Editing DreamWorks Classics (section)

==History==
Classic Media was founded by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman in May 2000 after acquiring the [[United Productions of America]] (UPA) catalog and assets from the estate of [[Henry Saperstein]].<ref name="DeMott1"/> [[Frank Biondi]], the former head of [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]], and film producer [[Steve Tisch]] invested in the company.<ref name="icv2">{{cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/217.html |title=Harvey Sells Out |website=ICv2 |date=March 11, 2001 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222013947/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/217.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Classic Media then bought most assets of [[The Harvey Entertainment Company]] on March 11, 2001.<ref name=icv2/><ref name="DeMott2">{{cite web |last1=DeMott |first1=Rick |title=Harvey Sells All Of Its Classic Characters |url=http://www.awn.com/news/harvey-sells-all-its-classic-characters |website=Animation World Network |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714170227/http://www.awn.com/news/harvey-sells-all-its-classic-characters |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |language=en |date=March 9, 2001}}</ref> On August 16, 2001, Classic Media and [[Random House]] won a joint bid for the assets of [[Western Publishing]], with Classic Media acquiring the entertainment division (including the [[Dell Comics]] and [[Gold Key Comics]] libraries<ref name="DeMott3">{{cite web |last1=DeMott |first1=Rick |title=Classic Media Gets Monetary Backing |url=http://www.awn.com/news/classic-media-gets-major-monetary-backing |website=Animation World Network |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722201320/http://www.awn.com/news/classic-media-gets-major-monetary-backing |url-status=live}}</ref>) and Random House acquiring the [[Little Golden Books]] publishing properties. Classic then purchased much rights to the Jay Ward characters and formed Bullwinkle Studios, a joint venture with [[Jay Ward Productions]], to manage them sometime in 2002.<ref name="DeMott4">{{cite web |last=DeMott |first=Rick |url=http://www.awn.com/news/business/random-house-classic-media-buy-bankrupt-golden-books |title=Random House, Classic Media Buy Bankrupt Golden Books |website=Animation World Network |date=August 24, 2001 |access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cnn">{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/08/16/goldenbooks.re/ |title=Golden Books sold for poky little $84M |website=CNN |date=August 16, 2001 |access-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007004416/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/08/16/goldenbooks.re/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On October 31, 2003, Classic Media purchased the assets of the bankrupt [[Big Idea Entertainment]] catalog.<ref name="chicagotribune2003">{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/10/31/veggietales-goes-for-193-million/ |title='VeggieTales' goes for $19.3 million |website=Chicago Tribune |date=October 31, 2003 |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225425/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-10-31/business/0310310396_1_classic-media-llc-veggietales-series-morning-fun |url-status=live}}</ref> By 2007, Bullwinkle Studios became converted to a functioning studio.<ref name="Verrier"/><ref name="Elliot">{{cite news |last1=Elliot |first1=Stuart |title=A Classic Series, Retooled and Swingin' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/business/media/16adco.html |access-date=August 3, 2016 |work=New York Times |date=January 16, 2008 |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816111259/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/business/media/16adco.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 7, 2005, the company underwent a recapitalization led by a group of investors, including Spectrum Equity Investors and existing investors headed by Pegasus Capital Advisors. Additionally, a senior debt facility of $100 million was secured through a bank group led by JP Morgan Chase Bank. With the deal, Spectrum became a majority owner over the existing investors, with a representative on the company board of directors.<ref name="DeMott3"/>

In August 2006, Classic Media announced a joint venture with [[ION Media Networks]], [[NBCUniversal]], [[Corus Entertainment]] and book publisher [[Scholastic Corporation]] to launch [[Qubo]], a kids' entertainment network.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hampp |first=Andrew |url=http://adage.com/article/media/nbc-debuts-kids-programming-brand-qubo/111473/ |title=NBC Debuts Kids Programming Brand Qubo |website=Ad Age |date=August 24, 2006 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114025255/http://adage.com/article/media/nbc-debuts-kids-programming-brand-qubo/111473/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Classic_Media_logo.svg|thumb|Logo for Classic Media]]
On December 14, 2006, it was announced that Classic Media would be acquired by UK-based rival [[Entertainment Rights]] for $210.0 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lodderhose |first=Diana |url=https://variety.com/2006/more/news/kids-programming-specialists-join-hands-1117955745/ |title=Kids' programming specialists join hands |work=Variety |date=December 14, 2006 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170009/http://variety.com/2006/more/news/kids-programming-specialists-join-hands-1117955745/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Before the acquisition was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with [[Genius Products]] LLC, replacing the [[Sony Wonder]] deal.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Genius Products Announces Long-term Co-production and Distribution Agreements with Entertainment Rights PLC and Classic Media |url=http://www.geniusproducts.com/PressRelease.aspx?releaseid=207 |website=Genius Products |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728223720/http://www.geniusproducts.com/PressRelease.aspx?releaseid=207 |archive-date=July 28, 2007 |date=January 8, 2007}}</ref>

Entertainment Rights fell in to administration on April 1, 2009. On the same day, Boomerang Media LLC, formed by Ellenbogen and Engelman in 2008 with equity funding from GTCR, announced that it would acquire Entertainment Rights' principal UK and American subsidiaries, including Classic Media, Inc. and [[Big Idea Entertainment]], from its administrators.<ref name="Daswani">{{cite web |last=Daswani |first=Mansha |title=Boomerang Media Buys ER |url=http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/20448 |website=WorldScreen.com |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402201507/http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/20448 |archive-date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> On May 11, 2009, Boomerang Media announced that the former UK and American subsidiaries of Entertainment Rights would operate as a unified business under the name Classic Media, while Big Idea would operate under its own name.<ref name="homemedia"/><ref name="awn"/>

On February 20, 2010, Classic Media purchased the then-upcoming manga-inspired television series ''[[My Life Me]]'' from the bankrupt [[TV-Loonland AG]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Anime/Manga-Inspired My Life Me Sold to Classic Media|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-20/anime/manga-inspired-my-life-me-sold-to-classic-media|website=Anime News Network|access-date=24 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007123921/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-20/anime/manga-inspired-my-life-me-sold-to-classic-media|archive-date=7 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bynum|first=Aaron|title='My Life Me' Animation Now in New Hands|url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2339|publisher=Animation Insider|access-date=24 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404063445/http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2339|archive-date=4 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Classic Media bought the ''[[Noddy (character)|Noddy]]''<ref name="guardian1">{{cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/mar/07/chorion-sell-rights-noddy |title=Chorion sells rights to Noddy |newspaper=The Guardian |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228100931/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/mar/07/chorion-sell-rights-noddy |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Olivia (fictional pig)|Olivia]]'' brands on March 7 and 19, respectively in 2012 from [[Chorion (company)|Chorion]].<ref name="cartoonbrew">{{cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/classic-media-acquires-olivia-rights-from-chorion-59163.html |title=Classic Media Acquires "Olivia" Rights from Chorion |website=Cartoon Brew |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228082344/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/classic-media-acquires-olivia-rights-from-chorion-59163.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sale to DreamWorks Animation (2012–present)===
On July 23, 2012, [[DreamWorks Animation]] announced that they would acquire Classic Media for $155 million from Boomerang Media, with the deal closing in September of that year.<ref name="Verrier"/><ref name="Acuna"/> Afterwards, Classic Media began trading as '''DreamWorks Classics''' to associate itself with its parent company, although the parent company remained under its former name.

On October 3, 2012, Classic Media made its first post-DreamWorks sale by securing licensing and distribution rights to Studio Hari's ''[[The Owl & Co]]'' outside of France and other French-speaking territories.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hari-studios.com/en/dreamworks-classics-represente-la-chouette-cie-a-linternational/ | title=Dreamworks Classics représente la Chouette & Cie à l'international | date=October 3, 2012 }}</ref>

On September 17, 2013, DreamWorks Animation announced they had purchased the programming library of the British animation studio [[Chapman Entertainment]], and placed distribution through DreamWorks' UK-based TV distribution operation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Wendy Goldman Getzler |url=http://kidscreen.com/2013/09/17/dreamworks-animation-scoops-up-chapman-entertainment-library/ |title=DreamWorks scoops up Chapman's library |publisher=Kidscreen |date=17 September 2013 |access-date=27 June 2014}}</ref>

On June 18, 2014, DreamWorks Animation bought the ''[[Felix the Cat]]'' brand and added it to the DreamWorks Classics portfolio.<ref name="licensemag1">{{cite web |url=http://www.licensemag.com/license-global/dreamworks-picks-felix-cat |title=DreamWorks Picks Up Felix the Cat |website=License! Global |date=June 18, 2014 |access-date=June 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414111719/http://www.licensemag.com/license-global/dreamworks-picks-felix-cat |url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 28, 2016, [[NBCUniversal]] announced it would buy out DreamWorks Animation in a $3.8 billion deal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Meg |title=Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nbcuniversal-buys-dreamworks--20160428-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 28, 2016 |date=April 28, 2016 |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004957/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nbcuniversal-buys-dreamworks--20160428-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The buyout was completed on August 22.<ref name="McNary"/>

In January 2020, Classic Media pre-sold streaming rights to three series; ''[[Lassie (2014 TV series)|Lassie]]'', ''[[George of the Jungle (2007 TV series)|George of the Jungle]]'' and ''[[Mr. Magoo (TV series)|Mr. Magoo]]'', by CBS All Access (now as [[Paramount+]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tuchow |first1=Ryan |title=CBS All Access scoops up DreamWorks Classics |url=https://kidscreen.com/2020/01/13/cbs-all-access-scoops-up-dreamworks-classics/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |work=Kidscreen |date=January 13, 2020 |quote=US SVOD CBS All Access is growing its children’s programming with three new animated series from DreamWorks Animation-owned distributor Classics Media. |archive-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517101821/https://kidscreen.com/2020/01/13/cbs-all-access-scoops-up-dreamworks-classics/ |url-status=live}}</ref>