TriStar Television

TriStar Television was an American television production studio and brand associated first with Tri-Star Pictures and later with Sony Pictures Television. The company was launched in March 1986 during a period when film studios, independent producers, and broadcasters were increasingly forming alliances to finance, develop, produce, and distribute television programming. Its original structure grew out of TeleVentures, a distribution venture involving Tri-Star Pictures, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, and Witt/Thomas Productions. Scott Siegler became the studio's first president, and the company entered overall development arrangements with a range of producers and creative personnel while also pursuing television movies and series. The early corporate history of TriStar Television was highly fluid. In the late 1980s, Tri-Star's television operation was combined with Columbia/Embassy Television as part of a reorganization connected with Columbia Pictures Entertainment. Although the production operation was folded into the reorganized Columbia Pictures Television structure, TeleVentures continued for a period as a separate sales and distribution vehicle for existing Tri-Star programming. Changes in ownership and partner participation further altered the venture: Witt/Thomas withdrew, Walt Disney Television became involved in the successor distribution arrangement, and the TeleVentures relationship with Stephen J. Cannell Productions was ultimately dissolved in 1990. TriStar Television was reestablished in October 1991 after Columbia Pictures Television acquired selected assets of New World Television. Jon Feltheimer, who had led New World Television, became TriStar Television's president. This second phase gave the name a renewed production identity within the Columbia/Sony television structure. The studio developed and produced programming during the early 1990s, including projects connected with established television talent. A 1993 development agreement with actor Larry Hagman illustrated the company's strategy of using talent relationships to build a pipeline for new series and other television projects. In February 1994, TriStar Television merged with Columbia Pictures Television to create Columbia TriStar Television. During the late 1990s, new and continuing programs increasingly carried the Columbia TriStar identity rather than operating as independent TriStar Television productions. Some programs retained TriStar-related copyright or branding for a limited period, but the studio was substantially folded into the Columbia TriStar organization by 1999. Columbia TriStar Television and its distribution operation were later consolidated into Columbia TriStar Domestic Television in 2001, and Sony Pictures Entertainment retired the Columbia and TriStar television names in 2002 when that business was renamed Sony Pictures Television. Sony revived TriStar Television in May 2015 as a boutique production label within Sony Pictures Television. This incarnation was not a return to the original stand-alone studio structure; it was a specialty imprint intended to develop and produce selected scripted projects. Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs ran the revived label until her death in March 2018. The label's first new series was Good Girls Revolt, which was piloted for Amazon Prime Video in 2015. The revival gave TriStar a visible role in the streaming-era television marketplace while keeping production and corporate control within Sony Pictures Television. In May 2024, Sony announced that it would close the boutique TriStar Television label and fold its activities into Sony Pictures Television's drama department. The decision followed the departures of Nicole Norwood and Jennifer Turner. Projects that remained in development were transferred to Sony Pictures Television. Accordingly, TriStar Television is best understood as a historically recurring production brand rather than a continuously independent company: it has served successively as…

TriStar Television emerged from the mid-1980s expansion of film-studio involvement in television production and distribution. Tri-Star Pictures joined Stephen J. Cannell Productions and Witt/Thomas Productions to establish TeleVentures, a distribution company intended to support and sell television programming. TriStar then established its television studio operation in March 1986, appointing Scott Siegler as president. The early studio pursued development arrangements with producers and other television professionals, including Ron Samuels, Richard Leder, Michael Jacobs, Larry Tucker, Donald P. Bellisario, Jim Green, and Larry Epstein. The company also planned to participate in television-movie development. The first phase was marked by corporate consolidation. By the late 1980s, TriStar Television was combined with Columbia/Embassy Television in a reorganization that produced a reorganized Columbia Pictures Television structure. TeleVentures remained temporarily active as a separate sales and distribution operation for existing Tri-Star programs inherited under contract. Witt/Thomas later left the venture, and Walt Disney Television became associated with the successor arrangement. In July 1990, Tri-Star and Stephen J. Cannell Productions dissolved their TeleVentures relationship; Tri-Star sold its interest, and the distribution business became Cannell Distribution Co. Columbia Pictures Television Distribution subsequently assumed distribution of much of the relevant program and film-package inventory. The TriStar Television name returned in October 1991 after Columbia Pictures Television acquired assets of New World Television. Jon Feltheimer, formerly president of New World Television, became president of the reestablished studio. This period included new development activity and agreements with high-profile television talent. In March 1993, Larry Hagman signed an agreement with TriStar Television to develop projects for the 1993–1994 season. On February 21, 1994, TriStar Television and Columbia Pictures Television merged to form Columbia TriStar Television. The separate TriStar identity gradually became less prominent as productions moved under the Columbia TriStar banner. By 1997, most new shows and some existing TriStar programs had shifted to Columbia TriStar Television, while the broader organization adopted the Columbia TriStar Television Group name. TriStar productions were effectively folded into the combined company by 1999, although some program copyright and branding elements continued briefly. Columbia TriStar Television and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution were consolidated into Columbia TriStar Domestic Television in October 2001. Sony Pictures Entertainment retired the Columbia and TriStar television names in September 2002, renaming the business Sony Pictures Television. Sony revived TriStar Television on May 28, 2015, this time as a boutique label within Sony Pictures Television. Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs led the label until her death in March 2018. Good Girls Revolt was the first new series associated with the revival and was piloted for Amazon Prime Video in November 2015. The label therefore functioned as a selective Sony production imprint rather than as the independent joint-venture studio that had existed in the 1980s. On May 31, 2024, Sony announced that the boutique label would be shut down and folded into Sony Pictures Television's drama department. The announcement followed the departures of Nicole Norwood and Jennifer Turner. Projects still in development were taken over by Sony Pictures Television. The 2024 decision ended TriStar Television's latest operating phase, while leaving the brand's historical identity attached to television programs and to Sony's broader corporate archive.

1. 2024Sony closes the boutique label

   Sony announced on May 31 that TriStar Television would be shut down as a boutique label and folded into its drama department.

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2. 2018Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs dies

   Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs, who had run the revived label, died in March 2018.

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3. 2015TriStar Television returns as a boutique label

   Sony relaunched TriStar Television on May 28 as a boutique production label within Sony Pictures Television.

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4. 2002Sony retires the Columbia and TriStar television names

   Sony Pictures Entertainment renamed Columbia TriStar Domestic Television as Sony Pictures Television, removing the Columbia and TriStar names from the operating television division.

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5. 2001Columbia TriStar television operations are consolidated

   Columbia TriStar Television and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution merged to become Columbia TriStar Domestic Television.

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6. 1994TriStar Television merges with Columbia Pictures Television

   The two television operations merged on February 21 to form Columbia TriStar Television.

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7. 1991TriStar Television is reestablished

   The studio was reestablished after Columbia Pictures Television acquired selected New World Television assets, with Jon Feltheimer taking the presidency.

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8. 1990TeleVentures joint venture is dissolved

   Tri-Star and Stephen J. Cannell Productions ended their TeleVentures joint venture, after which the distribution business became Cannell Distribution Co.

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9. 1987TriStar television operations enter a Columbia-related reorganization

   TriStar Television was merged with Columbia/Embassy Television into a reorganized Columbia Pictures Television structure, while TeleVentures continued temporarily as a distribution vehicle.

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10. 1986TriStar Television is launched

    Tri-Star Pictures launched TriStar Television in March as part of a broader production and distribution relationship involving Stephen J. Cannell Productions and Witt/Thomas Productions.

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A studio and production label focused on developing, producing, and distributing scripted television and related television projects, with its identity repeatedly adapted to changing ownership and corporate structures.

• Good Girls RevoltScripted television series2015

  Good Girls Revolt was the first new series associated with the 2015 revival of TriStar Television as a Sony Pictures Television boutique label. The project was piloted for Amazon Prime Video in November 2015 and represented the revived imprint's effort to develop scripted programming for a streaming-era distribution environment.

• Early EditionTelevision series

  Early Edition was a television series associated with TriStar Television during the company's Columbia-related period. Although later programming increasingly moved under the Columbia TriStar Television identity, the series retained TriStar copyright attribution for a limited period, through 2000.

• Television movies and development projectsTelevision production1986

  During its original 1980s phase, TriStar Television developed television movies and other projects through arrangements with producers and creative personnel. The available reference material identifies this activity as part of the studio's early production strategy but does not provide a complete title list.

• 2024Fold TriStar Television into Sony's drama departmentStrategy

  Sony announced the change after the departures of Nicole Norwood and Jennifer Turner.

  What changed. Sony shut down the TriStar Television boutique label and transferred newer projects in development to Sony Pictures Television's drama department.

  Aftermath. The latest operating incarnation of TriStar Television ended, although its projects and historical catalog remained within Sony Pictures Television.

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• 2015Relaunch TriStar Television as a boutique labelStrategy

  Sony Pictures Television revived the dormant brand during a period of expanding scripted television production and streaming distribution.

  What changed. Sony relaunched TriStar Television as a specialty production imprint within Sony Pictures Television.

  Aftermath. The label developed new projects including Good Girls Revolt while remaining within Sony's television organization.

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• 1994Merge TriStar Television with Columbia Pictures TelevisionM&A

  Sony-controlled Columbia Pictures Entertainment was consolidating related television operations and sought a unified production structure.

  What changed. TriStar Television and Columbia Pictures Television were combined on February 21, creating Columbia TriStar Television.

  Aftermath. The TriStar television identity became progressively less prominent, with most productions moving under the Columbia TriStar organization before the name was retired from television operations in 2002.

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• 2024Sony announces the shutdown of the TriStar Television boutique label

  Sony announced that TriStar Television would be closed as a boutique label and folded into Sony Pictures Television's drama department. Development projects were transferred to Sony Pictures Television.

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• 2015Sony relaunches TriStar Television as a boutique production label

  Sony Pictures Television revived the TriStar Television name as a specialty production label, ending a period in which the brand had existed largely in name only.

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• 2015Good Girls Revolt becomes the revived label's first new series

  The revived TriStar Television label's first new series project was Good Girls Revolt, which was piloted for Amazon Prime Video in November 2015.

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1. TriStar Television