ABC Signature
is an American
television
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
studio that is a subsidiary of
Disney Television Studios
Disney Television Studios is the television studio arm of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Company established on May 15, 2019 to succeed Walt Disney Television following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century ...
, a division of
Walt Disney Television
Disney General Entertainment Content, doing business as Walt Disney Television, is an American entertainment company that oversees television content and assets owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Forming the company's General Enterta ...
, which is part of the
Disney General Entertainment Content
Disney General Entertainment Content, Trade name, doing business as Walt Disney Television, is an American entertainment company that oversees television content and assets owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Forming the company's Gen ...
division of
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
. The studio is the production arm of the
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
television network, and originally started in 1950 as the television unit of Walt Disney Productions, which was later renamed Walt Disney Television as a separate company from Walt Disney Television Animation, in 1983, and launched a subsidiary, the first incarnation of Touchstone Television, established in 1985 (later became part of ABC in 1999, and merged Walt Disney Network Television into Touchstone Television in 2003) and renamed ABC Studios in 2007. It adopted its current identity on August 10, 2020, after a merger between ABC Studios and the original ABC Signature Studios.
Background
Walt Disney Productions (television unit)
In the 1930s, Walt Disney initially had no interest in television. This was changed by 1950 when Walt Disney did an hour-long special on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
, followed up a year after by a special on
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
. Both of these programs received excellent ratings. Disney eventually got into full series production when ''
Disneyland
Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...
'' debuted on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
in 1954.
Following the success of ''Disneyland'', in 1957, Disney was producing another primetime series for ABC, the western show ''
Zorro
Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...
''. It did not last long in the ratings and was eventually cancelled in 1959.
In 1961, Disney severed its terms with ABC and moved its weekly program to NBC, where it stayed for nearly 20 years until 1981. For years, Disney's lone television show on primetime was the eponymous anthology series.
After NBC axed the program, in 1981, it struck an agreement with CBS to take the anthology program there. In 1982, Disney produced the first prime-time show since the cancellation of ''
Zorro
Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...
'' in 1959, ''
Herbie the Love Bug''. It was cancelled after only one season. It was followed by three more programs as part of an agreement with CBS, ''
Gun Shy'', ''
Small & Frye
''Small & Frye'' is an American television sitcom that was produced by The Walt Disney Company and broadcast on CBS in 1983. This series, which starred Darren McGavin and Jack Blessing as the title characters, lasted for only one season of six e ...
'' and ''
Zorro and Son
''Zorro and Son'' is an American television Western based on the character Zorro that aired on CBS. Created by Walt Disney Television, the series stars Henry Darrow as Zorro (Don Diego) and Paul Regina as his son Zorro Jr. (Don Carlos). The li ...
''. Both of these were sitcoms, and it also cancelled after only one season.
History
Walt Disney Television/Touchstone Television
After the cancellation of the three prime-time series on CBS in 1983, Disney ventured back into primetime television. The
Touchstone Films banner was used for TV by then-new Disney CEO
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner (born March 7, 1942) is an American businessman and former chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from September 1984 to September 2005. Prior to Disney, Eisner was president of rival film st ...
in the 1984–1985 television season, with the short lived western ''
Wildside''.
Touchstone was a banner of
Walt Disney Studios that included television production at the time. By 1985, Disney signed an agreement with sitcom producers
Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions. In the next season, Disney's TV production unit produced a hit in ''
The Golden Girls
''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White ...
'' using the Touchstone Films brand. The Touchstone name would be used for more mature shows, while the Disney name would be used for more family friendly series.
By the 1986-1987 television season, Disney was producing two shows for the fall season, which are ''
Sidekicks'', produced under the Walt Disney Television label, and ''
The Ellen Burstyn Show
''The Ellen Burstyn Show'' is an American sitcom starring Ellen Burstyn. The series was produced by Touchstone Television and debuted on ABC on September 20, 1986. The series was canceled after 13 episodes.
Synopsis
Burstyn played Baltimore coll ...
'', produced under the Touchstone Television label. Both were kicked out after the fall 1986 season, to be followed up by two more shows produced under the Touchstone label, the ABC show ''
Harry
Harry may refer to:
TV shows
* ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin
* ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons
* ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...
'', and the Fox show ''
Down and Out in Beverly Hills''. In 1987, Randy Reiss was named president of both television units. In the fall of 1987, Disney sold its third television drama, ''
The Oldest Rookie
''The Oldest Rookie'' is an American crime drama that aired from September 16, 1987, until January 13, 1988.
Premise
A police veteran with a desk job wants to become a street cop again, this means he will get assigned a rookie partner.
Cast
*Pa ...
'' to CBS. In the late of 1988, after Witt/Thomas/Harris pulled out of the
TeleVentures venture (they are co-founders along with
Tri-Star Pictures
TriStar Pictures, Inc. (spelled as Tri-Star until 1991) is an American film studio and production company that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, part of the multinational conglomerate Sony. It is a corporate sibling of Sony ...
and
Stephen J. Cannell Productions), Disney began selling, marketing and distributing Witt/Thomas programs exclusively. It was reupped two years later in 1990, until the duo left to sign with rival
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
in 1992.
On April 18, 1989,
Walt Disney Television
Disney General Entertainment Content, doing business as Walt Disney Television, is an American entertainment company that oversees television content and assets owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Forming the company's General Enterta ...
and Touchstone Television were grouped together under
Garth Ancier
Garth Ancier (born September 3, 1957, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey) is an American television producer and media executive.
Early life
Ancier graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1975 and Princeton University in 1979.
He began his broadca ...
, the then-president of network television for Walt Disney Studios. The following week, Disney had struck development deals with upstart Wind Dancer Productions (headed by ''
Roseanne
''Roseanne'' is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Williams and Roseanne Barr which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Barr as Roseann ...
'' alumus
Matt Williams), and KTMB Productions (backed by ''
The Golden Girls
''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White ...
'' writers Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman,
Barry Fanaro and
Mort Nathan
Mort Nathan is an American television producer, screenwriter and film director. He was one of the co-producers and head writers of the comedy show ''The Golden Girls''. Nathan won two Emmy awards, two Golden Globes, and a Writers Guild of America ...
). The first respective projects were Wind Dancer's ''
Carol & Company
''Carol & Company'' is an American comedy anthology television series starring Carol Burnett, Jeremy Piven, Meagen Fay, Terry Kiser, Anita Barone, Richard Kind and Peter Krause that aired for two seasons on NBC from March 31, 1990, to July 20, ...
'' and KTMB's ''
The Fanelli Boys
''The Fanelli Boys'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from September 8, 1990 to February 16, 1991, as part of its 1990–91 prime time schedule. The series was created by the team of Barry Fanaro, Mort Nathan, Kathy Spee ...
'', both of which aired on NBC. Also that same year, Disney signed to a long-term contract with producer
Michael Jacobs and his
Michael Jacobs Productions
Michael Jacobs Productions is an inactive American production company located at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. It was founded in 1978 by Michael Jacobs.
By 1989, the company had reached a film and television producing deal with ...
company. Among the first projects under the collaborative agreement was ''
Singer & Sons
''Singer & Sons'' is an American sitcom starring Harold Gould and Esther Rolle that was originally broadcast on NBC as a summer replacement series from June 9 to June 27, 1990.
Synopsis
Nathan Singer is a Jewish widower who becomes the third gene ...
'', which was for NBC in 1990. The company also had a contract with producer
Terry Louise Fisher, after she quit ''
L.A. Law
''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994.
Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...
'' due to disputes with co-creator
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco Masterson (December 16, 1943 – April 1, 2018) was an American television writer and producer. He developed a number of television series, including ''Hill Street Blues'', ''L.A. Law'', ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'', ''Cop Rock'' ...
and studio
20th Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
, then-known as 20th Century Fox Television. Later that year, Disney had signed a deal with
Neal Marlens
Neal (Neil) is a given masculine name and surname of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Irish Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "hono ...
and
Carol Black, creators of ''
The Wonder Years
''The Wonder Years'' is an American coming-of-age story, coming-of-age situation comedy, comedy/Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Neal Marlens and Carol L. Black, Carol Black. It ran on American Broadcasting Company ...
'', to produce three series for ABC.
With difficulties of selling in the off-network syndicated market, Disney television executives decided in late September 1990 that ''
Hull High
''Hull High'' (also known as ''Hull Street High'') is an American musical teen comedy television series which aired on the NBC from August 20 to December 30, 1990. The series was created and executive produced by Gil Grant.
Synopsis
''Hull High' ...
'', then on NBC, or a potential NBC mid-season replacement in ''Disney Action-Adventure Hour'', would be its last hour-long drama. High's pilot did cost the company $4.5 million. The company also had another drama in collaboration with
Stephen J. Cannell, ''
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
''Disney Presents The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage'' is an American fantasy comedy-drama television series broadcast in the United States by NBC and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions in association with Walt Disney Television. The show ...
'', which was produced under the Walt Disney TV label. In 1991, Disney had collaborated with producer
Michael Jacobs, and
Jim Henson Productions
The Jim Henson Company (formerly known as Muppets, Inc., Henson Associates, Inc., and Jim Henson Productions, Inc.; commonly referred to as Henson) is an American entertainment company located in Los Angeles, California. The company is known for ...
on a primetime sitcom with puppets by
Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Jim Henson's Creature Shop is a special/visual effects company founded in 1979 by puppeteer Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. The company is based out of Burbank, California, United States.
History
Jim Henson's Creature Shop was originally ...
, ''
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is t ...
'', which debuted on ABC. In 1992, the Touchstone TV label moved into producing longer forms for TV, focusing on more adult-oriented fare with its first telefilm for CBS about Edna Buchanan, a Miami Herald crime reporter who would win a Pulitzer Prize. The company would eventually sign a deal with
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
to develop 5 television movies for the 1993–94 and 1994-95 TV seasons.
In 1992, KTMB Productions left Disney to move to Paramount. Eventually the team was divested into two via separate production companies, one led by Speer and Grossman, the other led by Fanaro and Nathan. Within that same year, Wind Dancer Productions had received an exclusive deal with the ABC television network, with Disney serving as distributor of their series. And also that year, high-profile producer
Michael Jacobs had reupped his deal with the studio. In 1993, Disney had reached a deal with comedian
Sinbad and his David & Golitah Productions company for a film and TV deal.
On August 24, 1994, with
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg (; born December 21, 1950) is an American filmmaker, animator, and media proprietor. He became well known for his tenure as chairman of Walt Disney Studios from 1984 to 1994. After departing Disney, he was a co-founder and CE ...
's resignation,
Richard Frank became head of
Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications, a new group taking Touchstone Television and other TV units out of the Disney studios. In 1995, they returned to producing dramas again with ''
Nowhere Man''. In 1995, Disney signed Wind Dancer to a new pact, following the expiration of a deal at ABC.
In April 1996, due to the ongoing post-Disney-CC/ABC merger realignment and the retirement of its president, Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications' divisions were reassigned to other groups, with Walt Disney Television and Touchstone Television transferred to
The Walt Disney Studios. In 1997, Disney struck a deal with
Imagine Entertainment
Imagine Entertainment (formerly Imagine Films Entertainment), also known simply as Imagine, is an American film and television production company founded in November 1985 by producer Brian Grazer and director Ron Howard.
Background
Brian Gra ...
to launch a television venture. On November 1, 1997, David Neuman assumed the presidency of Touchstone TV while retaining his post as president of Walt Disney Network Television. In March 1998, Touchstone TV was placed under Buena Vista Television Productions, a newly formed group under chairman
Lloyd Braun
Lloyd Braun (born 1958) is an American media executive. He is the founder and CEO of Whalerock Industries, a Los Angeles based media and technology company.
Early life and education
Braun was born in New York, the son of Merna and David Braun, ...
, along with Walt Disney Network Television. Also in June 1998, former ABC chief
Greer Shephard Greer Shephard is an American television producer and director. She was an executive producer on the FX (TV network), FX series ''Nip/Tuck''. She is also an executive producer on the Turner Network Television, TNT series, ''The Closer''. Along with ...
and ''
NYPD Blue
''NYPD Blue'' is an American police procedural television series set in New York City, exploring the struggles of the fictional 15th Precinct detective squad in Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwines several plots involving an ensemble c ...
'' director
Michael M. Robin had launched a production company with an exclusive agreement at the studio. In May 1999,
J.J. Abrams
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker and composer. He is best known for his works in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced such films as ''Regarding Henry'' (1991), '' For ...
, who created ''
Felicity'' at that time signed a film and television deal with the studio. By June 1999, Neuman left for the Digital Entertainment Network. In 1999, after Disney's ''
Smart Guy
''Smart Guy'' is an American sitcom television series centering on the exploits of child prodigy T.J. Henderson (Tahj Mowry), who moves from being an elementary school student in the fourth grade to a high school student in the tenth grade, atte ...
'' was cancelled, all Disney shows for primetime would be produced under the Touchstone Television label.
Touchstone Television (ABC subsidiary)
In late 1999, Walt Disney Television Studios (also called Buena Vista Television Group or Buena Vista Television Productions), were transferred from the Disney Studios to the
ABC Television Network
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is the flagship property of the ABC Entertainment Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, Califor ...
to merge with ABC's primetime division, ABC Entertainment, forming the ABC Entertainment Television Group. By then, the Walt Disney Television label was dropped and all primetime programming produced by Disney would use the "Touchstone Television" name. Shortly afterwards, writer Seth Kurland struck a deal with the studio to produce shows. Following Kurland's deal, writer
Don Reo
Don Reo is an American television writer and producer. He created or co-created such shows as '' Blossom'' and ''The John Larroquette Show'' for NBC, ''My Wife and Kids'' for ABC and ''The Ranch'' for Netflix.
Other shows for which he has writ ...
, formerly of ''
Lenny'' and ''
Blossom
In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees (genus ''Prunus'') and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring.
Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as wel ...
'' when Witt-Thomas was producing for Disney also struck a deal with the studio. Around the same time, Touchstone sold the series, ''
Daddio
''Daddio'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from March 23 to October 23, 2000. Created by Matt Berry and Ric Swartzwelder, the series starred Michael Chiklis and Anita Barone.
Synopsis
Michael Chiklis stars as Chris Woods, a former restaur ...
'' to NBC. The program lasted only nine episodes before NBC cancelled it.
In 2000, Touchstone Television created two departments for comedy in September, and a department for drama in December. Touchstone had infamously left the production of the CBS series ''
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', also referred to as ''CSI'' and ''CSI: Las Vegas'', is an American procedural forensics crime drama television series that ran on CBS from October 6, 2000, to September 27, 2015, spanning 15 seasons. This wa ...
'' in 2000, fearing it was a flop and sold Disney's interest in the series to
Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (commonly known as Alliance Atlantis and commonly shortened to simply Alliance or Atlantis and formerly traded as TSX:AAC) was a Canadian media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operato ...
. By 2001, Steve McPherson signed on as president of the television unit. While two of their pilots were in consideration to be picked up by ABC in April 2003,
Tollin/Robbins Productions
Tollin Productions (or simply known as TP and formerly known as Marquee/Tollin/Robbins (or simply known as MTR or M/T/R)) was an American movie and television production company operated by Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins in 1994. Joe Davola was ...
signed a two-year development deal with Touchstone Television, which included a two-year option, shares in profits and outside sales.
In 2004, ''
Alias
Alias may refer to:
* Pseudonym
* Pen name
* Nickname
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Alias'' (2013 film), a 2013 Canadian documentary film
* ''Alias'' (TV series), an American action thriller series 2001–2006
* ''Alias the ...
'' creator
J.J. Abrams
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker and composer. He is best known for his works in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced such films as ''Regarding Henry'' (1991), '' For ...
and his
Bad Robot
Bad Robot is an American film and television production company founded on May 27, 1999 and led by J. J. Abrams and Katie McGrath as Co-CEO. Under its Bad Robot Productions division, the company is responsible for the television series ''Alias' ...
production company had struck a development deal with Touchstone Television to produce television series. Also that year,
Marc Cherry
Marc Cherry (born March 23, 1962) is an American television writer and producer. He is best known for creating the ABC dramedy series ''Desperate Housewives''.
Personal life Early life
Marc Cherry was born in Long Beach and lived briefly in ...
inked a development deal at the studio. The following year,
the Russo brothers
Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970) and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971), collectively known as the Russo brothers (), are American directors, producers, and screenwriters. They direct most of their work together. They are best known for dir ...
has struck a two-year deal with the studio, with veteran writer and producer
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco Masterson (December 16, 1943 – April 1, 2018) was an American television writer and producer. He developed a number of television series, including ''Hill Street Blues'', ''L.A. Law'', ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'', ''Cop Rock'' ...
, who had produced several shows for ABC, signing a deal with the studio that same year to produce future shows. In 2006,
Marti Noxon
Martha Mills Noxon (born August 25, 1964) is an American television and film writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her work as a screenwriter and executive producer on the supernatural drama series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1 ...
struck a deal with the studio to produce shows.
ABC Studios
![ABC Studios logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/ABC_Studios_logo.svg)
In February 2007, Disney announced that Touchstone Television would be renamed ABC Television Studio as part of Disney's push to drop secondary brands like
Buena Vista Buena Vista, meaning "good view" in Spanish, may refer to:
Places Canada
*Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador, with the name being originally derived from “Buena Vista”
*Buena Vista, Saskatchewan
*Buena Vista, Saskatoon, a neighborhood in ...
in favor of the Disney, ABC and ESPN brands.
By the time the name change was implemented that fall, the new name had been modified to ABC Studios.
In June 2009,
ABC Entertainment
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is the flagship property of the ABC Entertainment Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, Calif ...
announced a new organization, effective immediately as ABC Entertainment Group, while consolidating back office functions like business affairs, distribution and scheduling of ABC Studios and ABC Entertainment and retaining separate creative units. In January 2010,
Disney-ABC Television Group
This is a list of assets currently or formerly owned by the Walt Disney Company, unless otherwise indicated.
Corporate
Walt Disney Studios
Live-action production
Animated production
Disney Studio Services
Disney Theatrica ...
announced it was cutting 5% of its workforce. In October 2012, ABC Studios formed its
Signature unit to sell to outside networks.
In early 2016, ABC Studios International (also referred to as ABC International Studios) was set up with the appointment of Keli Lee as its managing director of international content and talent, combined with her move to London. The unit, announced at MIPCOM in October 2016, would allow more overseas local productions, leveraging fellow Disney Media Network expertises in distribution and production for the local and international co-productions, IP reinventions, and original format acquisitions and productions. This would add to Disney-ABC's international productions in Latin America, where the company has 16 years of producing local content. In April 2017, the international unit greenlit its first co-production, the Australian series ''
Harrow''.
Lee signed a first look deal with
Hoodlum Entertainment, the co-producers of ''Harrow'', by February 2018. With ABC picking up the international unit's ''
Reef Break'' in August 2018, ABC Studios started co-producing.
In August 2017, Ryan Seacrest Productions left CBS at the end of their deal to move over to ABC Studios. Following the expansion of its cable/streaming unit, ABC Studios launched a new alternative division for the full range of unscripted work, from documentaries to game shows to social experiment series. The former executive vice president of development and production at Ryan Seacrest Productions, along with Fernando Hernandez, the former head of
Universal Television Alternative Studios, were hired by the studio to lead the division around January 2018. This division was announced in October 2018 with a small slate under production executive Gareth Provan, and an in-house development group called The Originals Group. The division is tapping existing production companies with deals at ABC Studios, including Ryan Seacrest Productions, Larry Wilmore's Wilmore Films and Bob Sertner Productions, in addition to partnerships that Hernandez has developed, including those with Mission Control Media, Parker Paige Media, INE Entertainment, and Party Pit Productions.
ABC Signature Studios
![ABC Signature Studios](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/ABC_Signature_Studios.svg)
ABC Studios was moving to sell to outside networks. As the studios have placed the former
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
comedy ''
Cougar Town
''Cougar Town'' is an American television sitcom that ran for 102 episodes over six seasons, from September 23, 2009, until March 31, 2015. The first three seasons aired on ABC, with the series moving to TBS for the remaining three seasons. ABC ...
'' at
TBS, and ''
Devious Maids
''Devious Maids'' is an American television comedy-drama and mystery series created by Marc Cherry, produced by ABC Studios, and executive produced by Cherry, Sabrina Wind, Eva Longoria, Paul McGuigan, Larry Shuman, David Lonner, John Mass, Pau ...
'' at
Lifetime, Signature was set up in October 2012 to continue the trend.
In 2013, ABC Studios vice president of drama Tracy Underwood was appointed senior vice president of ABC Signature.
Signature was incorporated on .
Signature developed ''
Mistresses
Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to:
Romance and relationships
* Mistress (lover), a term for a woman who is in a sexual and romantic relationship with a man who is married to a d ...
'', which was included in ABC's summer schedule and renewed for another season.
In October 2013, the division placed its first outside project, ''
Benched'', for
USA
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, with a pilot order that finished shooting by December. Other projects were in the works with
A&E,
WE tv
We TV (stylized as WE tv) is an American pay television channel. Owned by AMC Networks since its September 1997 launch, it is oriented mainly towards lifestyle and entertainment programming.
As of February 2015, approximately 85.2 million Ameri ...
and TBS. In the works with ABC, Signature has a possible straight-to-series
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...
story adaptation called ''Grand Central'', based on ''The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates''.
Corporate sibling
Freeform picked up ''Rated P For Parenthood'' for development as its first program from Signature in June 2014.
In April 2015, Signature and ABC Studios signed a two-year first-look with Black Label Media, started by Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill three years prior as a finance and production company. McG's Wonderland Sound & Vision signed a two-year overall production agreement with Signature, Freeform and ABC Studios in October 2015. This follows two productions from McG on Freeform/ABC Family. Signature signed ''SMILF'' creator, executive producer and star
Frankie Shaw
Rachel Frances Shaw (born 1981) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is best known for playing Bridgette Bird on the Showtime series ''SMILF,'' based on the 2015 short film of the same title, which she wrote, directed and starred in. Shaw ...
to a two-year overall deal in July 2018. In March 2019, the deal was suspended following an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Shaw on the set of ''SMILF''.
In April 2016, Freeform greenlit ''
Cloak & Dagger'' with a straight-to-series order, as
Marvel Television
Marvel Television was an American television production company responsible for live-action and animated (through Marvel Animation) television shows and direct-to-DVD series based on characters from Marvel Comics. The division was based at affil ...
's first co-production with Signature.
Another co-production with Marvel Television was greenlit in August 2016, with ''
Runaways'' confirmed for the
Hulu
Hulu () is an American subscription streaming service majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, with Comcast's NBCUniversal holding a minority stake. It was launched on October 29, 2007 and it offers a library of films and television serie ...
streaming service.
Signature also put a live-action
Mighty Ducks series in development beginning in January 2018, which later ended up as a
Disney+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...
original series called ''
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers''.
Signature is teaming with
John Grisham
John Ray Grisham Jr. (; born February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas) is an American novelist, lawyer and former member of the 7th district of the Mississippi House of Representatives, known for his popular legal thrillers. According to the Am ...
, Hulu and Michael Seitzman's Maniac Productions to create a Grisham Universe set of series. The franchise would begin with two series, ''
The Rainmaker'' and ''
Rogue Lawyer
'' Rogue Lawyer'' is a novel by John Grisham. It was released in hardcover, large print paperback, e-book, compact disc audiobook and downloadable audiobook on October 20, 2015. It is a legal thriller about unconventional street lawyer Sebastian ...
'', based on Grisham's books, with a potential to grow to additional series.
Hulu had dropped out of the Grisham Universe by September 5, 2019, with the pair being shopped given other interested outlets.
From its pilot, Signature's ''
The Wilds'', a young adult drama, was picked up in May 2019 by Amazon, its first from the company.
Underwood was promoted in February 2020 to the new position of executive vice president, creative affairs of ABC Studios to oversee development at ABC Studio in addition to managing ABC Signature.
Under Disney Television Studios
After the
acquisition of 21st Century Fox completed on March 20, 2019, ABC Studios and ABC Signature Studios both became part of Disney Television Studios. In July 2019, Disney TV Studios announced a reorganization in executive leadership. Fox TV executives Jonnie Davis and Josh Sussman have replaced Patrick Moran and Howard Davine as president and executive vice president of business affairs of ABC Studios respectively. It was also announced that Amy Hartwick, the studio's head of the comedy department, has exited. In September 2019, ABC Studios' alternative division head Hernandez exited the post, with ABC indicating that they would remain in the businesses.
ABC Studios International produced the anthology series ''Unsung Heroes'' which was in development while the company was launching ABC Discover to find more British talent. In December 2019, an exodus of the international unit's top executives including managing director Keli Lee occurred. However, no replacements have been named given a re-assessing of the unit is taking place.
On August 10, 2020, ABC Studios and ABC Signature were merged into one unit as part of a restructuring plan by Disney regarding their television production units; the merged company took on the latter's name. Meanwhile, Fox 21 Television Studios was renamed
Touchstone Television
The second incarnation of Touchstone Television (formerly known as Fox 21 Television Studios) was an American television production company that is a subsidiary of Disney Media Networks' Walt Disney Television owned by The Walt Disney Company. It ...
, restoring that brand name after a thirteen-year dormancy (only to be folded into 20th Television on December 1 that year), and 20th Century Fox Television was renamed
20th Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
(the former name of that entity's domestic syndication division, which in turn was absorbed into
Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Disney–ABC Domestic Television (doing business as Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, and formerly named Buena Vista Television) is the in-home sales and content distribution firm of Disney Platform Distribution, a su ...
).
On August 18, 2021, writers Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey inked an overall deal with the studio. On October 29, 2021, writer-producer Lila Byock also inked an overall deal with the studio. Matt Lopez, creator/executive producer of ''Promised Land'', also inked an overall deal with the studio the same year on November 17.
List of productions
See also
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Walt Disney Television
Disney General Entertainment Content, doing business as Walt Disney Television, is an American entertainment company that oversees television content and assets owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Forming the company's General Enterta ...
*
Disney Television Studios
Disney Television Studios is the television studio arm of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Company established on May 15, 2019 to succeed Walt Disney Television following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century ...
*
Touchstone Television
The second incarnation of Touchstone Television (formerly known as Fox 21 Television Studios) was an American television production company that is a subsidiary of Disney Media Networks' Walt Disney Television owned by The Walt Disney Company. It ...
*
20th Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
*
20th Television Animation
20th Television Animation (formerly Fox Television Animation) is an American animation studio that creates, develops and produces adult animated television series and specials. It is a unit of Disney Television Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disne ...
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Searchlight Television
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FX Productions
FX Productions (FXP) is an American television and in-house production company owned by FX Networks (and jointed with Disney Television Studios), a division of the Walt Disney Television unit of The Walt Disney Company. The studio currently produc ...
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:ABC Signature
Disney Television Studios
Disney Media Networks
Television production companies of the United States
Disney production studios
American Broadcasting Company
American companies established in 1950
Entertainment companies based in California
Companies based in Burbank, California
Mass media companies established in 1950
1950 establishments in California
Peabody Award winners