Telepictures

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Telepictures was an American television syndication firm established in 1978 by Michael Garin. The company syndicated the Rankin-Bass library's holdings from 1974 to 1988. Under Telepictures' ownership, Rankin-Bass produced new and successful animated series; for example, ThunderCats. In addition, Telepictures syndicated numerous television programs such as My Favorite Martian, Here's Lucy, and The People's Court.

In 1985, the company merged with Merv Adelson and Lee Rich's Lorimar Productions, creating Lorimar-Telepictures and assumed production and distribution of shows like Dallas and Knots Landing. The company also began distribution of first-run episodes of Mama's Family in June of 1986.

In 1988, Warner Communications purchased the company and split the assets. Lorimar became a separate production entity, which would cease operation in 1993. Telepictures became Telepictures Productions, a producer of syndicated programming that Warner Bros. Television would distribute. The company produced the syndicated newsmagazine Extra (which still airs today) and the Jenny Jones syndicated talk show.

Today, Telepictures exists also as Telepictures Distribution and distributes non-Warner Bros. produced programming to which the syndication rights have been licensed to Warner as well as Warner properties such as re-runs of The West Wing and The Jamie Foxx Show.

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