EMKA, Ltd.

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"EMKA" redirects here. For the defunct British racing team, see EMKA Racing.

EMKA, Ltd. is an in-name-only division of Universal Studios' television unit whose sole function is overseeing Paramount Pictures' pre-1950 film library. EMKA was formed by MCA (Music Corporation of America) in 1957 (the company's name is a pronunciation of the initials in MCA).

In the aftermath of the landmark 1948 United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. case requiring studios to divest of their movie theatres (and marking the unofficial end of the Golden Age of Hollywood), movie studios such as Paramount suffered, and had to sell off their product in order to be profitable, especially in the midst of the rise of television.

Paramount sold a majority of their pre-1950 theatrical sound library (including films by Cecil B. DeMille and Preston Sturges) to MCA, and thus, through their new dummy company, EMKA, they were able to make a profit via airings on television.

EMKA continues to exist today as an in-name-only entity (technically a part of Universal's television division, now called Universal Media Studios), while holding the copyright on the classic Paramount library, even though it is now officially incorporated into Universal's film catalogue. These films became part of Universal's library after MCA bought Universal.

In 2004, Vivendi Universal, by then the owners of Universal, merged its entertainment division (which included Universal) with General Electric's NBC to form NBC Universal, and the EMKA-copyrighted films are now distributed on television by NBC Universal Television Distribution.

Ironically, several Alfred Hitchcock films originally released by Paramount, including Psycho, and The Trouble with Harry, are now part of Universal's film library (but negotiated in a series of separate deals with Hitchcock and his estate).

This is not the same EMKA that was run by late Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke.

v • d • e NBC Universal, Inc. (a subsidiary of General Electric and Vivendi)

Universal Studios	Focus Features • Islands of Adventure • Rogue Pictures • United International Pictures¹ • Universal Animation Studios • Universal Studios Home Entertainment • Universal Playback • Universal Orlando Resort • Universal Pictures • Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park • Universal Studios Florida Theme Park • Universal Studios Japan • Universal Studios Singapore • Universal Studios Theme Parks • Universal CityWalk

Broadcast TV assets	NBC • Telemundo • NBC News • NBC Sports

NBC Universal Cable	A&E Television Networks (25%) • Bravo • Chiller • CNBC • MSNBC² • Mun2 • NBC Weather Plus • Oxygen • Sci Fi Channel • ShopNBC • Sleuth • Sundance Channel (co-owned with Robert Redford and CBS Corporation) • Telemundo Internacional • Telemundo Puerto Rico • Trio • Universal HD • USA Network

CNBC global channels	CNBC (US) • CNBC World • CNBC Latin America • CNBC Europe • CNBC Asia • CNBC Africa

CNBC Europe branches	Class CNBC (20%) • CNBC-e • CNBC Arabiya (according to CNBC Europe) • CNBC Nordic • CNBC Africa • TVN CNBC Biznes

CNBC Asia branches	Nikkei CNBC • CNBC-TV18 • CNBC Awaaz • CNBC Pakistan • CNBC Australia • CNBC Hong Kong • CNBC Singapore

NBC Universal global networks	SCI FI Channel • 13th Street • Universal Channel • Hallmark Channel • Movies 24 • KidsCo⁷ • Diva TV • Studio Universal • Das Vierte •

Sci Fi global channels	US • UK • Germany • France • Australia • Spain • Benelux • Poland • Romania • Russia • Latin America

NBC Universal Television Group	NBC Studios • NBC Universal Television Distribution • Telemundo Television Studios • Telemundo of Puerto Rico Studios • Universal Media Studios

NBC O&Os	KNBC • KNSD³ • KNTV • KXAS³ • WCAU • WMAQ • WNBC • WRC • WTVJ⁸ • WVIT⁸

Telemundo O&Os	KBLR • KEJT-LP • KHRR • KDEN • KNSO • KTAZ • KTMD • KVDA • KSTS • KVEA • KXTX • WKAQ • WNEU⁶ • WNJU • WSCV • WSNS

ShopNBC O&Os	WWDP

Spanish independent TV stations	KWHY

Internet ventures:	msnbc.com² • NBBC⁴ • iVillage • Television Without Pity • OUTzoneTV.com • getTRIO.com • BrilliantButCancelled.com • calamitygame.com • Hulu

Other assets:	qubo⁵ • EMKA, Ltd.

50%, with Viacom's Paramount Pictures. Co-owned with Microsoft in a joint venture (82% owned by NBC, 18% owned by Microsoft). The stations are co-owned with LIN TV in a joint venture (76% owned by NBC, 24% owned by LIN). A joint venture between NBC Universal and its broadcast affiliates. Co-owned with Corus Entertainment, Classic Media, Scholastic Books and ION Media Networks The station is owned by NBC Universal, but is controlled by ZGS Broadcast Holdings. Co-owned with Corus Entertainment and DiC Entertainment. These stations have been put up for sale by NBC Universal. Buyer(s) are anonymous or unannounced at this time.