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MTM Enterprises

{{Short description|American independent production company (1969–1998)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{more citations needed|date=December 2017}}

{{Infobox company

| name = MTM Enterprises, Inc.

| logo = MTM Enterprises.webp

| logo_caption = Logo with Mimsie the Cat, the company's mascot

| image =

| image_size = 275

| image_caption = Headquarters at the CBS Studios Lot in Studio City, California

| fate = Library assets were folded into 20th Century Fox Television

| successor = 20th Television

| foundation = {{start date and age|1969}}

| founders = Mary Tyler Moore
Grant Tinker

| defunct = {{start date and age|1998|05|19}}

| type = Subsidiary

| location =

| key_people =

| industry = Television and film production

| parent = TVS Entertainment (Television South plc) (1988–1993)
International Family Entertainment (1993–1997)
News Corporation (1997–1998)

| owner =

| divisions = MTM Television Distribution
MTM International
MTM Home Video
MTM Records

}}

MTM Enterprises (also known as MTM Productions) was an American independent production company established in 1969 by Mary Tyler Moore and her then-husband Grant Tinker to produce The Mary Tyler Moore Show for CBS. The name for the production company was drawn from Moore's initials.{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/M/htmlM/mooremaryt/mooremaryt.htm |title=MOORE, MARY TYLER - The Museum of Broadcast Communications |publisher=Museum.tv |date=1995-11-26 |access-date=2011-03-21}}

With MTM, Moore would become one of the first women to own a television production company. MTM became very successful, producing a number of successful television programs during the 1970s and 1980s. Since 2019, The Walt Disney Company has owned all of the company's programs through its subsidiary 20th Television.

History

In 1969, MTM Enterprises was organized by both Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker,{{cite web |title=MTM Enterprises. – Records, 1970-1990. |url=https://wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu/index.php/collection/8df3e79b1184bba39ac43c51f7e21cdb/ |website=Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research |publisher=wisc.edu |date=6 January 2016}}{{cite web |title=Mary Tyler Moore |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Tyler-Moore |website=Britannica.com |access-date=21 October 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Simonson |first1=Robert |title=Tony and Emmy Winner Mary Tyler Moore Dies at 80 |url=https://playbill.com/article/tony-and-emmy-winner-mary-tyler-moore-dies-at-80 |access-date=21 October 2023 |date=January 25, 2017}} and hired James L. Brooks and Allan Burns to create her sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show.{{cite news |last1=Sims |first1=David |title=Remembering Mary Tyler Moore |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/01/mary-tyler-moore-dies-at-80/514448/ |work=The Atlantic |date=25 January 2017 |language=en}} Brooks' show Room 222 has even been credited by the Television Academy Foundation for breaking the "new narrative ground" which developed MTM Enterprises' "major sitcom factories of the 1970s."{{cite web|url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/room-222|title=Room 222

|publisher=Television Academy Foundation|date=1997|access-date=August 21, 2024}}

In 1971, co-founder Grant Tinker was forced to quit 20th Century Fox Television due to conflicts with how to run MTM, in order to maintain a full-time job at the company.{{cite news| date=1971-01-18|title=Tinker severs ties with Fox| magazine=Broadcasting| url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/71-OCR/1971-01-18-BC-OCR-Page-0048.pdf| access-date=2021-08-27}}

In 1976, MTM teamed up with Metromedia Producers Corporation to start a variety show, a first for first-run syndication.{{cite news| date=1976-06-14| title=Programming Briefs| magazine=Broadcasting| url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/76-OCR/1976-06-14-BC-OCR-Page-0051.pdf| access-date=2021-08-27}} Earlier that year, the company had hired Bud Rifkin to launch a syndicated division.{{Cite news |date=1976-05-10 |title=Closed Circuit |work=Broadcasting |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/76-OCR/1976-05-10-BC-OCR-Page-0007.pdf |access-date=2021-08-27}}

In 1977, Ed. Weinberger, James L. Brooks, David Davis, Allan Burns, and Stan Daniels left MTM Enterprises for Paramount Pictures and started the John Charles Walters Company.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Tinker oversaw MTM's operation until leaving the company.

In 1981, Tinker became the chairman of NBC. Lawyers backing NBC's then-owner RCA convinced Tinker to sell his remaining shares of MTM. Moore and Arthur Price, her business manager and company vice president, bought Tinker's shares;Schwartz, Tony (July 1, 1981). [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/01/arts/silverman-quits-at-nbc-tinker-to-succeed-him.html "Silverman Quits At NBC; Tinker to Succeed Him"]. The New York Times. Price subsequently was elevated to president. Tinker later regretted leaving MTM, believing that the company started to decline without him.

Most of MTM's programs aired on CBS. For many years, MTM and CBS co-owned the CBS Studio Center in Studio City California, where a majority of their programs were filmed and videotaped.

In 1986, MTM launched its own syndicated arm MTM Television Distribution, to handle off-net syndication of the MTM shows, and subsequently courted to continue its relations with syndicator Jim Victory to sell off-network rights to MTM's shows like Hill Street Blues and WKRP in Cincinnati, all the way up until the late 1980s as part of a contract settlement.{{Cite news|last=Dempsey|first=John|date=1986-09-17|title=Victory No Quitter; Hits Road Again With MTM Syndie Spoils|page=47|work=Variety}}{{Cite news|last=Daniels|first=Bill|date=1986-10-22|title=MTM Distribution Raises Curtain On Sales Offices|page=457|work=Variety}} In 1988, MTM was sold to UK broadcaster and independent station for the South and South East of England TVS Entertainment for $320 million.Carter, Bill (November 27, 1989). [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/27/business/the-media-business-tinker-looks-beyond-usa-today-on-tv.html "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Tinker Looks Beyond 'USA Today on TV'"]. The New York Times. A year afterwards, MTM Television Distribution began producing its own programming for the first-run syndication market.{{Cite news |date=February 13, 1989 |title=First-run foray |pages=73 |work=Broadcasting |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/89-OCR/BC-1989-02-13-OCR-Page-0073.pdf |access-date=November 16, 2023}}

After TVS lost its franchise to broadcast on the ITV network to Meridian Broadcasting, a number of American companies (and to a lesser extent, Meridian) were interested in acquiring MTM, with Pat Robertson's International Family Entertainment making the first offer.[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/23/business/company-news-pat-robertson-buys-parent-of-mtm-for-68.5-million.html "COMPANY NEWS; Pat Robertson Buys Parent Of MTM for $68.5 Million".] The New York Times. (September 23, 1992). A small number of shareholders, including Julian Tregar, rejected the offer from IFE. In November, TCW Capital made a bid,Second potential bidder for TVS. The Times. (London). November 4, 1992. but withdrew it a few weeks later after reviewing the accounts of TVS.Evangelist may be sole runner for TVS. Martin Waller. The Times. November 26, 1992. IFE increased its offer to £45.3 million, but continued to be opposed by Julian Tregar, who blocked the deal on technical grounds, alleging that the offer was too low.TVS bid opposed. The Times. December 11, 1992. IFE finally increased the offer to appease the remaining shareholders,Evangelist to lift TVS offer. The Times. January 9, 1993.TVS dissidents try for a better offer. Martin Waller, The Times. (London). Wednesday, 6 January 1993 and on January 23, 1993, their offer of £56.5 million was finally accepted.Robertson wins TVS. The Times. January 23, 1993. The deal went into effect on February 1, 1993 (the month after Meridian began its first broadcast).

In 1995, Michael Ogiens, formerly running CBS, as well as his production company Ogiens/Kane Company, joined MTM to serve as president of the company in hopes that MTM would be restored to its independent production glory.{{cite news| date=1995-12-04| title=Ogiens promises to make over MTM| magazine=Broadcasting| url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-12-04-OCR-Page-0099.pdf| access-date=2021-08-28}} The following year, Josh Kane, fellow partner of the Ogiens/Kane Company joined MTM as vice president for the East Coast offices.{{cite news| date=1996-08-05| title=Fates & Fortunes| magazine=Broadcasting| url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/96-OCR/BC-1996-08-05-OCR-Page-0098.pdf|access-date=2021-08-28}} In 1997, MTM hit layoffs at the syndication unit after the cancellation of the show The Cape.{{cite news| last=Hontz| first=Jenny| date=March 14, 1997| title=Pinkslips for trio of MTM Worldwide exex| url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/pinkslips-for-trio-of-mtm-worldwide-exex-1117342651/| access-date=2021-08-27| newspaper=Variety| language=en-US}}

In 1997, International Family Entertainment was sold to News Corporation, and folded into its subsidiary Fox Kids Worldwide, eventually renamed to Fox Family Worldwide (a joint venture between Fox and Saban Entertainment).{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/family-affair-for-fox-kids-1116680186/| title=Family affair for Fox Kids| date=June 12, 1997| newspaper=Variety| access-date=2009-08-14| first1=Martin| last1=Peers| first2=Ray| last2=Richmond| first3=Gary| last3=Levin}}{{cite news| last1=Hofmeister| first1=Sallie| title=News Corp. Taps Fox Kids' Exec| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-17-fi-13446-story.html| access-date=January 13, 2016| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=July 17, 1997}} MTM's library assets however, were transferred over to 20th Television who retained them, even after Fox Family Worldwide was sold to The Walt Disney Company in 2001.{{cite web| title=NBC To Reboot 'Remington Steele' As Comedy With Ruben Fleischer| url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/remington-steele-reboot-nbc-607554/| website=Deadline Hollywood| date=9 October 2013| access-date=16 January 2016}} Until then, The Pretender and Good News were the last surviving shows to be produced by MTM, as 20th Century Fox Television inherited both shows in 1997 (when News Corporation purchased MTM) and 1998 (when MTM ceased operations) respectively. MTM's library became property of Disney following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. Disney holds the rights of most of MTM's shows.

MTM Enterprises also included a record label, MTM Records — distributed by Capitol Records — which was in existence from 1984 to 1988.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music |last=Kingsbury |first=Paul |year=2004 |publisher=Sourcebooks, Inc. |isbn=978-0-1951-7608-7 |page=359 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4GQDYx_RnkC&q=%22MTM+records%22+mary&pg=PA359 |access-date=2009-07-31}}

Filmography

=Television series=

class="wikitable sortable"
TitleGenreFirst air dateLast air dateNumber of SeasonsNetworkclass="unsortable"|Co-production company(s)class="unsortable"|Note(s)
The Mary Tyler Moore Showrowspan="8"|Sitcom{{Start date|1970|9|19}}{{End date|1977|3|19}}7rowspan="3"|CBS
The Bob Newhart Show{{Start date|1972|9|16}}{{End date|1978|4|1}}6
Rhoda{{Start date|1974|9|9}}{{End date|1978|12|9}}5First spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Texas Wheelers{{Start date|1974|9|12}}{{End date|1975|7|24}}rowspan="3"|1ABC
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers{{Start date|1974|9|14}}{{End date|1974|12|7}}CBS
The Bob Crane Show{{Start date|1975|3|6}}{{End date|1975|6|12}}NBC
Doc{{Start date|1975|8|16}}{{End date|1976|10|30}}rowspan="2"|2rowspan="3"|CBS
Phyllis{{Start date|1975|9|8}}{{End date|1977|3|13}}Second spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Three for the RoadAdventure{{Start date|1975|9|14}}{{End date|1975|11|30}}rowspan="2"|1
The Lorenzo & Henrietta Music ShowMusical-variety{{Start date|1976|9|13}}{{End date|1976|10|11}}Syndicated
The Tony Randall Showrowspan="2"|Sitcom{{Start date|1976|9|23}}{{End date|1978|3|25}}2ABC {{small|(Season 1)}}
CBS {{small|(Season 2)}}
The Betty White Show{{Start date|1977|9|12}}{{End date|1978|1|2}}1rowspan="9"|CBS
Lou GrantJournalism drama{{Start date|1977|9|20}}{{End date|1982|9|13}}5Third spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
We've Got Each Otherrowspan="2"|Sitcom{{Start date|1977|10|1}}{{End date|1978|1|14}}1
WKRP in Cincinnati{{Start date|1978|9|18}}{{End date|1982|4|21}}4
MaryVariety{{Start date|1978|9|24}}{{End date|1978|10|8}}1
The White ShadowSports drama{{Start date|1978|11|27}}{{End date|1981|3|16}}3
The Mary Tyler Moore HourVariety{{Start date|1979|3|4}}{{End date|1979|5|13}}rowspan="3"|1
The Last ResortSitcom{{Start date|1979|9|19}}{{End date|1980|3|17}}
Parisrowspan="2"|Police drama{{Start date|1979|9|29}}{{End date|1980|1|15}}
Hill Street Blues{{Start date|1981|1|15}}{{End date|1987|5|12}}7rowspan="2"|NBC
Remington SteelePrivate eye drama{{Start date|1982|10|1}}{{End date|1987|2|17}}5
NewhartSitcom{{Start date|1982|10|25}}{{End date|1990|5|21}}8CBS
St. ElsewhereMedical drama{{Start date|1982|10|26}}{{End date|1988|5|25}}6rowspan="3"|NBC
Bay City BluesSports drama{{Start date|1983|10|25}}{{End date|1983|11|15}}rowspan="10"|1
The Duck Factoryrowspan="2"|Sitcom{{Start date|1984|4|12}}{{End date|1984|7|11}}
Mary{{Start date|1985|12|11}}{{End date|1986|4|8}}rowspan="3"|CBS
FresnoComedy{{Start date|1986|11|16}}{{End date|1986|11|20}}miniseries
The Popcorn Kidrowspan="4"|Sitcom{{Start date|1987|3|23}}{{End date|1987|4|24}}
Beverly Hills Buntz{{Start date|1987|11|5}}{{End date|1988|4|22}}NBCSpin-off of Hill Street Blues
Eisenhower and Lutz{{Start date|1988|3|14}}{{End date|1988|6|20}}rowspan="2"|CBS
Annie McGuirerowspan="2"|{{Start date|1988|10|26}}{{End date|1988|12|28}}
TattingersDramedy{{End date|1989|4|26}}rowspan="2"|NBC
FMSitcom{{Start date|1989|8|17}}{{End date|1990|6|28}}
Rescue 911Reality{{Start date|1989|9|5}}{{End date|1996|8|27}}8CBSArnold Shapiro ProductionsAmerican distribution only, produced by CBS Entertainment Productions
America's Funniest Home VideosClip{{Start date|1989|11|26}}Present32ABCdistribution for pre-2001 episodes only; currently distributed by sister company Disney Entertainment Distribution
CitySitcom{{Start date|1990|1|29}}{{End date|1990|6|8}}rowspan="2"|1CBSCBS Entertainment ProductionsNo longer distributed by 20th Television
Capital NewsJournalism drama{{Start date|1990|4|9}}{{End date|1990|4|30}}ABC
The Trials of Rosie O'NeillLegal drama{{Start date|1990|9|17}}{{End date|1992|5|30}}2rowspan="3"|CBS
Evening Shaderowspan="3"|Sitcom{{Start date|1990|9|21}}{{End date|1994|5|23}}4CBS Entertainment Productions, Bloodworth-Thomason Mozark Productions and Burt Reynolds Productionsdistributed outside of American television by Paramount Global Content Distribution
You Take the Kids{{Start date|1990|12|15}}{{End date|1991|1|12}}1CBS Entertainment Productions and Paul Haggis Productions
The New WKRP in Cincinnati{{Start date|1991|9|14}}{{Start date|1993|5|22}}2rowspan="2"|Syndicated
Graham Kerr's KitchenCooking{{Start date|1992|9|30}}{{End date|1995|3|19}}3distribution only
Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanWestern{{Start date|1993|1|1}}{{End date|1998|5|16}}6CBSThe Sullivan CompanyAmerican TV distribution only; produced by CBS Productions
XuxaEducational{{Start date|1993|9|13}}{{End date|1993|12|31}}1SyndicatedLynch Entertainment
ChristyDrama{{Start date|1994|4|3}}{{End date|1995|8|2}}2CBSThe Rosenzweig Company
Snowy River: The McGregor SagaAdventure{{Start date|1994|9|23}}{{End date|1998|5|24}}4The Family Channelaired on Nine Network in Australia
Boogies DinerSitcom{{Start date|1994|9|17}}{{End date|1995|1|1}}1SyndicatedFranklin/Waterman and King Street Entertainment
Family ChallengeGame show{{Start date|1995|10|2}}{{End date|1997|9|7}}2The Family ChannelWoody Fraser Enterprises and Maple Palm Productions
SparksSitcom{{Start date|1996|8|26}}{{End date|1998|3|2}}2UPNThe Weinberger Company
The CapeAdventure{{Start date|1996|9|9}}{{End date|1997|5|19}}1SyndicatedZaloom-Mayfield Productions
The PretenderScience fiction{{Start date|1996|9|19}}{{End date|2000|5|13}}4NBCNBC Studiosseason 1 only; distributed outside the United States by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios
Bailey Kipper's P.O.V.Sitcom{{Start date|1996|9|14}}{{End date|1996|12|14}}1CBSKipper Productions and Victoria Productions
Shopping Spreerowspan="3"|Game showrowspan="2"|{{Start date|1996|9|30}}{{End date|1997|12|26}}2rowspan="3"|The Family Channelrowspan="2"|Jay Wolpert Enterprises
Wait 'Til You Have Kids{{End date|1997|1|31}}rowspan="3"|1
It Takes Two{{Start date|1997|3|10}}{{End date|1997|5|30}}Mark Phillips Philms & Telephision
Good NewsSitcom{{Start date|1997|8|25}}{{End date|1998|5|19}}UPNThe Weinberger Company

{{reflist|group=N}}

=Television specials=

class="wikitable sortable"
TitleGenreOriginal air dateNetworkCo-production company(s)Note(s)
Carlton Your DoormanAnimated comedy{{Start date|1980|5|21}}CBSPilot for proposed spin-off of Rhoda

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{MTM Enterprises}}

{{Walt Disney Television}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:MTM Enterprises

Category:Television production companies of the United States

Category:Film production companies of the United States

Category:Entertainment companies based in California

Category:Entertainment companies established in 1969

Category:Mass media companies established in 1969

Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 1998

Category:1969 establishments in California

Category:1998 disestablishments in California

Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles

Category:Defunct film and television production companies of the United States

Category:1997 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Former News Corporation subsidiaries