Saban buys back Power Rangers
05-13-10, 07:19 AM
#1
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saban buys back Power Rangers
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...dc9b7af3b?pn=1
Haim Saban is buying back the Power Rangers from Walt Disney with the hope to take the entertainment franchise that he launched to TV and toy stardom in the 1990s to new fans.
His Saban Capital Group is also taking it to Viacom's Nickelodeon as the new U.S. home for the series, which is heading into its 18th season with a new cast and the goal to rejuvenate the fading franchise.
Library episodes of the show will start airing on Nicktoons later this year, with 20 new episodes set for Nickelodeon and Nicktoons in 2011 under the direction of original executive producer Jonathan Tzachor.
Saban is buying the franchise in a renewal of his collaboration with Toei Co., the creator of the original Japanese Power Rangers TV show and an underlying rights-holder.
Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the price tag is believed to be less than $100 million. Nickelodeon in a deal similarly focused on reinvigorating an older franchise last year bought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for $60 million.
The Power Rangers becomes the first property for Saban Brands, a new arm of SCG with a $500 million budget that will acquire entertainment, lifestyle, fashion and other brands.
Disney has been featuring shows starring the Power Rangers on Saturday mornings on ABC and on Disney XD channels in foreign markets, but it's doubtful the family-friendly conglomerate will miss it much given that it deemed the property too violent for its target audience of young boys.
"It didn't fit with the Disney brand. Moms didn't like it," said Disney spokemsan Jonathan Friedland.
The Power Rangers are expected to disappear from Disney and ABC lineups "immediately," Friedland said.
Disney's recent acquisition of Marvel also gives Disney ample access to new action content for the boys' demo.
"Power Rangers is one of the world's leading children's entertainment properties, and we are delighted to see its return," said SCG chairman and CEO Haim Saban. "I am confident that the talented management team at Saban Brands will expand our licensing partnerships and capitalize on the significant growth potential of this powerful brand."
His Saban Capital Group is also taking it to Viacom's Nickelodeon as the new U.S. home for the series, which is heading into its 18th season with a new cast and the goal to rejuvenate the fading franchise.
Library episodes of the show will start airing on Nicktoons later this year, with 20 new episodes set for Nickelodeon and Nicktoons in 2011 under the direction of original executive producer Jonathan Tzachor.
Saban is buying the franchise in a renewal of his collaboration with Toei Co., the creator of the original Japanese Power Rangers TV show and an underlying rights-holder.
Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the price tag is believed to be less than $100 million. Nickelodeon in a deal similarly focused on reinvigorating an older franchise last year bought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for $60 million.
The Power Rangers becomes the first property for Saban Brands, a new arm of SCG with a $500 million budget that will acquire entertainment, lifestyle, fashion and other brands.
Disney has been featuring shows starring the Power Rangers on Saturday mornings on ABC and on Disney XD channels in foreign markets, but it's doubtful the family-friendly conglomerate will miss it much given that it deemed the property too violent for its target audience of young boys.
"It didn't fit with the Disney brand. Moms didn't like it," said Disney spokemsan Jonathan Friedland.
The Power Rangers are expected to disappear from Disney and ABC lineups "immediately," Friedland said.
Disney's recent acquisition of Marvel also gives Disney ample access to new action content for the boys' demo.
"Power Rangers is one of the world's leading children's entertainment properties, and we are delighted to see its return," said SCG chairman and CEO Haim Saban. "I am confident that the talented management team at Saban Brands will expand our licensing partnerships and capitalize on the significant growth potential of this powerful brand."
05-13-10, 08:44 AM
#2
Banned
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
05-14-10, 03:21 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
as I was purusing IMDB the other I came across Amy Jo Johnson and realized she's 40 years old. Holy Crap I'm getting old. I was still thinking of her as a kid.
05-14-10, 06:33 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
05-14-10, 07:22 PM
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
Holy crap. Add me to that group as well. 
05-14-10, 09:08 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
And poor Trini (the Yellow Ranger) was killed in a car wreck by a drunk driver a few years back. Makes me sad every time I see reruns of the original series.
05-14-10, 09:39 PM
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
Seems like a no-brainer business deal. I found it hard to believe when Disney axed the franchise as it's always been a pure moneymaker in terms of merchandising.
05-15-10, 04:45 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bellport, NY
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05-15-10, 07:42 AM
#13
Banned
05-17-10, 03:16 AM
#14
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
At least now we can all forget about that crappy 'remastered/remixed' version of MMPR that Disney showed on ABC Kids this year. Let's all pretend it never happened, nor shall we ever acknowledge its existence. Selling the Power Rangers franchise back to Saban is a positive thing in my mind. It is just another reason for Disney to concentrate on and continue to cater to pre-teen girls.
In addition to creating a new PR series in 2011 for Nickelodeon and re-airing classic PR episodes beginning this fall on NickToons, I hope Saban will consider releasing DVDs in some shape or form of the original series (especially MMPR thru PR:Lost Galaxy).
In addition to creating a new PR series in 2011 for Nickelodeon and re-airing classic PR episodes beginning this fall on NickToons, I hope Saban will consider releasing DVDs in some shape or form of the original series (especially MMPR thru PR:Lost Galaxy).
05-17-10, 07:32 AM
#15
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
I didn't realize they were still popular, but they were swarmed when they shoed up.
02-24-11, 08:55 PM
#19
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jrtvOxh_yqs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
03-04-11, 02:40 PM
#20
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
According to the Power Rangers Twitter feed, Power Rangers Samurai is now the number one kids action show.
Also, beetle zord 
The numbers are in! Thanks to you incredible fans, #PowerRangers Samurai is the #1 kids' action show on TV. #PowerON!
03-06-11, 08:27 AM
#23
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
The Japanese show is currently on its 35th season, with the rangers having the ability to summon powers from all of the previous versions.
Watch the first couple of minutes of this vid. All of the rangers from the past seasons are gathered together. I really hope the US gets some kind of adaptation of this.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9P-9n7GIcGk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
03-06-11, 01:30 PM
#24
Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Funksville USA
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Saban buys back Power Rangers
They're still adaptations; and with the one year break the US had with the re-versioned MMPR, we're now an extra season behind the Japanese show.
The Japanese show is currently on its 35th season, with the rangers having the ability to summon powers from all of the previous versions.
Watch the first couple of minutes of this vid. All of the rangers from the past seasons are gathered together. I really hope the US gets some kind of adaptation of this.
The Japanese show is currently on its 35th season, with the rangers having the ability to summon powers from all of the previous versions.
Watch the first couple of minutes of this vid. All of the rangers from the past seasons are gathered together. I really hope the US gets some kind of adaptation of this.