 | |
 Starz Distribution's former headquarters office in Burbank | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Founded | 2003; 22 years ago (2003) (as IDT Entertainment) |
| Defunct | December 8, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-12-08) |
| Fate | Folded intoLionsgate's television distribution, motion picture, and home entertainment arms |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California, U.S. |
Key people | Chris Albrecht (CEO) |
| Parent | IDT Corporation (2003–2006) Starz Inc. (2006–2016) |
| Divisions |
|
Starz Distribution, formerlyIDT Entertainment andStarz Media, was an Americantelevision production,distribution and syndication company and thedistribution arm ofStarz Inc., a subsidiary ofStarz Entertainment, established in 2003. It develops, produces and acquires original programming content branded asStarz Originals, feature films and other audiovisual programming for distribution acrosstelevision,home video andstreaming media.[1]
In November 2003,IDT Corporation, atelecommunications company based inNew Jersey, formed an audiovisual entertainment division known asIDT Entertainment following Digital Production Solutions (DPS)' acquisition of a controlling interest in animation studioFilm Roman in May and a minor interest inVanguard Animation in July.[2] Later on in the year, it acquiredTroy,Michigan-based home video distributorAnchor Bay Entertainment, and stakes inMainframe Entertainment andArchie Comics (in January 2004) and in March 2004, IDT's DPS also acquiredToronto-basedDKP Studios for an undisclosed price and turned it into their own animation studio.[3][4]
In May 2004, IDT Entertainment announced that it would acquireManga Entertainment and a minority share inPOW! Entertainment with exclusive distribution rights to POW's animated DVD properties and joint development of 6 cartoon films.[5][6][7] In June 2004, IDT Entertainment founded its international sales division, IDT Entertainment Sales (later renamed as Starz Worldwide).[8] In 2005, IDT signed a distribution deal with20th Century Fox to release IDT's animated films in North America over a two-year pact; starting withYankee Irving.[9] On May 16, 2006,IDT agreed to sell its IDT Entertainment division toLiberty Media (then-owners of theStarz Entertainment Group) "for all of Liberty Media's interests in IDT, $186 million in cash and the assumption of existing indebtedness."[10] On August 31, 2006, the sale of all of IDT Entertainment's US operations and several international operations was completed. "The remainder of the deal, to include the Canadian and Australian operations, is expected to be closed in the next few weeks after regulatory approval has been given."[11] This sale was completed on September 29, 2006.[12] Liberty then merged IDT Entertainment and its divisions with theStarz cable network to formStarz Media.
On January 4, 2011, The Weinstein Company purchased a 25% stake in the operating unit. While not including TV rights, the deal spans Blu-ray, DVD and VOD, pay-per-view and digital distribution and covers up to 20 TWC andDimension titles per year. They includeThe King's Speech,Blue Valentine andCompany Men.[13] Starz acquired the 25% stake owned by Weinstein in October 2015.[14]
On January 11, 2013, Liberty Media Corporation completed the "spin-off" of its Starz Entertainment segment as a separate entity. Under this new structure, the entity that was known as "Starz Media" becameStarz Distribution.[15]
In November 2015,Waterman Entertainment purchasedFilm Roman from Starz Distribution.[16]
On December 8, 2016, Lionsgate purchased Starz Inc. for $4.4 billion.[17] As part of the acquisition by Lionsgate, Starz Distribution was folded into Lionsgate's respective home entertainment and television distribution units.[18]
Starz Distribution previously held minority stakes in:
Starz Distribution/IDT Entertainment have been in charge of the animation production or distribution of the following films:
Theatrical
TV specials
Direct-to-video