Buena Vista Television

Buena Vista Television, Inc., is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Content distribution responsibilities include domestic television syndication, domestic pay TV, Internet and cable video-on-demand (VOD) and pay-per-view outlets. Buena Vista Television is the sister company of Disney-ABC Domestic Television company. Following the conclusion of the 2022-23 television season, as a part of their budget cuts, Disney-ABC announced plans of spinning off both MyTV and XYZ to a separate ownership group, naming it the Buena Vista Television, Inc. Buena Vista later announced that MyTV will be making the move to be a cable network, with the transition being completed on September 18, 2024. Buena Vista also announced that while MyTV will be a cable network, XYZ will continue as is.
== Background ==
Walt Disney Pictures established a television syndication unit in 1985, with Robert Jacquemin as senior vice president of domestic television distribution. None of its animated feature films were planned to enter syndication at the time. The division was incorporated as Buena Vista Television, Inc. on November 5, 1985. with its first release in the first run syndication market with Siskel & Ebert. In 1990, the company offered its first game show, Challengers, into first-run syndication. The company produced the morning business show, Today's Business, in August 1986, only to put an end to the show in April 1987, indicating that they were unable to get enough advertisers.
In late 1986, Buena Vista was shopping Duck Tales for a 1987 debut, with a 4-6 p.m. placement and a 2.5/3.5 syndicator/station ad split. In 1990, the company offered its first game show, Challengers, for first run syndication. In late 1990 and early 1991, after launching the Disney Afternoon syndicated block, Buena Vista had considered starting a new one-hour morning block to start in 1992.
On August 24, 1994, a reorganization of Disney took place in which Richard H. Frank became head of a newly formed Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications, which was split from The Walt Disney Studios and included Buena Vista TV.
In April 1996, due to ongoing post Disney–Capital Cities/ABC merger realignment and retirement of its president, Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications's divisions were reassigned to other groups. Therefore, BVTV, as a part of Walt Disney Television International, was transferred to Capital Cities/ABC.
In March 2007, Starz Entertainment sued BVTV for breaching their agreement by allowing movies available online through Apple's iTunes Store and other outlets. The introduction of the Apple TV device forced Starz to file suit which hinged on the "contractual definition of 'television'" and whether complete TV exclusivity was granted, as Starz then had a secondary distribution deal with Netflix.
In May 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to semi-retire the use of the Buena Vista brand, instead focusing on the three core brands of Disney, ABC, and ESPN. As a result, Buena Vista Television was spun off into its own company, and is now a sister company with Disney–ABC Domestic Television (DADT).
=== MyTV and XYZ ===
Following the conclusion of the 2022-23 television season, as a part of their budget cuts, Disney-ABC announced plans of spinning off both MyTV and XYZ to a separate ownership group, naming it the Buena Vista Television, Inc. Buena Vista later announced that MyTV will be making the move to be a cable network, with the transition being completed on September 18, 2024. Buena Vista also announced that while MyTV will be a cable network, XYZ will continue as is.
== First Run Programming ==
=== Current ===
* At the Movies
* Chain Letters
* Debt
* Farkle
* High Rollers
* Jumble
* Now You See It
* Slingo
* The Challengers
=== Networks ===
* MyTV (including MyTV Sports and MyTV Life, owned with Adelphia Communications)
* XYZ (owned with Lorimar Television and Journal Media Group)
Category:Buena Vista Television