Editing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (section)

===Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures===
Crédit Lyonnais soon put MGM up for sale. Bidders included [[News Corporation]], [[The Walt Disney Company]] and [[General Electric]] (GE); independent production firms [[Regency Enterprises|New Regency]] and [[Morgan Creek Productions]]; and several foreign firms, including France's [[Chargeurs]], Germany's [[Bertelsmann]] and the British/Dutch media company [[PolyGram]]. Ultimately the highest bidder was none other than Kirk Kerkorian, who re-purchased the studio in October 1996 for $1.3 billion, becoming MGM's owner for the third time; others involved in the deal included MGM studio head Mancuso and Australian television station [[Seven Network]] (which Kerkorian would later purchase himself in 1998).<ref>{{Cite web |title=PolyGram makes MGM bid: report - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/28/PolyGram-makes-MGM-bid-report/3441835934400/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerkorian said to offer $1.3B for MGM - Jul. 13, 1996 |url=https://money.cnn.com/1996/07/13/deals/kerkorian_mgm/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212050023/https://money.cnn.com/1996/07/13/deals/kerkorian_mgm/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MGM buyout completed - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/10/10/MGM-buyout-completed/6100844920000/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiltzik |first=Michael a |date=July 17, 1996 |title=Kirk Kerkorian: Friend or Foe? : His Presence in the MGM Deal Receives Mixed Reviews |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-17-fi-24921-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105231059/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-17-fi-24921-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ap |date=March 13, 1996 |title=COMPANY NEWS;AFTER $2.5 BILLION INVESTMENT, MGM IS PUT UP FOR SALE |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/business/company-news-after-2.5-billion-investment-mgm-is-put-up-for-sale.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/business/company-news-after-2.5-billion-investment-mgm-is-put-up-for-sale.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/20/business/company-news-kerkorian-to-increase-stake-in-m-g-m.html |title=Company News; Kerkorian To Increase Stake In M-G-M – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=August 20, 1998 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211021/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/20/business/company-news-kerkorian-to-increase-stake-in-m-g-m.html |url-status=live }}</ref> John Calley left as head of United Artists to become head of [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] around this time, allegedly because of Mancuso not keeping him informed of the planned buyout and his low salary.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Eller |first1=Claudia |last2=Bates |first2=James |date=October 11, 1996 |title=With Buyout Final, Can Mancuso Get MGM in Gear Again? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-11-fi-52698-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-11-fi-52698-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sony attempts launch of own Bond films prompting lawsuit from MGM |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/01/09/sony-attempts-launch-own-bond-films-prompting-lawsuit-mgm/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://ew.com/article/1998/01/09/sony-attempts-launch-own-bond-films-prompting-lawsuit-mgm/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

1997 proved to be an eventful year for MGM. On April 11, 1997, MGM bought [[Metromedia]]'s film subsidiaries ([[Orion Pictures]], [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]], and the [[Motion Picture Corporation of America]]) for US$573&nbsp;million, substantially enlarging its library of films and television series and acquiring additional production capacity.<ref name="Metromedia">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/business/metromedia-to-sell-film-units-to-mgm-for-573-million.html |title=Metromedia to Sell Film Units To MGM for $573 Million – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=April 29, 1997 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=November 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107004306/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/29/business/metromedia-to-sell-film-units-to-mgm-for-573-million.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal closed in July of that year.<ref>"Years of Hits, Misses Comes to Close." ''[[Daily News of Los Angeles]].'' July 10, 1997; Bates, James. "MGM Lays Off 85 in Metromedia Film, TV Units." ''Los Angeles Times''. July 11, 1997.</ref> This catalog, along with the [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] franchise, was considered to be MGM's primary asset.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-30-fi-22412-story.html |title=Deal Cements MGM's Bond to 007 Franchise |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 30, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |first=James |last=Bates |archive-date=December 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220085648/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/mar/30/business/fi-22412 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Ross Sorkin and Geraldine Fabrikant; Laura H. Holson contributed reporting to this article. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/22/business/sony-group-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-mgm.html |title=Sony Group Said to Be in Talks to Buy MGM – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=April 22, 2004 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426210900/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/22/business/sony-group-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-mgm.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM's long-running cable television series, ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', premiered on Showtime on July 27.<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Susan|title='Stargate Sg-1' Gets A 44-episode Commitment From Showtime|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-27-tv-16569-story.html|access-date=July 20, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 27, 1997|archive-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220045700/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/27/news/tv-16569|url-status=live}}</ref>  MGM and [[Danjaq|Danjaq, LLC]] filed a lawsuit against Sony Pictures in November, as Sony was intending to launch a rival Bond franchise backed by [[Kevin McClory]]; the lawsuit alleged that Calley had used confidential information from his tenure at MGM/UA to assist Sony with their attempt at making a ''James Bond'' film.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=September 14, 2004|title=Past 007 Attempts|url=http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/sony_past_007_attempts.php3?s=articles&t|url-status=usurped|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091010074357/http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/sony_past_007_attempts.php3?s=articles&t|archive-date=October 10, 2009|access-date=November 7, 2007|publisher=MI6, Home of James Bond}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MGM files Bond lawsuit - Nov. 17, 1997 |url=https://money.cnn.com/1997/11/17/companies/bond/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://money.cnn.com/1997/11/17/companies/bond/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matzer |first=Marla |date=November 18, 1997 |title=COMPANY TOWN : MGM Files Suit to Bar Sony From Making Bond Films |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-18-fi-54958-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154204/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-18-fi-54958-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM acquired the rights to the unofficial Bond production ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' from [[Jack Schwartzman]]'s estate that December.<ref>{{cite web|last=Karon|first=Paul|date=December 4, 1997|title=MGM nabs 'Never'|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/mgm-nabs-never-1116678793/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906002711/https://variety.com/1997/film/news/mgm-nabs-never-1116678793/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 1997, MGM attempted to purchase 1,000 films (referred to as the [[Trans World Entertainment (film company)|Epic film library]]) held by [[Consortium de Réalisation]], but was outbid by [[PolyGram]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-23-fi-1359-story.html |title=MGM Says It Was Outbid for Film Library |website=Los Angeles Times |date=December 23, 1997 |access-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-date=December 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221100647/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/dec/23/business/fi-1359 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, they ultimately succeeded when they acquired {{fraction|2|3}} of the pre-1996 [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]] library from [[Seagram]] in 1999 for $250&nbsp;million, increasing their library holdings to 4,000. Prior to that, MGM had held a home video license for 100 of the films since spring 1997.<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard Magazine|date=May 3, 1997|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_IQ8EAAAAMBAJ/page/n89 62]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|edition=Vol. 109, No. 18|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_IQ8EAAAAMBAJ}}</ref><ref name=vty0>{{cite magazine |first=Rex |last=Weiner |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/ |title=New Epic librarian |magazine=Variety |date=December 2, 1997 |access-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-date=May 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503081436/http://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-epic-librarian-1116678770/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The PolyGram libraries were purchased by its [[Orion Pictures]] subsidiary so as to avoid its 1990 video distribution agreement with Warner Home Video.<ref name=polygram1/> The studio also obtained the broadcast rights to more than 800 of its films previously licensed to Turner Broadcasting System.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joanne |last=Legomsky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/business/investing-take-3-for-kerkorian-the-rebuilding-of-mgm.html |title=Investing; Take 3 for Kerkorian: The Rebuilding of MGM – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=October 17, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211250/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/business/investing-take-3-for-kerkorian-the-rebuilding-of-mgm.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/16/business/mgm-regains-rights-to-films.html |title=MGM Regains Rights to Films – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=September 16, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211528/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/16/business/mgm-regains-rights-to-films.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1998, MGM had started a specialty film unit using The Samuel Goldwyn Company under the Goldwyn Films name. [[Samuel Goldwyn Jr.]] sued Metromedia over salary and damages when he worked at Goldwyn Company under Metromedia and sued MGM over the use of the Goldwyn name claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition. MGM and Metromedia settled on January 10, 1999, with MGM's Goldwyn Films changing its name to G2 Films.<ref name="vty">{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Bill|title=G2 Films emerges as Goldwyn, MGM settle|url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/g2-films-emerges-as-goldwyn-mgm-settle-1117490041/|access-date=July 20, 2017|work=Variety|date=January 11, 1999|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062442/https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/g2-films-emerges-as-goldwyn-mgm-settle-1117490041/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the middle of that year, MGM and Sony settled in an out-of-court lawsuit that saw MGM trading its ''[[Spider-Man in film|Spider-Man]]'' film rights (itself obtained by MGM through a messy legal process involving Cannon and Carolco) to Sony in exchange for gaining the rights to ''[[Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bates |first=James |date=March 30, 1999 |title=Deal Cements MGM's Bond to 007 Franchise |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-30-fi-22412-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154205/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-30-fi-22412-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 31, 1999 |title=Shaking MGM's Bond Cocktail |language=en-US |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/business/1999/03/shaking-mgm-s-bond-cocktail.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |issn=1091-2339 |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221154203/https://slate.com/business/1999/03/shaking-mgm-s-bond-cocktail.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiltzik |first=Michael a |date=March 2, 1999 |title=Studio Rights to Spider-Man Are Untangled |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-02-fi-13115-story.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907005618/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-02-fi-13115-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 1999, MGM announced that it had paid $225 million to end its home video distribution contract with Warner Home Video and re-acquired the home video rights to their post-1986 catalog while Warner took over home video distribution of the pre-1986 catalogue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+REGAINS+VIDEO+RIGHTS%253B+$225+MILLION+DEAL+TO+HELP+SELL+DVDS.-a083605917|title=MGM REGAINS VIDEO RIGHTS; $225 MILLION DEAL TO HELP SELL DVDS. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-09|archive-date=2018-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411111537/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+REGAINS+VIDEO+RIGHTS%253B+$225+MILLION+DEAL+TO+HELP+SELL+DVDS.-a083605917|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Seth |date=27 March 1999 |title=MGM Buys Its Freedom, Pays Warner Vid To End Distrib Deal |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1999/1999-03-27-Billboard-Page-0006.pdf |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=World Radio History}}</ref> MGM also ended its international theatrical distribution agreement with [[United International Pictures]] (UIP) after UIP was accused by the [[European Union]] (EU) of being an illegal [[cartel]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Willcock |first=John |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/people--business-movie-moves-1072937.html |title=People & Business: Movie moves – Business – News |newspaper=The Independent |date=February 24, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |location=London |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065955/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/people--business-movie-moves-1072937.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 22, 1999, MGM announced they had formed a three-year international distribution agreement and strategic alliance with [[20th Century Fox]] for theatrical and home video releases outside North America, alongside a deal to jointly explore cable and satellite distribution ventures worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB930006963691596498 |title=Fox Enters Deal With MGM On International Distribution |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 22, 1999 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |first=Bruce |last=Orwall |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016100609/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB930006963691596498 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Peers|first1=Martin|last2=Petrikin|first2=Chris|date=1999-06-22|title=Lion fills Fox den|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/lion-fills-fox-den-1117503348/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> The Fox deal would begin in February 2000 for home video releases and November 2000 for theatrical releases, and last until the end of January 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+and+Fox+Form+International+Distribution+and+Strategic+Alliance.-a054937422|title=MGM and Fox Form International Distribution and Strategic Alliance. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-14|archive-date=2017-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511105437/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MGM+and+Fox+Form+International+Distribution+and+Strategic+Alliance.-a054937422|url-status=dead}}</ref>

MGM purchased 20% of [[AMC Networks|Rainbow Media Group]] from [[Cablevision|Cablevision Systems]] for $825&nbsp;million in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/02/business/company-news-mgm-agrees-to-buy-stake-in-4-cable-channels.html |title=Company News; Mgm Agrees to Buy Stake in 4 Cable Channels – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=February 2, 2001 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211157/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/02/business/company-news-mgm-agrees-to-buy-stake-in-4-cable-channels.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MGM attempted to take over [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] in 2003, but failed, and was forced to sell several of its cable channel investments (taking a $75-million loss on the deal).<ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Ross Sorkin And Geraldine Fabrikant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/30/business/the-media-business-mgm-withdraws-bid-for-vivendi-entertainment-units.html |title=The Media Business; MGM Withdraws Bid for Vivendi Entertainment Units – ''The New York Times'' |website=The New York Times |date=July 30, 2003 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211740/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/30/business/the-media-business-mgm-withdraws-bid-for-vivendi-entertainment-units.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/business/mgm-to-sell-its-stake-in-three-cable-channels.html |title=MGM to Sell Its Stake in Three Cable Channels |work=The New York Times |date=July 1, 2003 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211648/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/business/mgm-to-sell-its-stake-in-three-cable-channels.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2002, MGM formed the MGM Entertainment Business Group with lawyer Darcie Denkert as president. This placed her in charge of MGM on Stage, the company's theatrical arm. Her friend Dean Stolber joined her as co-president of the theatrical unit.<ref name="thr">{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=Darcie Denkert, Broadway Producer and MGM Executive, Dies at 64 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/darcie-denkert-dead-mgm-executive-902461 |access-date=March 6, 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 13, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809143156/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/darcie-denkert-dead-mgm-executive-902461 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 27, 2003, MGM re-acquired full home video distribution rights to its films internationally, while Fox would continue to distribute on behalf of MGM in select developing regions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-05-27 |title=MGM Home Entertainment Reclaims Full Distribution Operations |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2003-05-27/mgm-home-entertainment-reclaims-full-distribution-operations |access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref>