MRC (formerly Media Rights Capital) is an American media company owned by Eldridge Industries. Founded by Mordecai (Modi) Wiczyk and Asif Satchu as an independent film studio, the company funds and produces film and television programming, and owns a group of entertainment and music industry publications. In 2018, the company merged with Todd Boehly's media assets under Valence Media, with the company as a whole taking on the MRC name in 2020.
The company's divisions include MRC Film, MRC Non-Fiction, MRC Television, MRC Live & Alternative (which produces award shows and other music entertainment programs), MRC Media & Info (which owns publications such as Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter), and MRC Data.
The company's most notable productions have included the Netflix series House of Cards and Ozark, and the films Baby Driver, Knives Out, and Ted.
History[]
Early history[]
MRC's investors include Guggenheim Partners, AT&T, WPP Group, Goldman Sachs and ABRY Partners.[2][3] On September 4, 2007, it funded top directors, namely Robert Rodriguez, Ricky Gervais, Walter Salles, Ryan Murphy, Richard Kelly, Bennett Miller and Todd Field, which both spent $250 million in film funding.[4] On December 5, 2007, it inked a pact with Warner Bros. Pictures, in which MRC allowed WB to distribute three of the eight pictures over a $250 million feature production funding.[5]
Keith Samples had briefly joined the television division of the studio, which was announced in early 2008.[6] On June 24, 2008, Dawn Parouse, who produced Prison Break, had joined the television division of the studio.[7] On October 22, 2008, Keith Samples had been resigned as president of the Media Rights Capital television division.[8]
In 2008, The CW leased its Sunday-night schedule to MRC beginning in the 2008-09 television season. MRC scheduled the reality show In Harm's Way and the dramas Valentine and Easy Money.[9] In November 2008, after all four shows drew poor viewership, The CW announced that it would withdraw from the agreement.[10] The network returned the Sunday timeslots to its affiliates in the 2009–10 season.[11]
After acquiring rights to produce a U.S. remake of the BBC miniseries House of Cards, MRC would sell the series to the streaming service Netflix in 2011, where it ran for six seasons as one of its first original series.[12][13][14]
On February 1, 2018, Eldridge Industries, a holding company owned by former Guggenheim Partners president Todd Boehly, announced that it would contribute its media assets — including The Hollywood Reporter, Dick Clark Productions, and Billboard, and merge them with MRC into a new company known as Valence Media.[15] In October 2018, MRC formed a joint venture with United Talent Agency known as Civic Center Media, which seeks to back projects involving its members via MRC.[16][17]
2019 to present; Valence Media and PMRC[]
In December 2019, Valence Media acquired Nielsen Holdings' music data business, with the division being rebranded as MRC Data.[18]
In April 2020, it was reported that Valence Media would rebrand under the MRC name.[19] The rebranding was completed in July 2020.[20]
On September 23, 2020, it was announced that Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter's main competitor Variety, would assume operations of the MRC Media & Info publications under a joint venture with MRC known as PMRC. In turn, MRC will form a second joint venture that will develop content tied to PMRC publications.[21]
In September 2021, former E! president Adam Stotsky became the new president of MRC Live & Alternative, replacing the outgoing Amy Thurlow. At this time, Dick Clark Productions was folded into MRC Live & Alternative and discontinued as a brand.[22]
SpinMedia[]
SpinMedia (formerly Buzz Media) was an American digital publisher that owned a number of pop culture websites, including Spin, Stereogum, Vibe, and The Frisky.[23] It was founded by Anthony Batt (CEO), Marc Brown, Kevin Woolery, and Steve Haldane under the name Buzznet.[24]
In 1999, Anthony Batt and Marc Brown started a blog, and by 2006, Buzznet had a total of nine employees in the Los Angeles, California, area.[24] The Buzz Media name was created as the company started to acquire more pop-culture and music blogs.
On March 19, 2009, the company announced that it raised US$12.5 million in funding from venture capitalists including Anthem Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures, and Sutter Hill Ventures, and Focus Ventures.[25][26]
The company acquired Spin Media, publisher of Spin magazine, in July 2012.[27] After shutting down the print version of the magazine, reducing its staff to about 200, and focusing on advertising, it rebranded itself as SpinMedia in March 2013.[28] At that time, Steve Hansen became its chief executive.[28]
In April 2013, it acquired Vibe magazine.[29][30]
In 2014, M/C Partners became the primary owner of SpinMedia after an assignment for benefit of creditors.[31] That year, Buzz Media had also acquired music sites Property of Zack, AbsolutePunk.net, Under The Gun Review, and Punknews.org.[32]
In September 2016, SpinMedia sold Buzznet, Idolator, and PureVolume to startup corporation Hive Media.[33] In December of that year, Eldridge Industries acquired Spin, Vibe, Stereogum, and Death and Taxes via the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group for an undisclosed amount, making Billboard the world's largest music brand in terms of digital traffic and audience share.[34][35] Celebuzz, The Frisky, and The Superficial were sold to CPX Interactive.[36]Template:Better source needed
In January 2020, Spin and Stereogum were sold to Next Management Partners and the site's management, respectively, as part of a larger focus on Vibe and a music data business.[37]
Filmography[]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2019) |
Films produced or co-financed by MRC have included:
- Babel (2006)[38]
- Linha de Passe (2008)
- Brüno (2009)
- Shorts (2009)
- The Invention of Lying (2009)
- The Box (2009)
- Devil (2010)
- The Adjustment Bureau (2011)[38]
- 30 Minutes or Less (2011)[38]
- Ted (2012)[38]
- Elysium (2013)
- A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
- 22 Jump Street (2014)[39]
- Think Like a Man Too (2014)
- Sex Tape (2014)
- Chappie (2015)
- Furious 7 (2015)
- Ted 2 (2015)
- Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
- Baby Driver (2017)
- The Dark Tower (2017)
- Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
- Mortal Engines (2018)
- Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
- Knives Out (2019)
- The Lovebirds (2020)
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)[40]
- The Sparks Brothers (2021)[41]
- Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)[40]
- Persuasion (TBA)[42]
Television projects[]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2019) |
Current[]
Previous[]
- In Harm's Way (2008) for The CW
- Valentine (2008) for The CW
- Easy Money (2008) for The CW
- The Goode Family (2009) for ABC
- Surviving Suburbia (2009) for ABC
- Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire (2009) for Comedy Central
- Rita Rocks (2008–2009) for Lifetime
- Shaq Vs. (2009–2010) for ABC
- The Life & Times of Tim (2008–2012) for HBO[38]
- The Ricky Gervais Show (2010–2012) for HBO[38]
- How to Be a Gentleman (2011–2012) for CBS[38]
- House of Cards (2013–2018) for Netflix[38]
- Blunt Talk (2015–2016) for Starz
- Counterpart (2017–2019) for Starz[43]
- The Outsider (2020) for HBO
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 About MRC. Media Rights Capital.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bond, Paul (February 13, 2013). "Media Rights Capital Raises $175 Million to Co-Finance Movies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Shaw, Lucas (May 6, 2014). "Guggenheim Invests $240 Million in 'House of Cards' Producer Media Rights Capital". The Wrap. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ↑ Fleming, Michael (2007-09-05). Media Rights to fund top directors (en-US).
- ↑ Thielman, Sam (2007-12-05). Media Rights Capital, WB pact (en-US).
- ↑ Fleming, Michael (2008-05-06). Metzger moves to Media Rights (en-US).
- ↑ Schneider, Michael (2008-06-25). Dawn Parouse joins MRC (en-US).
- ↑ Schneider, Michael (2008-10-23). MRC TV president resigns (en-US).
- ↑ MRC Unveils Four Shows for CW Sunday. zap2it.com.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Carter, Bill (November 20, 2008). "CW Says It Is Retaking Control of Its Sunday TV Lineup". The New York Times.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.de Morales, Lisa (May 21, 2009). "For Fall, CW Brings On the Suds -- and Vampires". The Washington Post.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 15, 2011). Netflix To Enter Original Programming With Mega Deal For David Fincher-Kevin Spacey Series 'House of Cards'.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Stelter, Brian (January 18, 2013). "A Drama's Streaming Premiere". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Patten, Dominic (October 30, 2017). "Netflix Cancels 'House Of Cards', Says It's 'Deeply Troubled' Over Kevin Spacey Claims". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ↑ Andrew Wallenstein (February 1, 2018). Media Rights Capital, Dick Clark Prods., THR-Billboard Combine Company. Variety.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick (October 10, 2018). UTA Teams With MRC On TV Studio Joint Venture Dubbed Civic Center Media (en).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ng, David (October 10, 2018). "United Talent Agency jumps into TV production in deal with studio behind 'House of Cards'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Steele, Anne (December 18, 2019). "Billboard Parent Buys Nielsen Music". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ↑ The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Group to Rebrand as MRC Media. Variety (April 9, 2020).
- ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (July 22, 2020). THR Parent Valence Media Rebrands As MRC (en).
- ↑ Ellefson, Lindsey (September 23, 2020). Variety Parent Penske Media to Take Over Hollywood Reporter, Billboard in Joint Venture With MRC (en-US).
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 12, 2021). Adam Stotsky Named President Of MRC Live & Alternative As Dick Clark Prods. Name Is Phased Out.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."BUZZMEDIA Acquires Top Women's Entertainment & Lifestyle Website The Frisky from Turner Broadcasting". Reuters. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Ben Kuo (May 10, 2006). Interview with Anthony Batt, Co-Founder, Buzznet. SoCal Tech" High Tech News and Information for Southern California.
- ↑ Rivera, Dominic (2009-03-20). Buzznet becomes Buzz Media; Raises $12.5 million new funding. Blog Herald.
- ↑ Maher, Rory (2009-03-19). Buzznet Raises $12.5 Million; Changes Name To Buzz Media. paidContent.
- ↑ BUZZMEDIA Buys Spin. SoCal Tech" High Tech News and Information for Southern California (July 10, 2012).
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Buzzmedia Rebrands Itself SpinMedia". Billboard. March 25, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Vibe Magazine Purchased by SpinMedia, Will Probably Go Online-Only". Billboard. April 25, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sisario, Ben (April 25, 2013). "Vibe Magazine Is Sold and Likely to Become Online Only". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ↑ SpinMedia LLC Acquired By New Investors as SpinMedia Group Receives $10M (Text). Billboard (2014-02-03).
- ↑ Bruce Houghton (August 27, 2012). Fresh Off Spin Magazine Purchase, BUZZMEDIA Buys 4 Top Punk Rock Sites.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rys, Dan (September 21, 2016). "SpinMedia Sells Idolator, Buzznet & PureVolume to Hive Media". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
- ↑ The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group Acquires SpinMedia's Music Brands, Including SPIN, VIBE, and Stereogum (2016-12-22).
- ↑ Billboard Buys Spin and Vibe in a Quest to 'Own the Topic of Music Online'.
- ↑ More SpinMedia sites sold (RIP SpinMedia). BrooklynVegan.
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.7 Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McClintock, Pamela (September 20, 2011). "Media Rights Capital Closes Five-Year $350 Million Credit Facility". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ 22 Jump Street.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Goldsmith, Jill (July 22, 2020). THR Parent Valence Media Rebrands As MRC (en).
- ↑ Debruge, Peter (December 15, 2020). Sundance Film Festival Lineup Features 38 First-Time Directors, Including Rebecca Hall and Robin Wright.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 20, 2021). Dakota Johnson Set To Star In Netflix & MRC Film's Jane Austen Update 'Persuasion'.
- ↑ JK Simmons To Star In Starz Drama Series From 'The Imitation Game' Director (April 22, 2015).
External links[]
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