Rysher Entertainment
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Television syndication |
| Founded | 1949 (as Bing Crosby Productions) |
| Owner | Vine Rysher Company |
Rysher Entertainment is the owner of TV and film programming content, primarily distributed around the world by CBS Television Distribution and Paramount Pictures. Select rights are also distributed by Warner Bros., Universal, Lionsgate, Fox, Columbia Pictures, MGM and other entertainment distribution companies worldwide.
The company has its roots in Bing Crosby Productions ("BCP"). Its namesake, actor/singer Bing Crosby, founded BCP in 1949, and was best known for producing the sitcom Hogan's Heroes and the medical drama Ben Casey - in succeeding years, BCP was acquired by Cox Broadcasting.
In 1988, Cox incorporated Bing Crosby Productions into the Rysher corporation, which itself had been established as an independently owned company whose original sole product had been the distribution of NBC's series Saved By The Bell. In 1993, Rysher merged with Al Masini's Television Program Enterprises to form Rysher TPE, its alternate name used from 1993 to 1995. Through Rysher TPE, they would manage to produce and distribute shows such as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (renamed Lifestyles with Robin Leach and Shari Belafonte for its final season) and Star Search. Later on, they would produce and distribute George & Alana, which ran for one season in 1995.
Rysher's library, today distributed by CBS Television Distribution (CTD) and Paramount Pictures (for TV series and films, respectively), includes television and feature film classics such as Hogan's Heroes (whose partial rights are held by CBS), Ben Casey, and Walking Tall, as well as more recent programs and films including Nash Bridges (1999-2001 episodes are produced by Paramount Network Television), Highlander: The Series, The Opposite of Sex (with Sony Pictures Classics), Kingpin and Big Night.
Rysher also distributes internationally through CTD several of HBO's award winning titles including Arli$$, Oz and Sex and the City.
Rysher also distributed House Arrest and Zeus and Roxanne, both of which were released by MGM and distributed by HBO Home Video for home release.
Feature films
| Release date | Title |
|---|---|
| April 28, 1995 | Destiny Turns on the Radio |
| April 3, 1996 | Primal Fear |
| July 26, 1996 | Kingpin |
| August 9, 1996 | Escape from L.A. |
| August 14, 1996 | House Arrest |
| September 27, 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley |
| January 10, 1997 | Turbulence |
| January 24, 1997 | Zeus and Roxanne |
| February 28, 1997 | Hard Eight |
| March 7, 1997 | Private Parts |
| April 4, 1997 | The Saint |
| August 22, 1997 | A Smile Like Yours |
