Television and Video Distribution
United Artists Television originally produced the series (in association with Phil Silvers' Gladasya Productions and CBS) and subsequently distributed it in syndication. UATV became MGM/UA Television in 1981 after United Artists merged with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In 1986, Turner Broadcasting System attempted to purchase MGM/UA, but after amassing huge debt, sold most of the acquisition back, but kept the company's considerable library. This library, which would be managed by Turner Entertainment, included the pre-1986 MGM film and television library, the pre-1950 Warner Bros. films and short subjects, and US rights to much of the RKO Pictures library – in addition to this series.
Some years later, after Turner merged with Time Warner, Warner Bros. Television became responsible for the show's distribution, and continues to be today. The Silvers estate (successor-in-interest to Gladasya) retained its share of ownership (both Turner and the Silvers family now share the show's copyright).
The entire series has been released on DVD through corporate sibling Warner Home Video, and online via Amazon's Prime service. The program is virtually unknown in the United Kingdom – only thirteen episodes were ever shown there.
Williams Electronics produced a pinball machine based on the TV show in 1991.
Read more about this topic: Gilligan's Island
Famous quotes containing the words television, video and/or distribution:
“The technological landscape of the present day has enfranchised its own electorates—the inhabitants of marketing zones in the consumer goods society, television audiences and news magazine readerships... vote with money at the cash counter rather than with the ballot paper at the polling booth.”
—J.G. (James Graham)
“It is among the ranks of school-age children, those six- to twelve-year-olds who once avidly filled their free moments with childhood play, that the greatest change is evident. In the place of traditional, sometimes ancient childhood games that were still popular a generation ago, in the place of fantasy and make- believe play . . . today’s children have substituted television viewing and, most recently, video games.”
—Marie Winn (20th century)
“Classical and romantic: private language of a family quarrel, a dead dispute over the distribution of emphasis between man and nature.”
—Cyril Connolly (1903–1974)