51 Minds Entertainment
Company typePrivate
IndustryTelevision
GenreReality Television
Predecessor51 Pictures
Mindless Entertainment
Founded2004
FoundersCris Abrego
Mark Cronin
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Key people
Cris Abrego
Mark Cronin
ProductsFlavor of Love
Below Deck
OwnerBanijay
Number of employees
200+ (2008)
ParentEndemol Shine North America
Website51minds.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

51 Minds Entertainment (or Fifty One Minds Entertainment) is a production company specializing in reality TV, known for their "celebreality" programs on VH1.[2][3] It was created in 2004 as a merger between Cris Abrego's 51 Pictures (formerly Brass Ring Entertainment) and Mark Cronin's Mindless Entertainment. In 2005, the company signed a two-year, seven series production deal with VH1.[4] The company has been credited in helping revive VH1 ratings during this time.[5] In 2008, the company was purchased by Endemol (later Endemol Shine Group, now Banijay).[1]

In 2010, the company branched out in Internet distributed programming, producing The Tester for the PlayStation Network.[6] Other popular shows include Below Deck and their franchises on the NBCUniversal network, BravoTV.

References

  1. ^ a b Adalian, Josef (2008-04-01). "Endemol lands reality house". Variety. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  2. ^ Keveney, Bill (4 August 2006). "It's Flavor's time to shine ; Rapper looks for love; genre finds success". Life. USA Today. p. E.10. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  3. ^ Lafayette, Jon (5 November 2007). "Outrageous Folks Fuel 51 Minds' Ideas; Building on VH1 Success, Producers Look to Broadcast Nets". News. Television Week. 26 (41): 4. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  4. ^ Martin, Denise (12 July 2005). "VH1 makes 'Surreal' deal; Cabler pacts with 'Life' producers for series". Variety. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  5. ^ Elber, Lynn (4 October 2007). "At VH1, Two Reality Producers Rule". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  6. ^ Snider, Mike (5 March 2010). "Have a PlayStation? You can watch 'The Tester' ; Reality series is available only on consoles". USA Today. p. D.12. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
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