Universal Television

Universal Television is an American television production company that operates as the flagship television division of Universal Studio Group, part of NBCUniversal and ultimately owned by Comcast. The company develops, finances, produces and distributes scripted television programming for broadcast networks, cable channels and streaming platforms. Its principal institutional role has historically been as NBC’s network production studio, although its programs have also been made for numerous other U.S. and international outlets. The present-day company was established in 2004 as NBC Universal Television Studio. It consolidated or succeeded a long chain of television businesses associated with MCA, Universal, NBC, PolyGram and USA Networks, including Revue Studios, the earlier Universal Television, NBC Studios, Studios USA Television, MCA Television Entertainment, Universal Network Television and related production and distribution operations. The studio adopted the Universal Media Studios name in 2007 and returned to the Universal Television name on September 12, 2011. Its corporate ancestry reaches back to Revue Productions, founded by MCA in 1943 for live radio and wartime USO programming. Revue became a television producer in the 1950s and was responsible for series including Leave It to Beaver, Wagon Train, The Jack Benny Program and numerous westerns, crime dramas and anthology programs. MCA’s acquisition of Universal’s studio property and its later integration of Revue with Universal Pictures created the institutional basis for Universal Television. The original Universal Television, formed in 1963, helped pioneer several television formats, including the made-for-television movie, the wheel series and umbrella-title rotating drama formats. During the 1970s and 1980s, Universal became one of the most prolific suppliers of American prime-time television. Its production portfolio included The Rockford Files, Baretta, The Incredible Hulk, Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, Miami Vice, Magnum, P.I., The A-Team, Simon & Simon, Murder, She Wrote and The Equalizer. The studio also maintained important relationships with independent producers and production companies, including Mark VII Limited and Stephen J. Cannell’s team. In the 1990s, its association with Dick Wolf led to the creation of the Law & Order franchise, one of the most enduring properties in American television. The business changed substantially through the ownership and asset transactions of the 1990s and early 2000s. Universal’s television assets were connected with USA Networks, PolyGram Television and Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, while the broader Universal group moved through ownership by Seagram, Vivendi and, ultimately, NBCUniversal under Comcast. After Vivendi Universal reacquired USA’s entertainment assets in 2002, Studios USA Television and Universal Studios Network Television were combined. The 2004 formation of NBC Universal Television Studio provided a more unified production structure for NBC and the wider Universal television library. Today, Universal Television’s business is primarily content production rather than consumer-facing broadcasting. It works with creators, showrunners, actors and outside production companies to supply series and other television programming to NBCUniversal outlets and third-party platforms. The studio’s identity is therefore based on its long production heritage, its connection to major franchises such as Law & Order, and its role within NBCUniversal’s broader television and streaming ecosystem.

Universal Television’s history is rooted in the development of American television production by MCA and Universal. Revue Productions was established by MCA in 1943, initially producing live radio programs and USO events during the Second World War. MCA relaunched Revue as a television subsidiary in 1950. Its early programming included anthology, western, crime and situation-comedy formats, and the company became a significant supplier to CBS, NBC, ABC and syndicated outlets. Revue was involved with productions such as Leave It to Beaver, Wagon Train, The Jack Benny Program, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Restless Gun and McHale’s Navy. MCA acquired Universal’s studio backlot in 1958 and operated it as Revue Studios for a period. Following MCA’s acquisition of Decca Records and the integration of Universal-International Pictures, Revue was incorporated into the Universal organization. In 1963, Revue Studios was formally renamed Universal Television. The original Universal Television expanded the possibilities of television production, contributing to the first television movie, the wheel series format and rotating anthology structures. It also worked with outside producers, most notably Jack Webb’s Mark VII Limited on programs including Dragnet, Adam-12 and Emergency!. Universal was a dominant prime-time supplier during the 1970s and 1980s. Its credits included The Rockford Files, Baretta, The Incredible Hulk, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Knight Rider, Miami Vice, The A-Team, Simon & Simon and Magnum, P.I. The company’s position was affected by the departure of major producer relationships, including those associated with Stephen J. Cannell and Glen A. Larson, but it continued to develop prominent network projects and long-term producer agreements. The 1980s and 1990s also brought increasing organizational complexity. MCA Television Entertainment handled made-for-television movies, cable programming and selected first-run syndicated projects. PolyGram Television developed network and long-form programming before being absorbed into Universal’s television operations following the Universal-PolyGram transaction. Universal also acquired a substantial interest in Brillstein-Grey Entertainment in 1996, creating additional production and distribution links. In 1998, many Universal television assets were transferred into Studios USA after Barry Diller’s USA Networks acquired major Universal entertainment properties. Studios USA produced or distributed several programs, while Universal retained selected interests and library rights. The 2001 agreement for Vivendi Universal to acquire USA’s entertainment assets, completed in 2002, returned the relevant businesses to the wider Universal structure. Studios USA Television was subsequently combined with Universal Studios Network Television. NBC Universal Television Studio was formed in 2004 as a successor to this series of predecessor companies, including NBC Studios, Studios USA Television, MCA Television Entertainment, PolyGram Television and earlier Universal television units. The entity became Universal Media Studios in 2007 and Universal Television in 2011. Through NBCUniversal and Universal Studio Group, it continues to operate as a television production studio serving NBCUniversal networks and external distribution partners. Its historical library and continuing production relationships make it one of the major institutional lineages in American television.

1. 2011Universal Television name is restored

   The studio returns to the Universal Television name on September 12.

   Source
2. 2007The studio adopts the Universal Media Studios name

   NBC Universal Television Studio is renamed Universal Media Studios.

   Source
3. 2004NBC Universal Television Studio is formed

   A new studio succeeds several earlier NBC, Universal, MCA, PolyGram and USA television units.

   Source
4. 1998Television assets move into Studios USA

   Major Universal television assets are reorganized under Studios USA following USA Networks’ acquisition of Universal entertainment properties.

   Source
5. 1990Law & Order franchise begins

   MCA/Universal Television begins the production lineage that develops into the Law & Order franchise.

   Source
6. 1964Universal contributes to the made-for-television movie format

   See How They Run is identified as the first television film produced by the original Universal Television organization.

   Source
7. 1963Revue is renamed Universal Television

   Revue Studios is incorporated into Universal’s television operations and receives the Universal Television name.

   Source
8. 1958MCA acquires the Universal studio backlot

   MCA purchases Universal’s studio property and operates it for a period under the Revue Studios identity.

   Source
9. 1950Revue becomes a television production subsidiary

   MCA relaunches Revue as a television producer and distributor.

   Source
10. 1943Revue Productions is established

    MCA establishes Revue Productions for live radio and related entertainment programming.

    Source

A major U.S. television studio combining long-standing Universal and NBC production heritage with contemporary development and production for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

• Law & Order franchiseScripted television franchise1990

  A long-running crime and legal-drama franchise originating with Universal’s television operations in 1990. Its best-known branches include the original Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The franchise became one of the studio’s defining production assets and an important contributor to its continuing relationship with NBC.

• The Rockford FilesTelevision series1974

  A 1970s detective drama produced through Universal’s television organization. The series centered on a private investigator and became one of the studio’s prominent critically regarded programs from the period when Universal was a leading supplier of American prime-time television.

• Miami ViceTelevision series1984

  A 1980s crime drama associated with Universal Television and NBC. It became internationally recognizable for its stylized visual approach, music-driven presentation and depiction of Miami law enforcement, and it strengthened Universal’s profile in high-impact network drama.

• Magnum, P.I.Television series1980

  An action-adventure detective series produced by Universal and broadcast by CBS. It was one of the studio’s major 1980s successes and formed part of a broad portfolio of durable procedural and character-led series.

• Murder, She WroteTelevision series1984

  A long-running mystery series produced by Universal Television for CBS. Its continuing popularity made it one of the studio’s notable library properties and an example of Universal’s strength in episodic crime and mystery programming.

• Knight RiderTelevision series1982

  An action series produced by Universal Television for NBC, built around a crime-fighting protagonist and an advanced talking automobile. It became a prominent international television property and part of Universal’s 1980s popular-culture legacy.

• The A-TeamTelevision series1983

  An action-adventure series produced by Universal Television for NBC. Its ensemble format, recurring mission structure and strong international distribution made it one of the studio’s best-known 1980s network programs.

• 2011Return to the Universal Television identityStrategy

  The company sought to align its production studio more closely with the established Universal television brand.

  What changed. Universal Media Studios was renamed Universal Television on September 12.

  Aftermath. Universal Television remains the studio’s operating identity within Universal Studio Group.

  Source
• 2007Rebranding as Universal Media StudiosStrategy

  NBCUniversal revised the identity of its television studio several years after consolidating its predecessor companies.

  What changed. NBC Universal Television Studio was renamed Universal Media Studios.

  Aftermath. The historic Universal Television name was restored in 2011.

  Source
• 2004Consolidation as NBC Universal Television StudioStrategy

  NBCUniversal consolidated successor businesses from the NBC, Universal, MCA, PolyGram and USA television lineages.

  What changed. The new NBC Universal Television Studio became the principal television production structure for the group.

  Aftermath. The studio later operated as Universal Media Studios and then returned to the Universal Television name.

  Source

• 2011Universal Media Studios returns to the Universal Television name

  The studio was renamed Universal Television on September 12, restoring the historic Universal television-production identity.

  Other
  Source
• 2007NBC Universal Television Studio is renamed Universal Media Studios

  The NBCUniversal television studio adopted the Universal Media Studios name as part of a corporate repositioning of its production operations.

  Other
  Source

1. Universal Television