Hearst Entertainment Productions (formerly The Jozak Company, Phoenix Entertainment Group and King Phoenix Entertainment) is an American television production company that was formed by Gerald Isenberg in 1973.
The company was sold to Hearst Corporation in 1989.
History
The Jozak Company In 1973, Gerald I. Isenberg, formerly of ABC Movie of the Week and Metromedia Producers Corporation, had formed an independent television production company, The Jozak Company, which was based in Los Angeles, California. The company formally set up operations in September 1974, which was based at CBS Studio Center.
Around the same time, as the company is about to set up operations, in October 1974, Isenberg hired freelance producer Gerald W. Abrams, who was in charge of the company as vice president of creative affairs for the company.
In 1976, Jozak Company had two triumphs, one in June for finishing production on the made-for-TV movie Having Babies, and the other for another made-for-TV movie on GE Theater, The Secret Life of John Chapman, in November.
Also in 1976, The Jozak Company had signed a deal with Paramount Pictures to develop film and television projects for the studio. Around the same time, the company was intended to be executive producer on Star Trek: Planet of the Titans, an unmade feature film that was set to be produced by Paramount Pictures. Around the time, The Jozak Company begin work with Casablanca Records & Filmworks for a miniseries, Attack on the Lusitania, which was slated for 1977, but it was scrapped.
In 1977, the company produced the made-for-TV movie Red Alert, with Paramount Television, based on the novel Paradigm Red by Harold King, starring William Devane. The company also developed The Relentless for CBS. Also that year, the company had acquired the screenplay for Last Days, set in the Saigon War, for Paramount Pictures. In 1977, the company produced its television version of Hollywood High for NBC. Also that year, the company had bought the rights to Flesh & Blood with Paramount Television for CBS.
In late 1977, the company had adapted the Having Babies television movies into a weekly television series for ABC, for 1978 premiere. In the following year, Jozak had produced a TV movie Letters from Frank for CBS, starring Art Carney.
In 1978, Gerald W. Abrams left The Jozak Company to form its new independent production company, Cypress Point Productions, which was at Paramount Television, citing Isenberg's desire to focus on motion pictures. In 1979, the company had a deal with Procter & Gamble to finance the television movie Seizure on CBS.
In 1980, Isenberg decided to move his focus onto directing. In 1980, the company signed an exclusive deal with MGM Television, and developed a television adaptation of Fame for NBC.
In November 1982, the company granted funding by Richard Cohen through the millionaire company GIT to form its unit, Jozak/Decade Productions (or I & C Productions, for Gerard Isenberg and Richard Cohen), which was mainly used for production of television and theatrical movies through funds from Cohen himself.
Phoenix Entertainment Group/King Phoenix Entertainment In May 1985, the company merged with Cypress Point Productions, a company owned by Gerald W. Abrams to form an independent production firm, Phoenix Entertainment Group, still backed by financial backer Richard Cohen, under the name ACI Production Services (which is short for its last names Abrams, Cohen and Isenberg).
In 1986, Phoenix Entertainment Group hired The Silverbach-Lazarus Group to represent its services internationally and launched Phoenix Entertainment Distribution to handle international sales of its television movies. Also that year, New World International and Phoenix Entertainment Group signed a worldwide television deal where New World handled distribution of its product by Phoenix Entertainment Group.
In 1986, the company decided to sell the Walker family story to CBS. Additionally, Phoenix bought the rights to a set of unspecified novels. Around the time, the company made its big break with Brotherhood of Justice on ABC.
Around 1987, the company was one of the major members of the King Features Entertainment-affiliated The Movie Alliance, alongside other producers, such as Steve Tisch, Jon Avnet, Robert Greenwald, Leonard Hill and Frank von Zerneck.
In 1988, the company produced the television movie The Finish Line for Turner Network Television. In December 1988, Harry Chandler joined Phoenix Entertainment Group as vice president of specials for movies and international co-production. The company then followed it up with the hit miniseries The Women of Brewster Place for ABC.
In February 1989, Phoenix Entertainment Group was acquired by The Hearst Corporation, who owned television syndicator King Features Entertainment, and initially renamed King Phoenix Entertainment, which was named after King Features Syndicate.
In August 1989, Chad Hoffman had signed a deal with King Phoenix Entertainment to develop all content for the company. By 1990, the company was an early supplier of original movies for Lifetime.
Hearst Entertainment Productions In mid-1989, Hearst Corporation started consolidating production, syndication and cable properties, with King Features Entertainment and King Phoenix Entertainment being merged to form a new division, the Hearst Entertainment and Syndication Group, transferring from the King Features Syndicate unit. As a result, on April 14, 1990, King Features Entertainment was renamed to Hearst Entertainment, or Hearst Entertainment Distribution (HED), while King Phoenix Entertainment was renamed to Hearst Entertainment Productions (HEP).
Also that year, Freyda Rothstein, formerly of New World Television, had inked a first-look deal with the studio. Also in 1990, Judith Polone had left Hearst Entertainment Productions to start out a new company, The Polone Company, with a deal at the studio. Polone then exited Hearst in 1993, leaving Polone to form the company solo.
In 1991, the company branched out to original series for Lifetime by producing the drama Veronica Clare, but didn't last long.
In December 1994, founder and president Gerald I. Isenberg exited Hearst Entertainment Productions. In 1995, Donald Wyre, who was under Polongo Pictures, had left Hearst Entertainment to form a new company, Spygaze Pictures. In 1996, Gerald W. Abrams had left to form a new company, Evolve Entertainment, with Jennifer Alward of Morgan Hill Films.
In 1998, the company signed a cable pack with the IATSE to supply its product for 3 years. In 1999, the company had partnered with Endemol Entertainment to finance the Castro romance picture Assassin. In 2000, the company had signed a deal with Cheyenne Enterprises to produce a series of television movies.
In 2002, the company had ended its pact with Lifetime.
Programs
Television movies/pilots/specials
The Jozak Company TitleAir dateNetworkNotesThe Last Angry ManApril 16, 1974ABCco-production with Screen GemsIt Couldn't Happen to a Nicer GuyNovember 19, 1974Winner Take AllMarch 3, 1975NBCKatherineOctober 5, 1975ABCJames DeanFebruary 19, 1976NBCHaving BabiesOctober 17, 1976ABCThe Secret Life of John ChapmanDecember 27, 1976CBSSecretsFebruary 20, 1977ABCco-production with Paramount TelevisionRed AlertMay 18, 1977CBSHaving Babies IIOctober 28, 1977ABCThe Defection of Simas KudirkaJanuary 23, 1978CBSHaving Babies IIIMarch 3, 1978ABCSki Lift to DeathCBSWith This RingMay 5, 1978ABCMurder at the Mardi GrasMay 10, 1978CBSSteeletownMay 19, 1979co-production with Cypress Point Productions and Paramount TelevisionFlesh and BloodOctober 14, 1979Letters from FrankNovember 22, 1979The GiftDecember 15, 1979Seizure: The Story of Kathy MorrisJanuary 9, 1980When She Says NoJanuary 30, 1984ABCas I & C ProductionsThe Three Wishes of Billy GrierNovember 1, 1984ForbiddenMarch 24, 1985HBOas Jozak/Decade Productions; with Mark Forstarer Productions Ltd., Clasart Film-und Fernsehproduktion, Anthea Film and Stella FilmWhen Dreams Come TrueMay 28, 1985ABCas I & C Productions; with Telepictures ProductionsThe Execution of Raymond GrahamNovember 17, 1985co-production with Alliance Entertainment Corporation and David W. Rintels
Phoenix Entertainment Group/King Phoenix Entertainment TitleAir dateNetworkNotesA Time to TriumphJanuary 7, 1986CBSco-production with Billos/Kauffman ProductionsChild's CryFebruary 9, 1986co-production with Shoot the Moon EnterprisesThompson's Last RunFebruary 16, 1986co-production with Cypress Point ProductionsBrotherhood of JusticeMay 18, 1986ABCco-production with The Guber-Peters Company, Margot Winchester Productions and Taper Media EnterprisesHardesty HouseJuly 5, 1986co-production with Robert Ginty Productions and ABC Circle FilmsDoing LifeSeptember 23, 1986NBCco-production with Alliance Entertainment and Castilian ProductionsTonight's the NightFebruary 2, 1987ABCco-production with The IndieProd CompanyCode Name: DancerApril 12, 1987co-production with The Steve Tisch CompanyBay CovenOctober 25, 1987NBCco-production with The Guber-Peters Company and Jerlor ProductionsA Hobo's ChristmasDecember 6, 1987CBSco-production with Joe Byrne/Falrose ProductionsEvil in Clear RiverJanuary 11, 1988ABCco-production with The Steve Tisch CompanyA Father's RevengeJanuary 24, 1988co-production with Rosco Film GmbHGod Bless the ChildMarch 21, 1988co-production with Alliance Entertainment and The IndieProd CompanyWhisper KillMay 16, 1988co-production with The Steve Tisch Company and Sandyhook ProductionsNightmare at BittercreekMay 24, 1988CBSco-production with Swanton Films and The Guber-Peters CompanyCircusAugust 3, 1988ABCGothamAugust 21, 1988Showtimeco-production with Keith Addis & Associates and Cannon FilmsStreet of DreamsOctober 7, 1988CBSGoddess of LoveNovember 20, 1988NBCco-production with Phil Margo Productinos and New World TelevisionFinish LineJanuary 11, 1989TNTco-production with The Guber-Peters CompanyGet Smart, Again!February 26, 1989ABCco-production with The IndieProd CompanyNaked LieCBSco-production with Shadowplay Films and Victoria Principal ProductionsOut on the EdgeMay 14, 1989co-production with Rick Dawn Productions and The Steve Tisch CompanyChain LetterAugust 5, 1989ABCco-production with The IndieProd Company and New World TelevisionBlind WitnessNovember 26, 1989co-production with Shadowplay FilmsJekyll & HydeJanuary 21, 1990co-production with David Wickes TV and London Weekend TelevisionDaughter of DarknessJanuary 26, 1990CBSco-production with Accent Entertainment CorporationChallengerFebruary 25, 1990ABCco-production with George Englund Productions and The IndieProd CompanySparks: The Price of PassionCBSco-production with Shadowplay Productions and Victoria Principal ProductionsStolen: One HusbandFebruary 27, 1990A Killing in a Small TownMay 22, 1990co-production with The IndieProd CompanyThe Ghost WriterAugust 15, 1990Foxco-production with Alan Spencer Productions, The IndieProd Company and New World Television
Hearst Entertainment Productions