2929 Entertainment

2929 Entertainment
Private
Industry Movies, Television, Home entertainment, Home video, Movie theaters
Founded 2002 (2002)
Headquarters Dallas, Texas, United States
Key people
 Todd Wagner (CEO)
Mark Cuban (Co-Founder)
Kevin Parke (EVP)
Owner Todd Wagner
Mark Cuban
Divisions Landmark Theatres
Magnolia Pictures
Truly Indie
HDNet Movies
AXS TV (co-owner)
Rysher Entertainment
2929 Productions
HDNet Films
Website 2929entertainment.com

2929 Entertainment (a.k.a. 2929) is an American media company with holdings in film production and distribution, theatrical exhibition, home entertainment and TV syndication. Billionaires Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban founded the company, Wagner serves as its CEO and Kevin Parke as its Executive Vice President.

History

In February 2004, 2929 owned the syndication rights to several television shows including Sex and the City, Star Search, and Hogan's Heroes.[1] 2929 co-produced a newer version of Star Search which premiered in January 2003 on CBS. The original Star Search was on air between 1983 and 1988.

In January 2006, the company experimented by releasing Steven Soderbergh's Bubble simultaneously in its Landmark Theatres chain, on the company's HDNet Movies cable channel, and on DVD through its Magnolia Pictures division. The move was controversial since most films are released through different distribution channels on a staggered schedule, giving each channel an exclusive release window. Exhibitors were especially timorous, as many feared that they would eventually lose their exclusive release windows for more mainstream films.

Holdings

Film production

The company produces films and television programs through two production companies: 2929 Productions and HDNet Films. 2929 Productions, formerly run by Marc Butan, makes movies with budgets of $10–40 million, as well as various television programs. HDNet Films produces lower budget movies that are shot in high definition. Notable films include:

Wagner and Cuban also own a minority stake in Lions Gate Entertainment.

Film distribution

2929 owns Magnolia Pictures, a film distribution company that places 2929's and other company's films in theaters. Besides 2929's pictures, Magnolia has also released:

2929 has also launched Truly Indie, which is refers to as an "innovative distribution program" for independent filmmakers.

Theatrical exhibition

On September 24, 2003, 2929 bought Landmark Theatres, which owns 58 theatres in 23 markets.[2] The chain, which was founded by Kim Jorgensen in 1974, primarily shows independent and foreign films.

Home entertainment

In November 2005 the company created Magnolia Home Entertainment to release its films over home video.[3] It is run by Randy Wells, the former head of home entertainment for Miramax.

Television

2929 holds a significant interest in AXS TV, which Cuban originally co-founded in 2001 as the all-high definition cable channel HDNet (through AXS TV LLC, formerly HDNet, LLC). HDNet Movies, a companion channel, shows movies in high definition. 2929 also owns and operates Rysher Entertainment, a television syndication distributor.

References

  1. ↑ Fleming, Michael (2004-02-17). "Butan new bigwig at 2929 Prods". Variety. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  2. ↑ "Mark Cuban's Landmark Theatres Hit With Antitrust Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  3. ↑ Brooks, Brian (2005-11-05). "Magnolia Pictures Launches Home Entertainment Division". IndieWire. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
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