Station (1989-1997)
• Parker Lewis Can't Lose (a.k.a. Parker Lewis) (1990-1993)
• Baby Talk (1991)
• Sunday Dinner (1991) (co-produced with ACT III Communications)
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1999) (co-produced with HBO and Brillstein-Grey Entertainment)
• Ricki Lake (1993-2004) (CPT and continued by CTT 1996-2002 and SPT 2002-2004)
• Walker Texas Ranger (1993-2001) (co-produced with CBS Productions) (CPT and continued by CTT 1999-2001)
• 704 Hauser (1994) (co-produced with ACT III Communications)
• The Critic (1994-1995)
• The Cosby Mysteries (1994-1995)
• Party of Five (1994-2000) (CPT and continued by CTT 1999-2000)
• Women of the House (1995)
• The King of Queens (1998-2002) (CPT 1998-1999, CTT 1999-2002, and SPT 2002-2007)

TriStar Television

• My Two Dads (1987-1990) (CPT late 1987-1990)
• Forever Knight (1992-1996)
• Mad About You (1992-1999)
• The Edge (1992-1993)
• The Nanny (1993-1999)
• Ned and Stacey (1995-1997)
• Early Edition (1996-2000) (CTT 1999-2000)
• Malcolm & Eddie (1996-2000) (CTT 1999-2000)

Columbia TriStar Television

• NewsRadio (1995-2000)
• Tempest (1996-1997) (co-produced with Dick Clark Productions)
• The Steve Harvey Show (1996-2002) (co-produced by Brillstein-Grey Communications (1996-1999), Brad Grey Television and Universal Studios (1999-2002))
• Just Shoot Me! (1997-2003) co-produced by Brillstein-Grey Communications (1996-1999), Brad Grey Television and Universal Studios (1999-2003))
• Between Brothers (1997-1999)
• Dawson's Creek (1998-2003) (Co-produced with Procter & Gamble Productions and Outerbank Entertainment, SPT 2002-2003)
• Hollywood Squares (1998-2004) (50% ownership with CBS Television Distribution)
• Oh Baby (1998-2000) (co-produced with Mandalay Television)
• Rude Awakening (1998-2001) (co-produced with Mandalay Television and Showtime)
• Dilbert (1999-2000)
• V.I.P. (1998-2002) (In association with Lawton Entertainment)
• Family Law (1999-2002) (co-produced by CBS Productions)
• Screen Gems Network (1999-2001) (CTTD)
• Bette (2000-2001) (co-production with CBS Productions)
• Judge Hatchett (2000-2008) (CTTD 2000-2001, CTDT 2001-2002 and SPT 2002-2008)
• Girls Behaving Badly (2001-present) (distribution only, Sony Pictures Television)
• Shipmates (2001-2003) (CTDT 2001-2002 and SPT 2002-2003)
• The Guardian (2001-2004) (SPT 2002-2004)
• Odyssey 5 (2002-2004) (CTDT and CTIT, then SPT and SPTI)
• Pyramid (2002-2004) (CTDT and Sony Pictures Television)
• Russian Roulette (2002-2003) (CTDT and Sony Pictures Television)(co-produced by GSN Originals)
• Street Time (2002-2003) (CTDT then SPT)

Adelaide Productions

• Jumanji: The Series (1996-1999)
• Channel Umptee-Three (1997) (in association with ACT III Television and Enchante George Productions)
• Extreme Ghostbusters (1997)
• Men in Black: The Series (1997-2001)
• Godzilla: The Series (1998-2000)
• Dragon Tales (1999-2005) (in conjunction with Sesame Workshop) (CTT 1999-2002) (SPT 2005 and mixed airings of 2005 and 2001 episodes)
• Jackie Chan Adventures (2000-2005) (CTT 2000-2002) (SPT 2002-2005)
• Max Steel (2001-2002) (co-produced with Mainframe Entertainment)
• Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)
• Stuart Little (2003)
• Harold and the Purple Crayon (2004)
• Blood+ (2005-2006) (dubbed and distributed in US by SPT)

Sony Pictures Television

• My Big Fat Greek Life (2003) (in association with HBO Television and Playtone Productions)
• Joan of Arcadia (2003-2005) (Co-Produced with CBS Productions, co-distributed by CBS Television Distribution)
• Huff (2004-2006)
• Life & Style (2004-2005)
• Kingdom Hospital (2004) (co-produced with Touchstone Television, now ABC Studios, co-distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television)
• Pat Croce: Moving In (2004-2005)
• Rescue Me (2004-Present) (co-produced with DreamWorks Television, Apostle and the Cloudland Company)
• The Residents (2004) (with TLC)
• Beautiful People (2005)
• Emily's Reasons Why Not (2006)
• The Book of Daniel (2006) (with NBC Universal Television)
• Judge Maria Lopez (2006-2008)
• Greg Behrendt (2006-2007)
• Big Day (2006-2007)
• Kidnapped (2006)
• Runaway (2006)
• Viva Laughlin (2007, co-production with CBS Paramount Network Television and BBC Worldwide)
• Cashmere Mafia (2007-2008)
• Power of 10 (2007-2008)
• The Runners (2007-2008, co-produced with Bad Robot Productions and ABC Studios)
• Canterbury's Law (Midseason 2007-2008, co-produced with Apostle and Fox Television Studios)
• Dr. Oz (Fall 2009; co-produced with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions)

Program Partners

³

• Da Vinci's Inquest/Da Vinci's City Hall (1998-2005 [As "Inquest"]/2005-2006 [As "City Hall"] in Canada; Produced by CBC and Alliance Atlantis. Syndicated in the United States since September 2005. Note that "City Hall" is airing in the US under the "Inquest" title)
• Cold Squad (1998-2006 in Canada; US Syndication 2006-)
• Stone Undercover (2002-2003 in Canada [Under the original title Tom Stone] and produced by the CBC; US Syndication 2006-)
• Degrassi: The Next Generation (2000-present, produced in Canada by Epitome Pictures; US Syndication 2007 -)
• ReGenesis (2004-present in Canada; US Syndication 2007-)
• Intelligence (2006-present in Canada, produced by the CBC; US syndication September 2007-present)
• The Listener (Produced by Shaftesbury Films for CTV; scheduled to debut in 2008)
• Family Court With Judge Penny (co-produced with 44 Blue Productions; September 2008-Present)
• Marie (Fall 2009)

Barris Industries

• The Dating Game (various incarnations from 1965-1999)
• The Newlywed Game (various incarnations from 1966-1999)
• The Gong Show (1976-1980)
• The $1.98 Beauty Show (1978)
• Camouflage (1980)

Barry & Enright Productions

• Tic Tac Dough (1978-1986)
• The Joker's Wild (1972-1986)
• Bumper Stumpers (1987-1990)

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

• Hardcastle & McCormick (1983-1986)
• Riptide (1984-1986)
• Hunter (1984-1991) (Distribution only) ⁴

Castle Rock Entertainment

• Seinfeld (1989-1998) ⁵
• Thea (1993-1994)

Merv Griffin Entertainment

• The Merv Griffin Show (1962-1986) (Distribution only, Griffin's second company Merv Griffin Entertainment owns series rights)
• Dance Fever (1979-1986) (produced by MGP 1979-1984, MGE 1984-1986 and 20th Century Fox Television) (Distribution only, Griffin's second company Merv Griffin Entertainment owns series rights)
• Monopoly (1990)
• Ruckus (1991-1992)
• Merv Griffin's Crosswords (2007-) (co-handles ad sales with NBC Universal Television Distribution) ⁶

New World Television

• Tour of Duty (1987-1990)
• Get a Life (1990-1992) (continued by TriStar Television 1991-1992)

Norman Lear

includes Tandem Productions and ELP Communications

Tandem

• All in the Family (1971-1979) (Previously distributed by Viacom Enterprises)
• Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983)—In Association with the O’Connor-Becker Company (1979-1980), UGO Productions Inc. (1980-1983)
• Maude (1972-1978)
• Sanford and Son (1972-1977)
• Good Times (1974-1979)
• Sanford Arms (1977)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986) ⁷
• Sanford (1980-1981)—In Association with Redd Foxx Productions

ELP Communications

(Formerly T.A.T. Communications and Embassy Communications)

• The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
• Hot L Baltimore (1975)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Forever Fernwood (1976-1978)
• The Dumplings (1976)
• The Nancy Walker Show (1976-1977)
• Fernwood 2Night/America 2Night (1977, 1978)
• All That Glitters (1977)
• A Year at the Top (1977)
• The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
• The Baxters (1979-1981)
• Hello, Larry (1979-1980)
• Palmerstown, USA (1981)
• Gloria (1982-1983)
• Square Pegs (1982-1983)
• Silver Spoons (1982-1987)
• a.k.a. Pablo (1984)
• E/R (1984-1985)
• Who's the Boss? (1983; 1984-1992)
• Double Trouble (1984-1985)
• It's Your Move (1984-1985)
• 227 (1985-1990)
• Married... with Children (1987-1997)
• The Charmings (1987-1988)
• The Famous Teddy Z (1989-1990)
• Living Dolls (1989)
• Top of the Heap (1991)
• The Powers That Be (1991-1992)
• Vinnie and Bobby (1992)
• Beakman's World (1992-1998) (In associaiton with Universal Belo Productions)
• the Embassy Pictures theatrical library with few exceptions

Spelling-Goldberg Productions

(bold text indicates a Spelling-Goldberg/CPT co-production)

• The Rookies (1972-1976)
• S.W.A.T. (1975-1977)
• Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979)
• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
• Family (1976-1980)
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
• Hart to Hart (1979-1984)
• T.J. Hooker (1982-1988)

Bob Stewart Productions

• Pyramid (various incarnations from 1973-2004) ⁸
• Eye Guess (1966-1969) (co-produced by Filmways)
• Three on a Match (1971-1974)
• Jackpot (1985-1990)
• The New/(The $40,000) Chain Reaction (1980, 1986-1991)

Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions

• Soap (1977-1981)
• Benson (1979-1986)

Bud Yorkin Productions/TOY Productions

• Grady (1975-1976)
• What's Happening!! (1976-1979)
• Carter Country (1977-1979)

Others

• Doctor Doctor (1989-1991) (produced by Reeves Entertainment Group, distributor only)

Notes

1. Jeannie and The Partridge Family 2200 A.D. were co-produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions with Screen Gems and Columbia Pictures Television. However, SPT owns the series due to the incarnations of I Dream of Jeannie and The Partridge Family. While Hanna-Barbera shows were distributed by Screen Gems from 1957 to 1967, they are now owned and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution.

2. Punky Brewster was produced by NBC Productions from 1984 to 1986. When NBC cancelled it, Columbia Pictures Television bought the syndication rights and the rights to produce another two seasons of episodes, as it was against FCC regulations for networks to be involved in syndicated programming at the time. SPT holds US television distribution rights, while NBC Universal International Television Distribution holds non-US television distribution rights and licenses DVD releases to Shout! Factory.

3. SPT joined forces with Program Partners by handling ad-sales and distribution rights of programs in the US. The company is not owned by Sony.

4. Hunter was co-produced by Lorimar Productions throughout its whole run. The series was distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures until TeleVentures later picked up the distribution rights around the early 1990s. SPT currently owns US television distribution rights by owning TeleVentures, MGM International Television Distribution to handle international rights through NBC Universal International Television Distribution, while Warner Bros. Entertainment owns ancillary rights, and Starz Home Entertainment handling DVD releases.

5. Warner Bros. Entertainment, who owns Castle Rock Entertainment, holds ownership rights of Thea and Seinfeld. SPT currently owns distribution rights to certain Castle Rock properties.

6. Merv Griffin's Crosswords is distributed by Program Partners. NBC Universal Television Distribution and Sony Pictures Television handles ad-sales for the series.

7. The final season of Diff'rent Strokes featured a Tandem Productions copyright but a closing logo for Embassy Television on its original ABC broadcasts since Tandem was bought by Embassy Television in 1985.

8. SPT distributes all existing episodes of all incarnations of Pyramid with the following exceptions:

• The $25,000 Pyramid (1974-1979 Bill Cullen version): Distributed by Viacom, now owned by CBS Television Distribution
• The $50,000 Pyramid (1981 Dick Clark version): Originally distributed by CPM, Inc., current ownership unknown.
• The $100,000 Pyramid (1991 John Davidson version): Originally distributed by Orbis Communications, now owned by StudioCanal.
• The 1985-1988 Dick Clark $100,000 Pyramid was formerly distributed by 20th Century Fox Television now is held by CPT Holdings, Inc.

See also

• Sony Pictures Television International

External links

• Sony Pictures Television