History MediaNotes / HomeVideoDistributors

However, the home video boom that fueled the company's meteoric rise also proved to be their undoing. Soon, many of the companies they had deals with started their own video companies or went to bigger labels; producers also began increasing prices. Vestron shifted gears into movie production to try and keep their video products going. One of these productions was ''Film/DirtyDancing'', a low budget film that Vestron planned to release in theaters for a weekend before sending it straight to video. Instead, the film became a phenomenon and was the 16th highest grossing film of 1987 and provided an unexpected windfall to Vestron. But their success did not last. Vestron found themselves essentially backed into a corner content-wise; much of their in-house productions were B-movies, and the viewers were looking for more than just cheap horror or comedy films. While some of these films did modestly or became cult hits, as was the case with ''Film/EarthGirlsAreEasy'' and ''TheLairOfTheWhiteWorm'', many were duds. All of this combined into an untenable financial situation. The company's financing fell through and forced Vestron to file for bankruptcy in 1991.

However, the home video boom that fueled the company's meteoric rise also proved to be their undoing. Soon, many of the companies they had deals with started their own video companies or went to bigger labels; producers also began increasing prices. Vestron shifted gears into movie production to try and keep their video products going. Their B-movies ''Film/DirtyDancing'' wound up a massive hit at the box office, to the surprise of many. But Vestron found themselves essentially backed into a corner content-wise; much of their in-house productions were B-movies, and the viewers were looking for more than just cheap horror or comedy films. All of this combined into an untenable financial situation. The company's financing fell through and forced Vestron to file for bankruptcy in 1991.

Disney owns and distributes home videos for Creator/{{ABC}} Signature (since 2007), Creator/{{Lucasfilm}} (since 2014), Creator/{{Marvel Studios}} (since 2012), and [[Franchise/TheMuppets The Muppets Studio]] (since 2004). After Disney's buyout of [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox 21st Century Fox]] in 2019, they began distributing Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios and Creator/SearchlightPictures titles.

Disney owns and distributes home videos for Creator/{{ABC}} Signature (since 2007), Creator/{{Lucasfilm}} (since 2014), Creator/{{Marvel Studios}} (since 2012), and [[Franchise/TheMuppets The Muppets Studio]] (since 2004). After Disney's buyout of [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox 21st Century Fox]] in 2019, they began distributing former Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios and Creator/SearchlightPictures titles.

Towards the end of 1997, Disney began releasing their live action movies on UsefulNotes/{{DVD}}. Within the next couple of years, the studio kicked off their efforts to make the Disney Animated Canon available on the format, beginning with ''Pinocchio''. In lieu of the Untouchables, Disney compiled the 14 movies that sold the most videotapes into a collection of films that each remained available for only a limited time before going into moratorium for many years.[[labelnote:the 14]](''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'', ''Pinocchio'', ''Fantasia'', ''Bambi'', ''Cinderella'', ''Peter Pan'', ''Lady and the Tramp'', ''Sleeping Beauty'', ''101 Dalmatians'', ''The Jungle Book'', ''The Little Mermaid'', ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'')[[/labelnote]] Disney initially referred to these films as the "Platinum" collection, but proceeded to change the name whenever the DAC's oldest entry, ''Snow White'', entered a new media format. Other movies only disappeared from stores if the studio decided to re-release them with more bonus features. The films usually undergo a {{remaster}} of varying quality prior to the latest re-release.

Fox wasn't the only company Magnetic Video made deals with. As their success grew, they began distributing films from other studios. In the United States alone, Magnetic Video produced over 400 different releases from 1977 to 1982.[[labelnote:some of the deals icnluded]](In 1978: Avco-Embassy Pictures Corporation, RBC Films (specifically their Creator/CharlieChaplin library), and Creator/{{Viacom}} International, including films featuring Music/ElvisPresley, Creator/JerryLewis, Creator/{{Terrytoons}} cartoon compilations and sports tapes. In 1979: Brut Productions, Pathé News, and Bill Burrud Productions, specifically six documentary films syndicated by Gold Key Entertainment. In 1980: Creator/{{ABC}} Video Enterprises, the American Film Theatre, and Creator/ITCEntertainment.)[[/labelnote]] They launched Magnetic Video Sports and a [=LaserDisc=] division in 1981, and began distributing films by Creator/UnitedArtists Corporation (some of which were originally distributed by Creator/WarnerBros). They had international branches too -- Magnetic Video UK, Magnetic Video Australia, and a South Pacific divison. Magnetic Video was also a tape duplicator for early releases by Creator/{{Paramount}} Home Video and MCA Videocassette Inc.

Fox wasn't the only company Magnetic Video made deals with. As their success grew, they began distributing films from other studios. In the United States alone, Magnetic Video produced over 400 different releases from 1977 to 1982.[[labelnote:some releases]](In 1978: Avco-Embassy Pictures Corporation, RBC Films (specifically their Creator/CharlieChaplin library), and Creator/{{Viacom}} International, including films featuring Music/ElvisPresley, Creator/JerryLewis, Creator/{{Terrytoons}} cartoon compilations and sports tapes. In 1979: Brut Productions, Pathé News, and Bill Burrud Productions, specifically six documentary films syndicated by Gold Key Entertainment. In 1980: Creator/{{ABC}} Video Enterprises, the American Film Theatre, and Creator/ITCEntertainment.)[[/labelnote]] They launched Magnetic Video Sports and a [=LaserDisc=] division in 1981, and distributed films by Creator/UnitedArtists Corporation (some of which were originally distributed by Creator/WarnerBros). They had international branches-- Magnetic Video UK, Magnetic Video Australia, and a South Pacific branch. Magnetic Video was also a tape duplicator for early releases by Creator/{{Paramount}} Home Video and MCA Videocassette Inc.

* Key Video handled drive-in/B-movie fare, classic and made-for-TV movies, and "low-profile" films from Fox, UA and Creator/{{Lorimar}}.

In March 1991, a major reorganization gave Fox greater control over the company's operations, and [=FoxVideo=] was launched to handle the distribution of the company's library. Meanwhile, CBS began releasing their own products under the CBS Video label, with [=FoxVideo=] handling distribution. CBS/Fox was relegated to third-party content, such as [[Creator/TheBBC BBC Video]] releases.

In 1995, [=FoxVideo=] was renamed 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The [=FoxVideo=] and CBS/Fox labels continued to be used until 1998, when Fox acquired CBS' remaining stake in the venture.

In 1986, UsefulNotes/TedTurner acquired the pre-1986 MGM library, and MGM/UA signed a deal with Turner Entertainment to continue releasing the library on video. Following MGM's purchase in 1990 by corrupt Italian financier Giancarlo Paretti's Pathé Communications [[note]](the former [[Creator/TheCannonGroup Cannon Films]]; he had renamed it in anticipation of acquiring famed French movie studio Pathé, which didn't happen after the French government essentially determined he was too shady, a foreshadowing for his [[TyrantTakesTheHelm disastrous reign]] over MGM)[[/note]], MGM/UA Home Video struck a deal for Warner Home Video to distribute their titles on home video. Turner's holdings were purchased by Time Warner in 1996, and the MGM library moved to Warner Home Video in 1999. The company was renamed MGM Home Entertainment in 1998. The deal between Warner Bros. and MGM was originally set to end in 2003, but MGM bought themselves out of it in 2000 (primarily so they could begin releasing titles inherited from their acquisition of Creator/OrionPictures) and gave up home video rights to Warner Home Video for the Turner-owned MGM/UA films.

After MGM's purchase by Sony and other investors in 2006, the MGM library was released through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. In 2006, MGM struck a new deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, and twice renewed it-- until Disney acquired Fox's parent company, though they did continue to honor the deal until it expired in June 2020. MGM elected not to make a new deal with Disney, and MGM's home media distribution moved to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, who had formed a joint-venture with Universal for physical media distribution (Universal had been releasing certain new MGM titles on home media since 2018).

Creator/SonyPictures acquired and merged Columbia Pictures and [=TriStar=] Pictures together in 1989, but RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video got into a legal spat with Creator/{{NBC}}. NBC's parent company, General Electric (GE), had acquired RCA in 1986. In 1990, NBC accused Columbia and Sony of attempting to subvert the joint home video venture by picking up international video rights to Creator/OrionPictures films. Ultimately, GE opted to sell its share of RCA/Columbia (50%) to Sony, ending the litigation.

New Line eventually established its home video division from the remnants of Nelson Entertainment in 1991, but distribution continued to go through RCA-Columbia/Columbia [=TriStar=] until 1994, when NLC was bought by [[UsefulNotes/TedTurner Turner Broadcasting]] and switched to their in-house label Turner Home Entertainment. In 1996, Turner merged with Time Warner, resulting in Turner Home Entertainment being absorbed into Warner Home Video and New Line Home Video going solo until NLC was merged directly into Creator/WarnerBros in 2009.)[[/labelnote]] Columbia [=TriStar=] continued to evolve together, though the divisions still produced and distributed films with those separate names. The overall company eventually took on the Sony name in 2005 as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

In addition to Warner Bros. and Warner-Elektra-Atlantic titles, Warner Home Video distributed works from other companies [[labelnote:others]](Creator/{{NBC}}, Creator/OrionPictures, Filmways Pictures, New World Pictures, and The Ladd Company, plus Creator/NewLineCinema over a decade before Warner's corporate parent Time Warner purchased the company, and just under three decades before it was merged into Warner Bros. itself)[[/labelnote]]. They would also release [=DVDs=] and Blu-rays for outside companies [[labelnote:outside]](including Creator/TheBBC in North America only, [[Series/SesameStreet Sesame Workshop]], wrestling content from Wrestling/{{WWE}}, Creator/VizMedia, Creator/{{Mattel}} (most notably their ''Literature/AmericanGirl'' made-for-TV and theatrical movies along with their ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'' theatrical movie), and select Creator/{{Paramount}} backlog titles)[[/labelnote]], as well as sister [=WarnerMedia=] companies.[[labelnote:sisters]](Creator/{{HBO}}, Creator/{{TNT}}, Creator/{{TBS}}, and Creator/CartoonNetwork (including Creator/AdultSwim). The latter three had their videos distributed under the in-house video arm Turner Home Entertainment, along with New Line releases, beginning in 1994. They'd previously gone through RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video and its successors until the merger, at which point New Line's video arm became separate until New Line Cinema was merged with WB itself. Cartoon Network, TBS, and TNT-related titles were immediately merged into Warner Home Video.)[[/labelnote]]

* Fox Hills Video (special interest videos)

Shortly thereafter, the company was acquired by rival LIVE Entertainment and was folded into said company the following year. Some of Vestron's international branches split off and became separate firms; the UK division became known as ''First Independent'' under the ownership of HTV (the Creator/{{ITV}} company serving Wales and the West of England), but eventually was sold to the UK arm of Columbia Tristar Home Video.

In November 1984, Thorn EMI Video entered into a joint venture with Creator/{{HBO}} to distribute independent films and HBO productions, giving their North American arm the name Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They became the exclusive distributor for many unreleased Creator/OrionPictures films prior to Orion creating their own video division [[note]](before Thorn EMI/HBO, Orion was distributed by Vestron Video and Embassy Home Entertainment)[[/note]].

-> Any movie, no matter how big or small, successful or not will, after a very short life on the big screen, have a much longer life on an electronic screen.

[[http://www.millcreekent.com/ Mill Creek Entertainment]] is a low-budget independent home video company that specializes in reissuing films and TV series from major studios' catalogs, mostly Creator/{{Disney}}, Creator/{{Sony}} and Creator/{{Universal}}. They have also released some original content.

UsefulNotes/TheBlockbusterAgeOfHollywood first brought videos into viewers' homes on [[UsefulNotes/{{VCR}} videocassettes]] [[note]](yes, one word)[[/note]] containing video recordings on magnetic tape. In the videotape [[DuelingProducts format war]], Video Home System (VHS) eventually won out over Betamax. TheRuleOfFirstAdopters contributed to this victory. At first, videocassette recorders ([=VCRs=]) weren't widely adopted by the average consumer; they were expensive in the mid-1970s, but that changed by the late [[UsefulNotes/TheEighties 1980s]].

Without Magnetic Video Corporation, home video likely wouldn't have gotten off the ground. Magnetic Video was the first home video distributor for theatrical motion pictures that consumers could purchase, not just rent, on Betamax or VHS.

The company was established in 1968 as an [[NonIndicativeName audio duplication facility]] in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, Michigan by an ambitious guy named Andre Blay. Blay wanted to duplicate movies on videocassette, but not only was the technology not advanced enough yet, the major studios were skeptical because of possible analog piracy. However, one fateful day in August 1977, Blay reached an agreement with the financially-strapped Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox to license and distribute 50 of their films. The VHS format was introduced in the United States on August 23 after previously being available overseas. In November 1977, Magnetic Video began their Fox VHS and Betamax releases.

In 1986, UsefulNotes/TedTurner acquired the pre-1986 MGM library, and MGM/UA signed a deal with Turner Entertainment to continue releasing the library on video. Following MGM's purchase in 1990 by corrupt Italian financier Giancarlo Paretti's Pathé Communications [[note]](the former [[Creator/TheCannonGroup Cannon Films]]; he had renamed it in anticipation of acquiring famed French movie studio Pathé, which didn't happen after the French government essentially determined he was too shady, a foreshadowing for his [[TyrantTakesTheHelm disastrous reign]] over MGM)[[/note]], MGM/UA Home Video struck a deal for Warner Home Video to distribute their titles on home video. Turner's holdings were purchased by Time Warner and the MGM library moved to Warner Home Video in 1996. The company was renamed MGM Home Entertainment in 1998. The deal between Warner Bros. and MGM was originally set to end in 2003, but MGM bought themselves out of it in 2000 (primarily so they could begin releasing titles inherited from their acquisition of Creator/OrionPictures) and gave up home video rights to Warner Home Video for the Turner-owned MGM/UA films.

Another format war in the early [=2000's=] saw UsefulNotes/BluRay emerge victorious as the UsefulNotes/HighDefinition home video format. In 2004, Creator/{{Disney}} became one of the first studios to announce their support of the format over Toshiba's HD DVD.[[labelnote:Blu-ray]](commissioned by the Blu-ray Disc Association, which consists of Sony (the primary maker and Disney semi-ally), Pioneer and Philips (who'd both helped developed [=LaserDisc=]), Hitachi, LG (Lucky-Goldstar) Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, and Thomson/Technicolor SA)[[/labelnote]]. During the brief period of 2006-2008 when HD DVD and Blu-ray both existed, Creator/{{Paramount}} was the first studio to release titles on both formats-- but only for about a year before announcing they would exclusively support HD DVD. They were one of the only supporters; other studios soon dropped HD DVD and Toshiba stopped manufacturing the players in 2008.

Home video distributors have sometimes distinguished titles for sale from titles for rental through their packaging. For instance, 20th Century-Fox Video rental tapes were packaged in black, boxy Amaray clamshells; titles for sale used a unique packaging which became colloquially known as the "Fox Box". In the early 1980s, Disney used blue cases (rentals) and white cases (sales) in part to make it easy to determine if dealers were renting out titles meant for consumer sales or making duplicates on standard black VHS tapes.

The "Big Five" major film studios-- Creator/{{Disney}}, Creator/{{Paramount}} Pictures, Creator/SonyPictures, Creator/{{Universal}} Studios, and Creator/WarnerBros-- all have their own home video distribution arms, but home video didn't start with just studio-owned distributors.

[[http://www.millcreekent.com/ Mill Creek Entertainment]] is a low-budget independent home video company that specializes in reissuing films and TV series from major studios' catalogs, mostly Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/{{Sony}}. They have also released some original content.

In 1995, [=FoxVideo=] was renamed 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The [=FoxVideo=] and CBS/Fox labels continued to be used until 1998, when Fox acquired CBS' remaining stake in the venture. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment became a Creator/{{Disney}} company with their March 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox, leading to yet another name: 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment.

After MGM's purchase by Sony and other investors in 2006, the MGM library was released through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. In 2006, MGM struck a new deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, and twice renewed it-- until Disney acquired Fox's parent company. When the Fox deal expired in June 2020, MGM elected not to make a deal with Disney, and MGM's home media distribution moved to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, who had formed a joint-venture with Universal for physical media distribution (Universal had been releasing certain new MGM titles on home media since 2018).

Disney owns and distributes home videos for Creator/{{ABC}} Signature (since 2007), Creator/{{Lucasfilm}} (since 2014), Creator/{{Marvel Studios}} (since 2012), and [[Franchise/TheMuppets The Muppets Studio]] (since 2004). After Disney's buyout of [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox 21st Century Fox]] in 2019, they began distributing former Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios and Creator/SearchlightPictures titles as 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

[[caption-width-right:250:The logo adopted in 1997.]]

Fox wasn't the only company Magnetic Video made deals with. As their success grew, they began distributing films from other studios. In the United States alone, Magnetic Video produced over 400 different releases from 1977 to 1982.[[labelnote:some releases]](In 1978: Avco-Embassy Pictures Corporation, RBC Films (specifically their Creator/CharlieChaplin library), and Creator/{{Viacom}} International, including films featuring Music/ElvisPresley, Creator/JerryLewis, Creator/{{Terrytoons}} cartoon compilations and sports tapes. In 1979: Bill Burrud Productions, Brut Productions, and Pathé newsreels. In 1980: Creator/{{ABC}} Video Enterprises, the American Film Theatre, and Creator/ITCEntertainment.)[[/labelnote]] They launched Magnetic Video Sports and a [=LaserDisc=] division in 1981, and distributed films by Creator/UnitedArtists Corporation (some of which were originally distributed by Creator/WarnerBros). They had international branches-- Magnetic Video UK, Magnetic Video Australia, and a South Pacific branch. Magnetic Video was also a tape duplicator for early releases by Creator/{{Paramount}} Home Video and MCA Videocassette Inc.

In mid-1979, Fotomat entered into an agreement with Creator/{{Paramount}} to rent and sell 43 feature films on videocassette. Among the first offered through Fotomat were ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'', ''Film/TheGodfather'', and ''The Godfather Part II''. Fotomat partnered with Chicago-based Bell & Howell Video Systems on a new manufacture-on-demand rental venture, "Fotomat Drive-Thru Movies"; Bell & Howell was the tape duplicator for the entire run of this service. It was initially tested in Los Angeles before spreading nationwide in December 1979. Customers browsed through a small catalog, called a toll-free number to order the movie or movies of their choice, then the video(s) would arrive the next day for pickup at a Fotomat drive-thru kiosk.[[labelnote:catalog]](a sample list can be found [[https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/688/23591504961_64744a939e_b.jpg here]])[[labelnote]] Renting a title on videocassette was relatively cheap compared to purchasing; rentals were $12 for five days (later reduced to $9.95) compared to purchasing a tape between $40 and $70.[[labelnote:inflation]](For perspective, run those through [[https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm an inflation calculator]]. Brace yourself for sticker shock.)[[/labelnote]]

After MGM's purchase by Sony and other investors in 2006, the MGM library was released through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. In 2006, MGM struck a new deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, and twice renewed it-- until Disney acquired Fox's parent company. When the Fox deal expired in June 2020, MGM elected not to make a deal with Disney, and MGM's home media distribution moved to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Disney owns and distributes home videos for Creator/{{ABC}} Signature (since 2007), Creator/{{Lucasfilm}} (since 2014), Creator/{{Marvel Studios}} (since 2012), and [[Franchise/TheMuppets The Muppets Studio]] (since 2004). After Disney's buyout of [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox 21st Century Fox]] in 2019, they began distributing former Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios and Creator/SearchlightPictures titles as 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment.

[[http://www.alltheanime.com/ Anime Limited]] is a UK anime distributor established in 2012. They have sub-licensed from several companies, including Creator/AniplexUSA, Creator/{{Funimation}}, and Creator/VizMedia. They are known for their collector's and ultimate editions of many of their releases.

In March 1991, a major reorganization gave Fox greater control over the company's operations, and [=FoxVideo=] was launched to handle the distribution of the company's library. Meanwhile, CBS began releasing their own products under the CBS Video label, with [=FoxVideo=] handling distribution.

Back in 1973, MGM had sold its film distribution division to Creator/UnitedArtists (UA). In 1981, MGM merged with the then-bankrupt United Artists and formed MGM/UA Entertainment Co., the biggest major movie studio combination at the time. At the end of the year, MGM/CBS introduced its rental program, First Run Home Video Theater; its first title was ''Tarzan, the Ape Man''.

In 1986, UsefulNotes/TedTurner acquired the pre-1986 MGM library, and MGM/UA signed a deal with Turner Entertainment to continue releasing the library on video. Following MGM's purchase in 1990 by shady Italian financier Giancarlo Paretti's Pathé Communications [[note]](the former [[Creator/TheCannonGroup Cannon Films]]; he had renamed it in anticipation of acquiring famed French movie studio Path&eacute, which didn't happen after the French government essentially determined he was too shady)[[/note]], MGM/UA Home Video struck a deal for Warner Home Video to distribute their titles on home video. Turner's holdings were purchased by Time Warner and the MGM library moved to Warner Home Video in 1996. The company was renamed MGM Home Entertainment in 1998. The deal between Warner Bros. and MGM was originally set to end in 2003, but MGM bought themselves out of it in 2000 and gave up home video rights to Warner Home Video for the Turner-owned MGM/UA films.

When Universal Studios hit its 75th anniversary in 1990, MCA Home Video started a streak of name changes beginning with [=MCA/Universal=] Home Video, and around 2016 landed on Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

In 1999, Paramount Home Video was renamed Paramount Home Entertainment.

RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video is the former name of a home video division later known as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

In 1981, Columbia and Creator/{{RCA|Records}}, the creator of the UsefulNotes/{{CED}} videodisc format, entered into a joint venture as RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video. In addition to titles from RCA and Columbia, they released works from Columbia's Creator/TriStarPictures and "mini-major" Creator/NewLineCinema, as well as a variety of smaller firms.[[note]](Cinema 5, Films Incorporated, Picture Source Associates, SFM Entertainment, Cantina Blues Films, Pentagon Releasing, IFI Films, Crown International, and Cinetel Films, among others. Later, they picked up the video rights to the Epic Productions library, which they held for a few years in the early '90s, and certain early Creator/AmericanInternationalPictures releases.)[[/note]] During the 1980s, RCA/Columbia had a children's subsidiary called Magic Window.[[note]](It specialized in childrens' entertainment, including classic Creator/ColumbiaCartoons and concurrently airing AnimatedSeries, along with occasional live action programs.)[[/note]] It also had a music subsidiary, [=MusicVision=], which issued titles from Creator/RCARecords along with others like Creator/IslandRecords, Creator/{{Motown}}, and [=PolyGram=] Music Video.

In addition to Warner Bros. and Warner-Elektra-Atlantic titles, Warner Home Video distributed works from other companies [[labelnote:others]](Creator/{{NBC}}, Creator/OrionPictures, Filmways Pictures, New World Pictures, and The Ladd Company, plus Creator/NewLineCinema over a decade before Warner's corporate parent Time Warner purchased the company, and just under three decades before it was merged into Warner Bros. itself)[[/labelnote]]. They would also release [=DVDs=] and Blu-rays for outside companies [[labelnote:outside]](including Creator/TheBBC in North America only, [[Series/SesameStreet Sesame Workshop]], wrestling content from Wrestling/{{WWE}}, Creator/VizMedia, Creator/{{Mattel}} (most notably their ''Literature/AmericanGirl'' made-for-TV and theatrical movies along with their ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'' theatrical movie), and select Creator/{{Paramount}} backlog titles)[[/labelnote]], as well as sister [=WarnerMedia=] companies.[[labelnote:sisters]](Creator/{{HBO}}, Creator/{{TNT}}, Creator/{{TBS}}, and Creator/CartoonNetwork. The latter three had their videos distributed under the in-house video arm Turner Home Entertainment, along with New Line releases, beginning in 1994. They'd previously gone through RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video and its successors until the merger, at which point New Line's video arm became separate until New Line Cinema was merged with WB itself. Cartoon Network, Creator/AdultSwim), TBS, and TNT-related titles were immediately merged into Warner Home Video.)[[/labelnote]]

[[Creator/{{Disney}} The Walt Disney Company]]'s home video branch has used ''many'' names for its company name versus incorporated name versus trade name versus primary label names, ''plus'' distributing many other labels it owns. That history is documented elsewhere. For simplicity, we'll go with the long-runner name Walt Disney Home Video (1980–2001) which trades as Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

In 1981, ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'' became the first Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon movie to hit home video, followed shortly after by ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland'' and the anthology movies ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeCaballeros'', ''WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh''. The Disney management at the time were initially reluctant to release the rest of the Canon anywhere but in theaters out of concern that they would lose their value if they were to be released on tape. They marked the Canon's 15 most lucrative movies [[labelnote:the 15]](''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'', ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp'', ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'', ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAristocats'', ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'', ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'')[[/labelnote]] off-limits from home video by compiling them into a list of "Untouchables". However, this was during the DorkAge of the studio when the Disney brand was associated with children's fluff and attempts to create DarkerAndEdgier fare failed miserably at the box office, so the idea of unleashing the Untouchables on home video eventually caught on.

Towards the end of 1997, Disney began releasing their live action movies on UsefulNotes/{{DVD}}. Within the next couple of years, the studio kicked off their efforts to make the Disney Animated Canon available on the format, beginning with ''Pinocchio''. In lieu of the Untouchables, Disney compiled the 14 movies that sold the most videotapes into a collection of films that each remained available for only a limited time before going into moratorium for many years.[[labelnote:the 14]](''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'', ''Pinocchio'', ''Fantasia'', ''Bambi'', Cinderella'', ''Peter Pan'', ''Lady and the Tramp'', ''Sleeping Beauty'', ''101 Dalmatians'', ''The Jungle Book'', ''The Little Mermaid'', ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'')[[/labelnote]] Disney initially referred to these films as the "Platinum" collection, but proceeded to change the name whenever the DAC's oldest entry, ''Snow White'', entered a new media format. Other movies only disappeared from stores if the studio decided to re-release them with more bonus features. The films usually undergo a {{remaster}} of varying quality prior to the latest re-release.

In late summer 1984, Bloom began a series of consolidations of his labels, leading to International Video Entertainment (IVE) in 1985. The IVE name was used for non-family releases, and the FHE name for family releases. Around the same time, they signed a deal with Creator/ElviraMistressOfTheDark to host a series of horror titles under the [=ThrillerVideo=] label.[[note]](Elvira stayed away from the more adult titles, as well as those that included scenes of animal cruelty, out of concern for her own image).[[/note]] The next year, they entered into a similar pact with Creator/SybilDanning for a series of cult action titles under the Adventure Video label and additionally started releasing sports titles.

The good times didn't last as long. In the early 1990s, Media Home Entertainment began folding its operations after Gerald Ronson was convicted of securities fraud. By 1994, Media Home Entertainment fully ceased to exist. Many of its last releases were co-distributed by 20th Century Fox (through the [=FoxVideo=] and CBS/Fox Video labels) or by Video Treasures. The rights to the majority of the Media Home Entertainment library were later held by Anchor Bay Entertainment (successor to Video Treasures, and owned by the Creator/{{Starz}} premium cable network). A few years later, Creator/{{Lionsgate}} bought the whole Starz premium cable network, including the Anchor Bay Entertainment and Media Home Entertainment libraries.

In November 1984, Thorn EMI Video entered into a joint venture with Creator/{{HBO}} to distribute independent films and HBO productions, giving their North American distribution the name Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They became the exclusive distributor for many unreleased Creator/OrionPictures films prior to Orion creating their own video division.[[note]](before Thorn EMI/HBO, Orion was distributed by Vestron Video and Embassy Home Entertainment)[[/note]]

Following Creator/TheCannonGroup's purchase of the Thorn EMI library in 1986, the company became Cannon Video in the UK and HBO/Cannon Video in North America. However, Cannon was soon forced to sell Thorn EMI's library to producer Jerry Weintraub thanks to financial issues, and the company became simply HBO Video in 1987. Orion dropped out soon after that to set up their own video label. HBO Video distributed Weintraub's Thorn EMI product in North America for the time he owned it, while Warner Home Video distributed it in the UK. HBO Video continued releasing product from a variety of firms [[note]](including Creator/MiramaxFilms, Thames, De Laurentiis, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others)[[/note]] through the late 80s and into the 90s, but gradually began concentrating on HBO-produced material as these companies shut down or found other distributors. It was renamed as HBO Home Video in 1994, and HBO Home Entertainment in 2009 when its operations were streamlined with sister firm Warner Home Entertainment.

Home video, as a medium, encompasses pre-recorded videos owned or rented by consumers for viewing in their homes on their own schedule-- to put it laconically, video at home. Thanks to home video, viewers no longer have to visit the cinema during a film's theatrical run or stay by the television during a broadcast controlled by the network.

The first UsefulNotes/OpticalDisc format, UsefulNotes/LaserDisc, was also introduced during this time period. Even though its sound and picture quality exceeded [=VHS=], it didn't achieve the same widespread adoption in most of the world. [=LaserDisc=] brought about many features that remain common, such as the LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition, [[DVDCommentary commentaries]], and other [[DVDBonusContent bonus features]]. UsefulNotes/{{DVD}} took over in UsefulNotes/TheNineties, and another format war in the early [=2000's=] saw UsefulNotes/BluRay emerge victorious as the UsefulNotes/HighDefinition home video format.

In the early days, a motion picture could only be released on home video after it had been broadcast on television. Interestingly, the home video revolution had roots as an anti-analog piracy system. Why would consumers pay triple digits for a shoddy-quality pirated film recorded from the TV broadcast, maybe full of commercial breaks and network edits, when they could own a legal copy for only $50?

Home video distributors sometimes distinguished titles for sale from titles for rental through their packaging. For instance, 20th Century-Fox Video rental titles were packaged in black, boxy Amaray clamshells; titles for sale used a unique packaging which became colloquially known as the "Fox Box". In the early 1980s, Disney used blue cases (rentals) and white cases (sales) in part to make it easy to determine if dealers were renting out titles meant for sales or making duplicates on standard black VHS tapes.

Unlike [=VHS's=] weak copy protection, UsefulNotes/RegionCoding on optical discs can thwart copying or even ''playing'' them, and they may utilize UsefulNotes/DigitalRightsManagement because DigitalPiracyIsEvil (... or [[DigitalPiracyIsOkay is it?]]). A home video may begin with a [[PublicServiceAnnouncement copyright and anti-piracy notice]], and this warning may be [[UsefulNotes/UserOperationProhibitFlag unskippable]]. Nevertheless, some works only exist today thanks to consumers who [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes recorded, copied, and circulated the tapes]].

For films originally released in cinemas, the "release window" between the theatrical release and the home video release varies with the intent of making profit through multiple venues. Some works are created specifically for home video release, or may get a change of plan during production. These are usually referred to as direct-to-video or straight-to-DVD/straight-to-Blu-ray.

In the [=2010s=], digital home video releases emerged, including digital purchases, video-on-demand services, and video streaming.

During the brief period of 2006-2008 when HD DVD and Blu-ray both existed, Paramount was the first studio to release titles on both formats-- but only for about a year before announcing they would exclusively support HD DVD. They were one of the only supporters; other studios soon dropped HD DVD and Toshiba stopped manufacturing the players in 2008.

[[Creator/{{Disney}} The Walt Disney Company]]'s home video branch has used ''many'' names for its company name versus incorporated name versus trade name versus primary label names, ''plus'' distributing many other labels it owns. That history is documented elsewhere. For simplicity, we'll go with the long-runner names Walt Disney Home Entertainment (1978–1980, 2001–2007) and Walt Disney Home Video (1980–2001).

In March 1980, Disney formed its own home video arm, and Walt Disney Home Video began with thirteen titles [[labelnote:the 13]](''Film/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea'', ''Series/DavyCrockett: King of the Wild Frontier'', ''Film/TheLoveBug'', ''Film/BedknobsAndBroomsticks'', ''Film/EscapeToWitchMountain'', ''Film/TheAppleDumplingGang'', ''Film/PetesDragon1977'', ''Film/HotLeadAndColdFeet'', ''The North Avenue Irregulars'', ''Film/TheBlackHole'', and the ''Walt Disney Presents'' episodes "On Vacation With WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse and Friends", "Kids is Kids, Starring WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck", and "The Adventures of WesternAnimation/ChipAndDale")[[/labelnote]] on VHS and Betamax.[[labelnote:format note]](VHS was developed by Victor Company of Japan/Japan Victor Company, or JVC, while Betamax was developed by Sony, a semi-ally of Disney who later co-developed DVD and became the first Blu-ray maker)[[/labelnote]] These releases were licensed to Fotomat for rental, with a four-city test (in UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}, UsefulNotes/{{Houston}}, UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}} and UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco) before a nationwide expansion by the end of the year. During 1981-1984, Disney expanded its reach by having video stores sign up to be "authorized rental dealers".

In 1981, ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'' became the first Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon movie to hit home video, followed shortly after by ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland'' and the anthology movies ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeCaballeros'', ''WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh''. The Disney management at the time were initially reluctant to release the rest of the Canon anywhere but in theaters out of concern that they would lose their value if they were to be released on tape. They marked the Canon's 15 most lucrative movies [[labelnote:the 15]](''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'', ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp'', ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'', ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAristocats'', ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'', ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'')[[/labelnote]] off-limits from home video by compiling them into a list of "Untouchables". However, this was during the DorkAge of the studio when the Disney brand was associated with children's fluff and attempts to create DarkerAndEdgier fare failed miserably at the box office, so the idea of unleashing the Untouchables on home video eventually caught on.

The idea for Walt Disney Classics, the video line for the Disney Animated Canon, was adopted by Michael Eisner after its originator (then-studio head Ron Miller) was ousted in a boardroom takeover. The first Classics title was ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' in 1984, followed by ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'' in 1985. As a compromise to the more conservative members of the board, both titles were priced for rental; one could technically buy the tapes, but they were priced at the very steep $79.95. Also in 1984, Disney launched another home video branch, Buena Vista Home Video (later Buena Vista Home Entertainment), to release productions without Disney's name.

For the first few years of the Walt Disney Classics collection, Disney traditionally re-released an "Untouchable" in theaters, then shortly afterwards "opened the vault" to make it available to own on home video. Brand-new entries to the Disney Animated Canon didn't come to home video at first in hopes that their theatrical re-releases would still make money. However, after 1989's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}}'' became Disney's biggest success in years, it was released to home video only six months after its theatrical premiere. Canon entries following ''Mermaid'' had progressively shorter gaps between their theatrical premieres and their first home video release dates.

Disney previously vowed that their crown jewels (''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'') would ''never'' be released on video, but they relented with ''Fantasia'' in 1991, followed by ''Snow White'' in 1994 as the first in the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection line. Some time after this, the term "Untouchable" was apparently abandoned at Disney.[[note]]It probably didn't help that five of the Untouchables found their revenue exceeded by the biggest hits of UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation.[[/note]] With VHS sales eating up revenue from theatrical reissues, Disney eventually only did the latter on special occasions.

Towards the end of 1997, Disney began releasing their live action movies on UsefulNotes/{{DVD}}. Within the next couple of years, the studio kicked off their efforts to make the Disney Animated Canon available on the format, beginning with ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}''. In lieu of the Untouchables, Disney compiled the 14 movies that sold the most videotapes [[labelnote:the 14]](''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'', ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp'', ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'', ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'', ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'')[[/labelnote]] into a collection of films each remained available for only a limited time before going into moratorium for many years. They initially referred to these films as the "Platinum" collection, but proceeded to change the name whenever the DAC's oldest entry, ''Snow White'', entered a new media format. Other Disney movies only disappeared from stores if the studio decided to re-release them with more bonus features.

In 2004, Disney became one of the first studios to announce their support of the high definition UsefulNotes/BluRay Disc format.[[labelnote:Blu-ray]](commissioned by the Blu-ray Disc Association, which consists of Sony (the primary maker and Disney semi-ally), Pioneer and Philips (who'd both helped developed [=LaserDisc=]), Hitachi, LG (Lucky-Goldstar) Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, and Thomson/Technicolor SA)[[/labelnote]]. This poised Blu-ray to enter and ultimately win a format war with HD-DVD from Toshiba. Disney officially started releasing new films to Blu-ray discs in 2006. In 2008, Disney began releasing their traditionally-animated movies on Blu-ray, starting with ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty''.

Meanwhile, Disney VHS tapes (particularly the animated ones) have become collectibles and part of a niche market. They ceased [=LaserDisc=] releases in 1999, and VHS in 2006.

In 2017, Disney began releasing their library on 4K [=UltraHD=] Blu-ray and Digital formats, starting with Creator/MarvelStudios' ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2''. ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales'' became the first Disney-branded film with 4K home media releases, Pixar's ''WesternAnimation/Cars3'' the first Disney-owned animated film to receive such treatment, and Creator/TouchstonePictures' ''Film/ThePrestige'' [[note]](distributed internationally by Creator/WarnerBros, one of the first studios to support UHD)[[/note]] the first Disney-owned 4K catalog title. The same year, Disney Movies Anywhere became Movies Anywhere, and started offering other studios' works in addition to Disney's. The following year, ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' became the Animated Canon's first [=UltraHD=] title (as a tie-in with ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet''), and ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'' their first traditionally-animated UHD release.

After Disney's buyout of [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox 21st Century Fox]] in 2019, they began distributing former 20th Century Studios and Creator/SearchlightPictures [=DVDs=], Blu-Rays and 4K [=UHDs=] as 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Thanks to a deal [=iTunes=] struck two years earlier to sell 20th Century movies in 4K, their library marks the first Disney-owned movies that [=iTunes=] carries in such a high resolution; 4K digital copies of Disney movies previously remained exclusive to Movies Anywhere and Vudu.

* Hi-Tops Video (childrens' videos, including handling the first VHS releases of the majority of the ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' specials and of ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'', along with ''Literature/{{Babar}}'', ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'', ''WesternAnimation/LadyLovelyLocks'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Madeline}}'')

!!!'''Madman Entertainment'''
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Madman.JPG]]

Originally beginning in 1996 solely to distribute anime in Australia, [[http://www.madman.com.au Madman Entertainment]] has grown into one of the largest entertainment companies in UsefulNotes/{{Australia}} and UsefulNotes/NewZealand, accounting for 97 percent of all anime DVD sales in Australia, with an annual turnover of around $50 million AUD. In addition to anime and manga, Madman Entertainment distributes other mediums and genres such as Australian television (mostly from Creator/{{SBS}}), Asian cinema, UsefulNotes/{{Bollywood}}, action sports and independent films. They also have the distribution rights to original Creator/CartoonNetwork and Creator/AdultSwim series. They've started their own studio, [[http://www.madmanproductions.com.au/ Madman Productions]].

Madman secured the local release rights to multiple franchises including ''Manga/{{Akira}}'', ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', ''Manga/DragonBall'', ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Manga/OnePiece'', and almost all of Creator/StudioGhibli's catalogue. In addition to DVD sales, Madman manages the theatrical release of some of their titles, particularly the Studio Ghibli movies.

Madman also sublicenses anime from Creator/AnimEigo, Creator/BandaiEntertainment, Creator/{{Funimation}}, Creator/HarmonyGold, Creator/SentaiFilmworks, Creator/VizMedia, and formerly Creator/ADVFilms and Creator/{{Geneon}}. Madman and Creator/MangaEntertainment Australia Ltd merged in 2003. This happened so if Manga lost a license in Australia, Madman would pick it up. If Madman Entertainment lost the license for anime from American companies, Manga UK would sub-license anime to Madman.

In May 2014, they officially opened the streaming service [[https://www.animelab.com/ AnimeLab]] which is geolocked for residents of Australia and New Zealand. They love to point this out since [[NoExportForYou many services in the U.S. have geoblocked these countries]].

!!Other home video companies

!!!'''MPI Home Video'''
MPI Home Video is the home video subsidiary of MPI Media Group. It has released classic television shows on VHS, Betamax, [=LaserDisc=], DVD, and Blu-ray.

!!!'''VCI Home Video'''
'''Video Communications, Inc.''' (also known as VCI Home Video) is one of the oldest American video distributors to exist, alongside Magnetic Video and Fotomat Video.

Home video, as a medium, encompasses pre-recorded videos owned or rented by consumers for viewing in their homes on their own schedule-- to put it laconically, video at home. Thanks to home video, viewers no longer have to visit the cinema during a film's theatrical run or stay by the television during a broadcast controlled by the network.

In 1981, ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'' became the first Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon movie to hit home video, followed shortly after by ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland'' and the anthology movies ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeCaballeros'', ''WesternAnimation/FunAndFancyFree'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheManyAdventuresOfWinnieThePooh''. The Disney management at the time were initially reluctant to release the rest of the Canon anywhere but in theaters out of concern that they would lose their value if they were to be released on tape. They marked the Canon's 15 most lucrative movies [[labelnote:the 15]](''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'', ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp'', ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'', ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAristocats'', ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'', ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'')[[/labelnote]] off-limits from home video by compiling them into a list of "Untouchables". However, this was during the DorkAge of the studio when the Disney brand was associated with children's fluff and attempts to create DarkerAndEdgier fare failed miserably at the box office, so the idea of unleashing the Untouchables on home video eventually caught on.

Disney previously vowed that their crown jewels (''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'') would ''never'' be released on video, but they relented with ''Fantasia'' in 1991, followed by ''Snow White'' in 1994 as the first in the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection line. Some time after this, the term "Untouchable" was apparently abandoned at Disney.[[note]]It probably didn't help that five of the Untouchables found their revenue exceeded by the biggest hits of UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation.[[/note]] With VHS sales eating up revenue from theatrical reissues, Disney eventually only did the latter on special occasions.

* Hi-Tops Video (childrens' videos, including handling the first VHS releases of the majority of the ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' specials and of ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'', along with ''Literature/{{Babar}}'', ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'', ''WesternAnimation/LadyLovelyLocks'', and ''WesternAnimation/{{Madeline}}'')