2929 Entertainment
 |
| Type |
Private |
| Founded |
Dallas, Texas (2000) |
| Headquarters |
Dallas, Texas |
| Key people |
Todd Wagner, Co-Founder/CEO
Mark Cuban, Co-Founder
Kevin Parke, Executive Vice President |
| Industry |
Motion pictures, Television |
| Products |
2929 Productions, HDNet, Magnolia Pictures, Landmark Theaters, Truly Indie |
| Owner(s) |
Mark Cuban
Todd Wagner |
| Website |
2929entertainment.com |
2929 Entertainment is a media company with holdings in film and television production, film distribution, theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, television, and syndication. Billionaires Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban founded and currently own the privately held company. Wagner serves as its CEO, and Kevin Parke as its Executive Vice President.
History
In February 2004, 2929 owned the syndication rights to several television shows including Sex and the City, Star Search, and Hogan's Heroes. 2929 co-produced a newer version of Star Search which premiered in January 2003 on CBS. The original Star Search was on air between 1983 and 1988.
In January 2006, the company experimented by releasing Steven Soderbergh's Bubble simultaneously in its Landmark Theaters chain, on the company's HDNet Movies cable channel, and on DVD through its Magnolia Home Entertainment division. The move was controversial since most films are released through different distribution channels on a staggered schedule, giving each channel an exclusive release window. Exhibitors were especially timorous, as many feared that they would eventually lose their exclusive release windows for more mainstream films.
Holdings
Film and Television Production
The company produces films and television programs through two production companies: 2929 Productions and HDNet Films. 2929 Productions, headed by Marc Butan, makes movies with budgets of $10 to $40 million. HDNet Films produces lower budget movies that are shot in high definition. Notable films include:
Cuban and Wagner also own a minority stake in Lions Gate Entertainment.
Film Distribution
2929 owns Magnolia Pictures, a film distribution company that places 2929's and other company's films in theaters. Besides 2929's pictures, Magnolia has also released:
Theatrical Exhibition
On September 24, 2003, 2929 bought Landmark Theatre Corporation, which owns 58 theatres in 23 markets. The chain, which was founded by Kim Jorgensen in 1974, primarily shows independent and foreign films.
Home Entertainment
In November 2005 the company created Magnolia Home Entertainment to release its films over home video. It is run by Randy Wells, the former head of home entertainment for Miramax.
Television
2929 holds a significant interest in HDNet, which Cuban co-founded in 2001 as an all-high definition cable channel. HDNet Movies, a companion channel, shows movies in high definition.
See also
External links
