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DLT Entertainment Ltd

A History of Success and Innovation

1963

D.L. Taffner Ltd is founded, initially serving as a buyer of U.S. television programming for broadcasters in Australia and Canada.

Shortly thereafter, the company shifts focus — representing international productions and introducing them to the U.S. market. Early successes include the animated Beatles series, produced at Artransa Park in Australia for King Features Syndicate, as well as other animated titles like Krazy Kat, Barney Google, and Beetle Bailey, also produced in Australia.

1968

D.L. Taffner Ltd entered into an agreement with Britain’s then-new broadcasting entity Thames Television to distribute its programming in the U.S.

1969

The first major sale in the U.S. was an Australian series, Skippy, The Bush Kangaroo, which ran successfully for several years in syndication to local television stations across America.

1973

Without the funds to produce the entire series, Thames Television produced a pilot episode of The World at War, which Taffner sold in syndication. Instead of selling to a station's Program Director, Donald Taffner approached the stations' General Managers — who were typically World War II veterans — and generated the revenue needed for production.

1977

DLT Entertainment became a television programming producer in its own right.

Using the characters and format of Thames’ hit comedy series Man About The House, Donald Taffner produced Three's Company®, which quickly became one of the most successful situation comedies in U.S. network television history.

1978

The company introduced Benny Hill, the madcap British comic, to enthusiastic U.S. audiences. Thames’ The Benny Hill Show built legions of fans across the nation, who eagerly watched the series again and again.

1980

Three's Company® encouraged the DLT to develop another situation comedy series based on a Thames hit. Too Close For Comfort®, modeled on Thames’ Keep It In The Family, premiered on the ABC Television network.

1981

Thames Television's BAFTA-winning Edward and Mrs. Simpson was licensed to Masterpiece Theater by DLT. Danger UXB, Flame Trees of Thika, Love in a Cold Climate, and Glory Enough For All are a few of the other titles licensed by the DLT to this strand.

1982

DLT was a prime supplier of programs to Mystery!, including titles such as Reilly, Ace of Spies and Rumpole of the Bailey.

1983

ABC cancelled Too Close For Comfort, but the history of the series was far from over. In a bold and innovative move, DLT continued producing new episodes, syndicating them with great success to stations across the U.S.

With the non-network distribution of Too Close For Comfort, the company pioneered the production and syndication of first-run situation comedies — launching a significant new trend and effectively creating an industry within the industry. Today, many syndicators operate in the very business that DLT helped establish.

1985

The company once again turned to a proven comedy format when it created Check It Out!, a series based on the Thames hit Tripper's Day. Produced in Canada, the show premiered on Canadian network television before airing nationally on U.S. cable and being syndicated to local stations across the United States. To support its growing North American operations, Taffner and Associates was established in Toronto.

1986

Don DOnald Taffner’s and DLT's many significant contributions to the development of the industry were recognized by the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which presented him with an Emmy for its prestigious Founders Award in 1986 “for setting new levels of creativity in the worldwide exchange of television programs.”

1987

DLT Entertainment licensed The Grand Knockout Tournament to the USA Network on behalf of Prince Edward's Ardent Productions, helping raise in excess of £1,000,000 for charity.

1989

1989 saw yet another innovation as DLT Entertainment co-produced and distributed the Mystery Wheel of Adventure™, a series of two-hour movies for first-run syndication based on The Saint and Dick Francis Mysteries.

In that same year, DLT Entertainment’s game show division successfully launched Talkabout™ on the Fox owned-and-operated stations and throughout the U.S.

1990

Following DLT’s production of the game show Talkabout for the CBC in Canada — with subsequent syndication sales in the U.S. and a sale to the USA Network — three series of Talkabout were produced by DLT for the UK’s ITV Network. A version was also produced in Ireland for ITV.

1991

Before Benny Hill's untimely death, the company had committed to continuing production on a new series of shows to be produced around the world. Benny Hill's World Tour was the first — and sadly, the only — production completed.

1992

Leveraging synergies from its ownership in the Theatre of Comedy Company — with members Dame Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, and writer (and future member) Bob Larbey — the first series of this hit program was broadcast by BBC One. Eventually, 11 series and 68 episodes were produced.

1993

Tying into the release of the movie Schindler’s List, the DLT’s unique ability to market shows to every segment of U.S. broadcasting made it possible to syndicate Schindler, a previously produced documentary by Thames Television, to local commercial television stations across America.

1994

In a U.S. television first, the DLT syndicated the hit Canadian talk show Shirley to commercial stations across America.

1995

Building upon the DLT’s relationship with Thames Television’s Kevin Brownlow and David Gill — producers of the acclaimed documentary series The Hollywood Series: A Celebration of American Silent Film and subsequent titles including The Unknown Chaplin, Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow, D.W. Griffith – Father of Film, Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius, and more — all of which were sold to PBS and cable networks in America by DLT, DLT became the driving force behind Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood, an international co-production involving broadcasters in six different countries.

2000

Having worked with creator Fred Barron on a U.S. adaptation of the UK comedy A Fine Romance for The U.S., DLT sold his pilot script of My Family to the BBC. Once Robert Lindsay and Zoë Wanamaker were attached as stars, the show — the first and only BBC series produced using an American-style writers’ table — was commissioned, eventually leading to 127 episodes over 11 series.

2007

DLT Entertainment becomes a founding investor in United Agents.

2010

Building on a partial ownership that began in 1986, the DLT became the 100% shareholder in the West End’s Theatre of Comedy — a unique theatrical production entity that also owns its own West End venue, the Shaftesbury Theatre, a 1,500-seat, beautifully restored, turn-of-the-century theatre.

2012

An ambitious £5,000,000 fly tower extension to the Grade II listed Shaftesbury Theatre commences to ensure its long-term ability to accommodate large-scale productions. The extension will increase the height and loading capacity of the fly tower, enable safer working practices, and add offices for production and theatre staff, as well as dressing rooms on the north and west faces of the building.

2016

After a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, DLT optioned the format rights to develop a TV show. Original creators Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon were joined by host Dara O'Briain and games expert Ellie Gibson, with Dara O'Briain's Go 8 Bit commissioned by UKTV's Dave.

2017

With the success of Dara O'Briain's Go 8 Bit, UKTV's Dave commissioned a companion show, Go 8 Bit DLC, from DLT. Hosted by Go 8 Bit's resident games expert Ellie Gibson, with team captains Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon, it featured lively debates and reviews covering the history of video games. Guest stars included comedians Susan Calman and Jamali Maddix, writer Rhianna Pratchett, musician Scroobius Pip, and Harry Potter's Weasley twins, James and Oliver Phelps. Each week, Dara O'Briain also appeared to discuss one of his favorite games of all time.

2018

In a first for the DLT, Vera Productions was acquired and brought into the DLT Entertainment fold. This move allowed its principal, Geoff Atkinson, to focus on creative matters rather than the day-to-day operation of the company, as DLT expands its footprint in entertainment and drama — while also adding factual content to its output.

2019

DLT Entertainment expands into Talent Representation with investments in Blue Book Artist Management, Andrew Roach Talent, MMB Creative, and The Soho Agency to compliment of its ownership of The Galton Agency.

2020

Monster Court is DLT Entertainment's first children’s commission for CBBC.

DLT expanded its talent representation business and entered the live promotion space with investments in Gag Reflex and Impatient Productions. As part of the investment, regional indie Gag Reflex Productions, based in Manchester, was formed.

2021

After the West End was closed for over a year, the Shaftesbury Theatre reopened on May 21 with Abba Mania, followed by the return of & Juliet on September 29. DLT’s first podcast for Audible, Very Modern Quests, is produced.

2022

The 1911 Bar at the Shaftesbury Theatre is part of a £5,000,000 renovation project that includes the development of a second private hospitality space, the Taffner Suite; the installation of a cutting-edge air-conditioning system designed to reduce energy costs; the fitting of a lift to improve access to the Stalls for patrons with mobility issues; and the addition of thirteen wheelchair spaces in the theatre’s auditorium.

2023

Mrs. Doubtfire, The Musical begins its record-breaking run at the Shaftesbury Theatre. When cable channel Dave did not renew its sponsorship of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, DLT Entertainment stepped in to sponsor the Best Newcomer Award.

2024

DLT expanded its sponsorship of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards by adding the Best Comedy Show in addition to the Best Newcomer Award. DLT Entertainment acquires Juniper Productions from BBC Chairman Samir Shah.

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