It's official...Sony buys MGM/UA

[Nelson]

Go to the brew for the offical news on Sony purchasing MGM/UA
http://www.cartoonbrew.com

All I can say is that, don't hold your breath for Sony to release any of the DePatie/Freleng cartoons when they can't even release their own animated library on home video.

[Dan Porceddu]

Moved to news forum.

I'm a bit disappointed that Sony purchased MGM/UA. I would have prefered Warner Brothers, since they actually release classic cartoons on DVD. :o


-Dan

[Leviathan]

We'll it could be worse. Republic/Viacom could've bought MGM instead.

[Jon Cooke]

I'd like to think there's a chance we'll see some animated Pink Panther DVDs released to tie-in with the upcoming live action remake. Besides, Pink Panther is a little more popular with the general public than the likes of Scrappy or Gerald McBoing Boing. Also remember, Sony is the company that released the great Rocky and Bullwinkle DVDs.

This is all wishful thinking of course, but here's hoping for the best!

-Jon

[MF TOON]

But has this news been confirmed yet by either studio or is the assumption simply based on the fact that Sony have offers exclusively pending since Warners pulled out of the draw? I hope this isn't solidified just yet... and I'm doubtful that it is as I've yet to hear or read details from any reputable news sources. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that another contract falls through with WB, or just about any studio other than Sony!!!

[Jon Cooke]

It's official:
http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B0D83E4B5-CD9E-4B95-AA82-CDCCF816B6EE%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

[Nelson]

Could this mean good news for classic cartoon fans? Stay Tooned!

But I do agree with Jon, that the Pink Panther is a very popular cartoon character with today's modern audience and with the new Pink Panther feature slated for a summer 2005 release, then there's a 50 precent possible chance that Sony may release a dvd collectors edition of the DePatie Freleng cartoons.

We'll see what happens!

[Jeff Harris]

Well, that wasn't all that unexpected.

And yet Sony buys another classic Hollywood studio, with the help of a few friends.

I just want to see Sony do something with their purchase other than release Blu-Ray DVDs. Heck, make a new classic movie network, a new classic television network in the vein of TV Land, or better yet, launch an American version of Animax.

[Senbei Norimaki]

I think Sony also owns the Harvey/Novel toons? It would be cool if Sony started there own animation channel. It could air Scrappy, Upa, Harvey/Novel toons, Pink Panther and anime.:audrey: I'm just happy Paramount/Viacom or Universal didn't buy MGM.

[cbrubaker]

It's official. Sony has bought remaining MGM stuff.

Soooo.....as Jerry Beck said in Cartoon Brew, Mr. Magoo shook hands with The Inspector, and Gerald McBoing Boing shook hands with Hoot Kloot.

So Sony now owns DePatie-Freleng shorts. Hopefully, Sony will release them on VHS and DVD.

[Pietro]

I do hope Sony makes the right decision here and doesn't just abandon these cartoons as they did with the Columbia shorts (all of them deserve DVD release).

But Nelson and Jon are right, the Pink Panther still maintains popularity today, so hopefully we may see something good out of this.

-Pietro:daffy:

[bobchief]

...the Sony acquisition does NOT include the "Turner" library (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3655096.stm), said the British Broadcasting Corp, although like with RKO, I imagine they will obtain underlying literary rights to those.

[Jeff]

After 2005 ... the roaring Lion would be put to rest.
Does anyone else feel sad about this?

[Thad]

I'd like to think there's a chance we'll see some animated Pink Panther DVDs released to tie-in with the upcoming live action remake. Besides, Pink Panther is a little more popular with the general public than the likes of Scrappy or Gerald McBoing Boing. Also remember, Sony is the company that released the great Rocky and Bullwinkle DVDs.
Agreed. Like it or not, people aren't going to run out and buy a "Fox & Crow & Friends" DVD boxset... If only Sony could come to some sort of agreement with Classic Media, so Mr. Magoo's name can be in the title of the set... :magoo:

But the Pink Panther is such a nostalgic favorite (especially with those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s) that a DVD set of the GOOD cartoons is sure to sell, and Sony knows that.

But Sony is a much better company than any other canidate... I mean, DePatie-Freleng has so many unfriendly-to-today's-standards characters... Would we really want WB Legal to get their hands on more cartoons they won't release?


-Thad

[Senbei Norimaki]

Agreed. Like it or not, people aren't going to run out and buy a "Fox & Crow & Friends" DVD boxset... If only Sony could come to some sort of agreement with Classic Media, so Mr. Magoo's name can be in the title of the set... :magoo: -Thad
Doesn't Sony own Classic Media?

[Pietro]

Doesn't Sony own Classic Media?
That's right - Classic Media is a seperate corporation.

-Pietro:daffy:

[Senbei Norimaki]

That's right - Classic Media is a seperate corporation.

-Pietro:daffy:
I think that Classic Media's parent company is Sony.

[Jeff Harris]

I think that Classic Media's parent company is Sony.Although Sony Wonder distributes a number of Classic Media's products, both Sony Pictures Entertainment and Classic Media are separately-owned companies (here's a nugget of thought: In late 2003, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sesame Workshop joined Classic Media's ill-fated attempt to purchase Jim Henson Productions).

Classic Media is independently-owned and has partnerships with numerous entities, including Sony, NBC Universal, Toho, and Random House. The New York-based company owns numerous properties, including Rocky and Bullwinkle (which they co-own in a joint venture with Jay Ward Productions), Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing Boing (although Sony does own the theatrical shorts, the characters and the television shows are in Classic Media's possession),The Lone Ranger, The Pokey Little Puppy, Harveytoons (including Richie Rich and Casper), Turok, Underdog, the perrenial holiday favorites Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, and countless others.

As for the MGM Lion no longer roaring, I could seriously see Leo replacing the Tri-Star pegasus and MGM more or less replacing the Tri-Star name (you'd think they'd do that once Columbia outright bought the studio from the other two partners CBS and HBO) with MGM and the main video company renaming itself Columbia-MGM Home Video.

[cbrubaker]

But Sony is a much better company than any other canidate... I mean, DePatie-Freleng has so many unfriendly-to-today's-standards characters... Would we really want WB Legal to get their hands on more cartoons they won't release?
That's true. I somehow doubt Warners would release "Hop and Chop" on DVD, although MGM did release it on video 15 years ago.

But Warners will put out politically incorrect LTs in the future DVD, just not now. Jerry Beck mentioned that they made a commitment to release every single LTs, uncut as possible. Maybe if Warners did buy MGM, we could just hope they would make that commitment to DFE.