Debmar-Mercury's history begins on October 31, 1993, when Mort Marcus founded Debmar Studios (named for his wife Debbie), with financial backing from The Walt Disney Company (where he had worked as senior vice president of sales at its Buena Vista Television syndication arm).

[1][2] The first iteration was folded into Buena Vista Television after Mort Marcus became president of its syndication arm.

[3][4] The company was revived in 2002 after its founder Mort Marcus, leaving Miramax Television,[5] with its first rights picked up being that of the animated sitcom South Park for off-net syndication, in association with Mercury Entertainment.

[11] After Bernstein left Lions Gate, the company was reestablished to partner with Debmar Studios to handle sales of its programming, such as South Park and Farscape.

[25] The model eventually broke down, with Saint George and Partners failing to reach the threshold for a 90-episode renewal (along with Comedy Central's 2010 series Big Lake, a co-production with Lionsgate and Funny or Die[26]), and Anger Management quietly being de-emphasized by FX after middling scripts that went against that network's 'premium' image and accompanying low ratings, and actress Selma Blair accusing Lionsgate of maintaining a hostile workplace and departing the series.