Halcyon Studios

Halcyon Studios, LLC., formerly known as Sonar Entertainment, RHI Entertainment, Hallmark Entertainment, Qintex Entertainment, HRI Group and Robert Halmi Inc., is an American entertainment company specializing in the production and distribution of scripted television content, part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. It was founded in 1979 by Robert Halmi Jr. and Robert Halmi Sr. (1924–2014) as Robert Halmi, Inc. The company uses the direct-to-series model for TV series.[2]

Halcyon Studios, LLC.
Formerly
  • Robert Halmi, Inc. (1979–1988)
  • Qintex Entertainment (1988–1990)
  • RHI Entertainment (1990–1994, 2005–2012)
  • Hallmark Entertainment (1994–2005)
  • Sonar Entertainment (2012–2021)
TypePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
GenreMedia company
Founded1979 (1979)
FounderRobert Halmi
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Number of locations
5
Key people
  • David Ellender (CEO)
  • Scott Packman (EVP and CSO
  • Matt Loze (EVP, development and production)
  • Andrea Gorfolova (family and factual entertainment president)[1]
ParentChicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Robert Halmi Inc. was founded in 1979 by Robert Halmi Sr.[3] In July 1986, Robert Halmi Jr. took over as president and chief operating officer from Halmi Sr., who became the company's chairman and chief executive.[4]

From 1985 to 1988, RHI began a slowly-executed takeover of Hal Roach Studios, which gave the company North American rights to a majority of the Laurel & Hardy films and shorts, the home entertainment and theatrical rights to the portion of the Our Gang shorts that were not retained by MGM, and a majority of the Roach Studios’ feature films.[5][6][7][8][9]

Not too long after, RHI itself was taken over by the Australian financial services company Qintex (having joined the board of RHI when the merger with HRS was completed), and renamed Qintex Entertainment. However, Qintex quickly proved to be on the brink of financial collapse, with their bid for the assets of MGM/UA failing, and entered chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 1989; their American operations had previously failed to provide timely payments to MCA Television (which Qintex had partnered with to distribute The New Leave It to Beaver) the month prior.[10][11][12] In the aftermath, Halmi re-purchased the RHI assets for $40 million.[13]

The company changed ownership again in 1990, with independent film studio New Line Cinema acquiring a 52% stake in the studio; for a time, RHI productions and New Line's films were distributed to television stations under the banner of New Line Television Distribution. Hallmark Cards agreed to purchase RHI in April 1994.[14] RHI had a 1,800 plus hours film library at that time.[15] Hallmark Entertainment was then formed with RHI and Signboard Hill Production, another Hallmark Cards subsidiary,[16] becoming subsidiaries.[15] Hallmark sold the Filmation library and its rights to Entertainment Rights in March 2004.[17]

In December 2005, Hallmark Entertainment sold off its production arm to an investor group led by Robert Halmi Jr., it was renamed back to RHI Entertainment.[18][19]

On December 10, 2010, RHI filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.[20] The company emerged from bankruptcy on March 29, 2011.[21]

In March 2012, the company was renamed Sonar Entertainment. The name change stemmed from the Halmis leaving the company.[22]

On April 9, 2021, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sonar's assets, which currently includes most of the Hal Roach Studios library, and other material previously released and/or produced by predecessor companies Qintex, RHI, Cabin Fever, and Hallmark.[23]

On May 3, 2021, CSS announced it would launch Halcyon Television, a scripted television studio.[24][25]

Notable works

As Qintex Entertainment, the company co-produced the miniseries Lonesome Dove for CBS.[26]

As of December 2017, Sonar Entertainment's scripted series on-air, in production or slated to commence production included Mr. Mercedes, written by David E. Kelley, based on the novel by Stephen King, with Audience Network for DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse; Seasons 1 and 2 of The Son, starring Pierce Brosnan for AMC; Seasons 1 and 2 of The Shannara Chronicles, for Spike; and Das Boot, an eight-part series based on the film, for Sky.[27]

References
  1. Goldberg, Lesley (August 1, 2019). "Sonar Entertainment Appoints New CEO (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (December 22, 2015). "'Florida Roadkill' TV Series Based On Tim Dorsey's Novels In Works At Sonar". Deadline. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  3. James, Meg (December 10, 2010). "Halmi's RHI Entertainment files for Chapter 11". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  4. "People: Nation". Los Angeles Times. July 23, 1986. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  5. Delugach, Al (October 28, 1986). "Roach Studios to Buy Ray Stark's Production Unit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  6. "People: Nation". Los Angeles Times. July 23, 1986. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  7. "Roach Studios Pacts To Buy Into Halmi". Variety. 1985-12-18. p. 4.
  8. "Roach Proposes Halmi Marriage". Variety. 1987-08-12. pp. 51, 80.
  9. "Halmi, Hal Roach Combo Companies Forming HRI Group". Variety. 1987-11-04. pp. 35, 62.
  10. Stevenson, Richard W.; Times, Special to The New York (1989-10-21). "Qintex Unit Files for Bankruptcy". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  11. Bill, Richard. "Qintex Latest Failure of Major Australian Company With U.S. Operations". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  12. "TROUBLES IN US HURTING QINTEX". Australian Financial Review. 1989-10-23. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  13. "In Brief" (PDF). World Radio History. 5 November 1990. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  14. Lippman, John (April 27, 1994). "Hallmark to Buy TV Movie Producer RHI Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  15. "History of Crown Media Holdings, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories. Volume 45. St. James Press. 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2017 – via FundingUniverse.
  16. Carmody, John (July 28, 1994). "THE TV COLUMN". Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  17. Rick DeMott, Rick (March 26, 2004). "Entertainment Rights Acquires Filmation". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  18. Sims, James (July 14, 2006). "Milestone: Hallmark Channel at 5". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  19. Gelsi, Steve (June 18, 2008). "RHI Entertainment returns as public company". MarketWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  20. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704457604576011793026380356
  21. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110329007107/en/RHI-Entertainment-Gets-Greenlight-to-Emerge-from-Chapter-11
  22. Pickard, Michael (March 3, 2012). "RHI becomes Sonar, new CEO". C21media. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  23. "Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Sonar Entertainment Assets". Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Press release). April 9, 2021.
  24. "Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Forms Halcyon Television Led by David Ellender". Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Press release). May 3, 2021.
  25. "Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Closes on Acquisition of Sonar Entertainment Assets". Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Press release). May 24, 2021.
  26. Stevenson, Richard W. (1989-10-21). "Qintex Unit Files for Bankruptcy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  27. Petski, Denise (2016-09-27). "'Das Boot': Sonar Acquires Rights To Event Series; Boards As Co-Producer". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
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