Dick Clark Productions facts for kids

Dick Clark Productions (DCP) is an American company that makes TV shows. It was started by a very famous TV and radio host named Dick Clark.

DCP is mostly known for producing big award shows and other fun music programs. Some of their most famous shows include the Golden Globe Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the American Music Awards, which DCP actually created! They also produce the Billboard Music Awards and the well-known Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. You might also know So You Think You Can Dance, which they make with another company.

Some of Dick Clark's earlier shows, like American Bandstand and New Year's Rockin' Eve, were even hosted by Clark himself.

The company has been sold a few times over the years. In 2007, a group led by Daniel Snyder bought it. Then, in 2012, it was sold again to a group including Guggenheim Partners. Later, in 2016, a Chinese company called Wanda Group tried to buy DCP, but the deal didn't happen. In 2023, DCP became part of a joint company called Penske Media Eldridge.

The Story of Dick Clark Productions

How It All Began

The idea for Dick Clark Productions started in the late 1950s with Dick Clark's radio show. The name "dick clark productions" (written in lowercase) came about around 1964. Dick Clark's public relations manager suggested he name his company after himself. This would help people recognize him more, especially after his show American Bandstand moved to Hollywood.

Clark later rented a building in a famous area called the Sunset Strip. He put up a simple sign that said "dick clark productions." As he wrote in his 1976 book, Rock, Roll and Remember, that's how he started making shows.

Growing Through the Years

In the 1970s, DCP had a part of the company called Dick Clark Teleshows. This part created important shows like the very first American Music Awards.

Between the 1970s and 1980s, Dick Clark Productions also had a company for making movies, called Dick Clark Cinema Productions. They made TV movies and feature films.

In 1985, Dick Clark started a home video part of the company, called Dick Clark Video. This part handled videocassettes of shows like American Bandstand. In 1987, Dick Clark Productions signed a five-year agreement to produce the TV broadcasts of the Golden Globe Awards.

Changes in Ownership

Dick Clark Productions became a public company in 1986, meaning people could buy shares of it. It later became a private company again in 2202.

In 2007, Daniel Snyder, who used to own the Washington, D.C.'s NFL team, bought Dick Clark Productions for $175 million. After Dick Clark passed away in 2012, Snyder said he was proud to have bought the company.

In September 2012, Dick Clark Productions was sold again. This time, it was bought by a group including Guggenheim Partners for about $350 million.

In 2014, DCP started producing the Billboard Music Awards. These awards are given out by Billboard magazine, which was owned by Guggenheim at the time.

In 2015, Guggenheim Partners decided to separate its media companies, including Dick Clark Productions. These companies then went to a group led by Todd Boehly. His company, Eldridge Industries, now represented his ownership.

Big Deals and New Names

In 2016, a large Chinese company called Wanda Group announced they would buy Dick Clark Productions for $1 billion. However, in early 2017, the sale didn't go through because of some issues. DCP received $50 million from Wanda Group for the canceled deal.

In 2018, DCP joined with Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter to form a new company called Valence Media. Later, in 2020, Valence Media changed its name to MRC. Dick Clark Productions then became part of MRC's division that makes unscripted shows, called MRC Live & Alternative.

For a short time, in September 2021, the name Dick Clark Productions was stopped. All their shows were then under the MRC Live & Alternative name.

However, in August 2022, the companies decided to split up again. Eldridge Industries got back control of the MRC Live & Alternative division and brought back the Dick Clark Productions name!

In January 2023, DCP was bought by a joint company of Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge Industries, called Penske Media Eldridge. This deal helped expand a relationship between the companies, as Penske Media Corporation already runs Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

On June 12, 2023, DCP bought the rights to the Golden Globe Awards. This means DCP now fully owns and produces this famous award show.