View source for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group

{{Short description|American entertainment company}}
{{Duplication|dupe=MCA Inc.|date=October 2024}}
{{AI-generated|date=October 2025}}
{{About|the media conglomerate formerly known as Universal Studios|the film production company that also goes by this name|Universal Pictures}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Inc.
| logo = [[File:Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2013
| image = Universal City, Comcast-NBCUniversal Headquarters New.jpg
| image_caption = The headquarters at [[10 Universal City Plaza]] in [[Universal City, California]]
| trading_name = Universal Studios
| owner = 
| parent = [[Seagram]] (1996–2000)<br>[[Vivendi|Vivendi Universal]] (2000–2004)<br>[[NBCUniversal]] (2004–present)
| divisions = {{Unbulleted list|[[Universal Pictures]]|Universal Brand Development|Universal Global Talent Development and Inclusion}}
| subsid = {{Unbulleted list|Back Lot Music|Makeready <small>(co-backing with [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]])</small>}}
| website = {{Ubl
| {{URL|universalpictures.com}}
}}
| predecessor = [[MCA Inc.|MCA]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1996}}
| location = [[10 Universal City Plaza]]
| location_city = [[Universal City, California]]
| location_country = U.S.
| former_name = Universal Studios Inc. (1996–2013)
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| industry = [[Entertainment]]
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|[[Donna Langley]] ([[Chairperson|chairwoman]])<br>Peter Cramer ([[President (corporate title)|president]])}}
| revenue = {{increase}} US$11.622 billion
| revenue_year = 2022
}}

'''Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Inc.''' ('''UFEG'''), doing business as '''Universal Studios''' and formerly known as '''Universal Studios Inc.''', is an American entertainment company and business unit within [[NBCUniversal]], a subsidiary of [[Comcast]], that oversees and manages its film and television businesses, including its flagship division, [[Universal Pictures]].

The company was formed in 1996 following the acquisition of [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] by [[Seagram]], and its subsequent rebranding to Universal Studios Inc., which would later take on its current name in 2013. Since its formation, the company became a major force in the film and entertainment industry. Its [[Universal Studios Lot|studios]] are located in [[Universal City, California]], and its corporate offices are located in [[New York City]].

==History==
{{See also|MCA Inc.#History}}
===Seagram===
On December 9, 1996, a year after its acquisition by [[Seagram]], [[MCA Inc.|MCA]] was rebranded to Universal Studios Inc.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1996/12/09/daily1.html| title=MCA changes name to Universal Studios Inc.| work=[[American City Business Journals|Orlando Business Journal]]| date=December 9, 1996| first=E. Scott| last=Reckard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Busch |first=Anita M. |date=1996-12-10 |title=A whole new U for MCA |url=https://variety.com/1996/scene/vpage/a-whole-new-u-for-mca-1117466464/ |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and MCA's music division, MCA Music Entertainment Group, was renamed [[Universal Music Group]]. [[MCA Records]] continued to live on as a label within the Universal Music Group. The following year, [[G. P. Putnam's Sons]] was sold to the [[Penguin Group]] subsidiary of [[Pearson PLC]].

In 1996, Universal Studios filed a lawsuit against [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] over Viacom's launch of the [[TV Land]] cable network. Viacom had purchased Paramount in 1994, and the contract for USA Network prohibited either of their owners from owning cable channels outside the joint venture.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/30/business/media-business-mca-sues-viacom-saying-new-channel-violates-their-usa-network.html| title=MCA Sues Viacom, Saying New Channel Violates Their USA Network Partnership| date=30 April 1996| work=The New York Times| access-date=29 November 2015| first=Geraldine| last=Fabrikant}}</ref> Viacom had owned [[Viacom Media Networks|MTV Networks]] (the parent of TV Land) since 1985. The suit was settled when Viacom sold MCA its half of the joint venture. TV Land eventually added shows from the MCA/Universal library in 1999.

=== Vivendi and NBCUniversal ===
To raise money, Seagram head [[Edgar Bronfman Jr.]] sold Universal's television holdings, including cable network [[USA Network|USA]], to [[Barry Diller]] (these same properties would be bought back later at greatly inflated prices). In June 2000, Seagram was sold to [[France|French]] water utility and media company [[Vivendi]], which owned [[StudioCanal]]; the conglomerate then became known as Vivendi Universal.

In the spring of 2003, MCA Records was folded into [[Geffen Records]].{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Its [[country music]] label, [[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville Records]], is still in operation. MCA's classical music catalog is managed by [[Deutsche Grammophon]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Burdened with debt, in 2004, Vivendi Universal sold 80% of Vivendi Universal Entertainment (including the studio and theme parks) to [[General Electric]] (GE), parent of [[NBC]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahrens |first=Frank |date=May 13, 2004 |title=GE, Vivendi Give Rise To a Giant |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2004/05/13/ge-vivendi-give-rise-to-a-giant/be0e1f0d-5548-45bf-9a55-ae9722b15039/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> However, the sale of Universal to NBC and GE did not include [[Universal Music Group]], which had been a part of the film company since 1962. UMG was placed under separate management through Vivendi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-05-12 |title=NBC closes merger with Universal |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4960838 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The resulting company was named [[NBCUniversal]], while Universal Studios Inc. remained the name of the production subsidiary. After that deal, GE owned 80% of NBC Universal; Vivendi held the remaining 20%, with an option to sell its share in 2006.

In late 2005, Viacom's [[Paramount Pictures]] acquired [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks SKG]] after acquisition talks between GE and DreamWorks stalled. Universal's long-time chairperson, Stacey Snider, left the company in early 2006 to head up DreamWorks. Snider was replaced by then-Vice chairman [[Marc Shmuger]] and [[Focus Features]] head [[David Linde]]. On October 5, 2009, Marc Shmuger and David Linde were ousted, and their co-chairperson jobs were consolidated under former president of worldwide marketing and distribution Adam Fogelson, becoming the single chairperson. Donna Langley was also upped to co-chairperson.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 5, 2009 |title='Two And A Half Men' Cast's Holiday Gifts For The Show's Crew And Staff |url=https://deadline.com/2009/10/adam-fogelson-named-new-chairman-of-universal-pictures-16985/ |magazine=Deadline}}</ref> In May 2009, Universal Studios merged its Consumer Products Group division with its fellow division Universal Studios Partnerships division to form one consumer products & licensing division that all of the studio’s consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions and corporate alliances for Universal's theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions alongside licensing consumer products within the group entitled Universal Partnerships and Licensing.  Universal Studios Partnership header [[Stephanie Sperber]] assumed the title role of the merged consumer products division as executive VP, whilst senior VP Amy Taylor would oversee Universal Partnerships & Licensing's North American promotions, worldwide licensing and retail development; it would rebrand themselves to Universal Brand Development by 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Universal creates new uni|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/universal-creates-unit-84626/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Boyes|last=Kit|date=May 27, 2009}}</ref> Five years later in June 2014, Universal Partnerships & Licensing had interrogated consumers products from its fellow NBCUniversal units NBC Entertainment and the children's channel [[Universal Kids|Sprout]] as the unit had oversume consumer products of NBC's productions such as ''The Tonight Show'' and Sprout's famous iconic brand ''Chica''.<ref name="tw">{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Lindsay |date=June 19, 2014 |title=Universal Partnerships & Licensing to Expand to Consumer Products Covering NBC and Sprout |url=https://www.thewrap.com/universal-partnerships-licensing-to-expand-to-consumer-products-covering-nbc-and-sprout/ |access-date=June 27, 2014 |work=The Wrap}}</ref> GE purchased Vivendi's share in NBCUniversal in 2011.<ref name="vivendiinitsale">{{cite news |last=James |first=Meg |date=January 27, 2011 |title=GE completes its purchase of Vivendi's stake in NBC Universal |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-jan-27-fi-ct-ge-vivendi-20110127-story.html |access-date=April 22, 2013 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

=== Comcast ===
GE sold 51% of the company to cable provider [[Comcast]] in 2011, including Universal Studios. Comcast merged the former GE subsidiary with its own cable-television programming assets, creating the current NBCUniversal. Following [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) approval, the Comcast-GE deal was closed on January 29, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=January 29, 2011 |title=Comcast Competes Deal |url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/463142-Comcast_Completes_Deal.php |access-date=May 21, 2011 |newspaper=Multichannel News}}</ref> In March 2013, Comcast bought the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal for $16.7&nbsp;billion.<ref name="dl">{{cite web |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=March 19, 2013 |title=Comcast Completes Acquisition Of GE's 49% Stake In NBCUniversal |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/comcast-completes-acquisition-nbcuniversal-457181/ |access-date=June 9, 2020 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

In September 2013, Universal Studios was renamed Universal Filmed Entertainment Group to oversee the film group's worldwide activities, including the global theatrical and home entertainment businesses. [[Jeff Shell]] became the chairman of the new Universal Studios, while the company's former chairman, [[Ronald Meyer|Ron Meyer]], was named as the vice chairman of [[NBCUniversal]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Kim |date=2013-09-09 |title=Jeff Shell Moving to Universal Studios Job; Adam Fogelson Out |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jeff-shell-moving-universal-studios-624678/ |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2019, it was announced that [[Donna Langley]] would also take over as head of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=Jan 14, 2019 |title=NBCUniversal Announces Direct to Consumer Streaming Service |url=https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/nbcuniversal-streaming-service-and-new-leadership-structure?utm_source=chatgpt.com }}</ref>

In September 2022, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group announced that its parent [[NBCUniversal]] had moved the former's consumer products division Universal Brand Development to fellow NBCUniversal theme park & resorts division Universal Parks & Resorts and had it merged with the latter's merchandise unit Universal Parks & Resorts Merchandise Group to form a single unified global consumer products business & focused on theme park experiences division for NBCUniversal's franchises renamed the former to Universal Products & Experiences, with Universal Brand Development president Vince Klaseus had lead the rebranded division.<ref>{{cite web|title=Universal Parks & Resorts Merges Two Strategic Businesses Together To Create New Global Cp Center Of Excellence|url=https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/universal-parks-resorts-merges-two-strategic-businesses-together-to-create-new-global-cp-center-of-excellence/|website=Universal Destination & Experiences|date=September 16, 2022}}</ref>

== Units ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |Studio units
|-
! style="text-align:center; width:20%;" |Production
! style="text-align:center; width:20%;" |Distribution
! style="text-align:center; width:20%;" |Other
|-
|'''Live-action'''
{{Plainlist|
* [[Focus Features#Focus World|Focus World]]
* [[Working Title Films]]
* [[Amblin Partners]] (JV)
}}

----'''Animation'''
{{Plainlist|
* [[Illumination (company)|Illumination]]
* [[Illumination Studios Paris]]
* [[DreamWorks Animation]]
* [[Universal Animation Studios]]
}}
|
{{Plainlist|
** [[Universal Pictures]]
*** Universal Pictures International
*** [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]]
}}
{{Plainlist|
* [[Focus Features]]
* [[United International Pictures]] (50%)
}}
|
{{Plainlist|
* [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan]]
* [[Classic Media (company)|Classic Media]]
}}
|}

* [[Universal Pictures]]
** Universal Pictures International
** Universal International Distribution
** [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]]
*** Universal Home Entertainment Productions
*** Universal 1440 Entertainment
**** [[Universal Animation Studios]]
*** DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment
*** Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia (joint venture with [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]])
*** Universal Playback
*** Studio Distribution Services (joint venture with [[Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment]])
** [[Illumination (company)|Illumination]]
*** [[Illumination Studios Paris]]
*** Illumination Labs
*** Moonlight
** [[DreamWorks Animation]]
*** [[DreamWorks Animation Television]]
*** [[DreamWorks Classics]]
**** [[Big Idea Entertainment]] (in-name-only unit of DreamWorks Animation)
**** [[Jay Ward Productions#Jay Ward Productions today|Bullwinkle Studios]] (JV)
**** [[Harvey Entertainment]] (in-name-only unit of DreamWorks Animation)
*** DreamWorks Theatricals
*** DreamWorks New Media
**** [[DreamWorksTV (YouTube channel)|DreamWorksTV]]
*** [[DreamWorks Animation|DreamWorks Press]]
** [[Focus Features]]
* Universal Pictures International Entertainment
** [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan]]
* [[Working Title Films]]
** WT<sup>2</sup> Productions
** Working Title Television
* [[Rede Telecine]] (12.5%, joint venture with [[Canais Globo]], [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]])
* Universal Brand Development
* Universal Global Talent Development and Inclusion
* Universal Products & Experiences
* Back Lot Music
* [[United International Pictures]] (50%, joint venture with [[Paramount Skydance]]'s [[Paramount Pictures]])
* [[Amblin Partners]] (minor stake)<ref name="variety1">{{cite news |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |date=December 16, 2015 |title=Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Bring Amblin Partners to Universal |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spiellberg-universal-1201662956/ |access-date=December 23, 2015 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref name="deadline1">{{cite news |last1=Busch |first1=Anita |date=December 16, 2015 |title=It's Official: Spielberg, DreamWorks, Participant, eOne, Others Pact For Amblin Partners |url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/spielberg-dreamworks-participant-eone-others-pact-for-amblin-partners-1201668244/ |access-date=December 23, 2015 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> (JV)<ref name="NBCUniversal">{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Spencer |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Universal Studios Buys a Minority Stake in Amblin Partners |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/814659-universal-studios-buys-a-minority-stake-in-amblin-partners |access-date=February 20, 2017 |work=Comingsoon.net}}</ref>
** [[Amblin Entertainment]]
** [[Amblin Television]]
** [[DreamWorks Pictures]]
** Storyteller Distribution<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fritz |first=Ben |date=December 16, 2015 |title=Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Relaunches as Amblin Partners |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/steven-spielbergs-dreamworks-relaunches-as-amblin-partners-1450301848 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

== Film library ==
{{Main|Universal Pictures|Lists of Universal Pictures films}}

Universal Filmed Entertainment Group holds the rights to the film library through its divisions and subsidiaries such as [[Universal Pictures]], [[Universal Animation Studios]], [[Focus Features]], [[Illumination (company)|Illumination]], and [[DreamWorks Animation]].

==See also==
* [[LaserDisc]]
* [[MCA Whitney Recording Studio]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{NBC Universal}}
{{Vivendi}}
{{Panasonic}}
{{Film studios}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Home video companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Television production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:MCA Records|*]]
[[Category:NBCUniversal]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in California]]
[[Category:History of Chicago]]
[[Category:Universal Music Group]]
[[Category:Former Vivendi subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Comcast]]