CBS Theatrical Films: Difference between revisions
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In March 1980, the unit was promoted to group level, same as the broadcast and records groups, as CBS Theatrical Films Group with Michael Levy as group president reporting directly to CBS president Thomas H. Wyman.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/28/business/cbs-wants-to-star-in-the-movies-as-one-of-the-major-film-producers</ref> Before 1985, future Fox TV executive William Self was president of production.<ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/producer-fox-tv-exec-william-47206</ref> | In March 1980, the unit was promoted to group level, same as the broadcast and records groups, as CBS Theatrical Films Group with Michael Levy as group president reporting directly to CBS president Thomas H. Wyman.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/28/business/cbs-wants-to-star-in-the-movies-as-one-of-the-major-film-producers</ref> Before 1985, future Fox TV executive William Self was president of production.<ref>https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/producer-fox-tv-exec-william-47206</ref> | ||
On December 17, 1984, it was merged with the CBS Worldwide Enterprises branch to form [[CBS Productions]], which co-existed with, but was unrelated to, what was then CBS Entertainment Productions.<ref>https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-12-17-OCR-Page-0080.pdf</ref> The following year, CBS Productions decided to wind down CBS Theatrical Films' operations,<ref>"CBS Winding Down". ''Variety''. 1985-05-28. p. 3.</ref> and CBS closed the company in November 1985, within weeks of rival [[ABC]] shutting down [[ABC Motion Pictures]].<ref>https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion</ref> | On December 17, 1984, it was merged with the CBS Worldwide Enterprises branch along with [[CBS Broadcast International]] to form [[CBS Productions]], which co-existed with, but was unrelated to, what was then CBS Entertainment Productions.<ref>https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-12-17-OCR-Page-0080.pdf</ref> The following year, CBS Productions decided to wind down CBS Theatrical Films' operations,<ref>"CBS Winding Down". ''Variety''. 1985-05-28. p. 3.</ref> and CBS closed the company in November 1985, within weeks of rival [[ABC]] shutting down [[ABC Motion Pictures]].<ref>https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion</ref> CBS Broadcast International spun-out from the production unit at that time.<ref>https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1984-02-24-OCR-Page-0097.pdf</ref> | ||
Amongst the factors that contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films was the fact that it was a boutique label, and was therefore disadvantaged because it was usually only offered left over films after the major studios had selected more likely commercial successes; none of CBS Theatrical Films' releases were commercially successful.<ref>https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion</ref> The market was by then overcrowded by additional startup boutiques, causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million with marketing matching that level, and television movies did better in the ratings than theatrical films already released via cable and home media. In addition, since it was a boutique, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system and had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates.<ref>https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion</ref> | Amongst the factors that contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films was the fact that it was a boutique label, and was therefore disadvantaged because it was usually only offered left over films after the major studios had selected more likely commercial successes; none of CBS Theatrical Films' releases were commercially successful.<ref>https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion</ref> The market was by then overcrowded by additional startup boutiques, causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million with marketing matching that level, and television movies did better in the ratings than theatrical films already released via cable and home media. In addition, since it was a boutique, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system and had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates.<ref>https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion</ref> | ||