Time is like a clock in my heart
Touch me touch was the key too much
I felt I lost you from the start
Those may be the lyrics of a long-ago hit from the band Culture Club, but they may reflect how Meredith Corp. feels about the legacy of Time Inc., now that it owns and has integrated all of the brands associated with the once-mighty publishing company.
As of Thursday (5/17), Time Inc. Productions no longer exists. It has been given a rebirth, with “a new look, name and direction” that clearly associates it with Meredith.
Introducing Four M Studios, which Meredith says “will have access to one of the largest portfolios of iconic media brands from which to draw inspiration for original long-form television formats.”
That’s in addition to the continued creation of shows independent of any Meredith brand, which was recently seen with the program “Home.”
The new name and logo for Four M Studios is inspired by Meredith’s logo of four interlocked “M’s.”
Meredith adds that Four M Studios will maintain the ability to promote any of its shows – whether tied to an in-house brand or not – across the Meredith portfolio, which includes a footprint in food, home, entertainment and lifestyle brands.
“We evolved quickly and successfully in just over two years by leveraging our trusted iconic brands, promotional scale and super-serving creative worlds that consumers and networks are drawn to,” said Bruce Gersh, President of PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly and PEOPLE en Espanol, and Head of Four M Studios. “We develop and produce award winning, high quality, compelling long-form television content. Four M Studios has partnered with some of the best storytellers and is primed to continue to capitalize on this momentum.”
Four M Studios projects have been bought by networks including ABC, A&E, Apple Worldwide Video, Paramount Network, Investigation Discovery and Netflix.
Early successes have evolved into deeper relationships and opportunities with networks, such as “The Story of the Royals,” which is currently in production for ABC following last summer’s “The Story of Diana,” which saw a nine-year ratings high in the time slot for the network. Investigation Discovery recently announced the expansion of the “PEOPLE Magazine Investigates” franchise with two new series, “PEOPLE Magazine Investigates: Cults” and “PEOPLE Magazine Investigates: Crimes of Fashion.”
Four M Studios will continue to distribute its content through its international distribution arm.
Time Inc. Productions was formally established in 2016.
