Below is a timeline for all the events pertaining to the companies who distributed movies to the home market. It should be noted that this website uses the term, “Home Video,” in two different ways. Firstly, it uses it as an umbrella term for the viewing of movies in the home, physical or otherwise. Secondly, its also the label given to the era in time where movies are being released on physical video formats.
June, 1979
Still skeptical of the home video market, Paramount decides to license its films for videocassette rental through Fotomat, a nationwide photo development chain.
June, 1979
During the test roll out (with several more cities added), MCA realizes that it was actually costing a lot more to press the discs than initially thought. All the discs are given a 50% – 60% price hike. This move taints videodisc’s reputation, making the format even less competitive against videocassettes.
July, 1979 (Back Stage, 1979/12/07, p. 1)
Warner Brothers, through their Warner Communications Inc (WCI) division, announces that the studio would be releasing titles to videocassette the following year.
October, 1979 (Back Stage, 1979/10/12, p. 43)
Columbia Pictures reveals that they would be releasing 20 titles through their newly formed division, Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment.
November, 1979 (Billboard, 1979/11/17, p. 62)
After a successful test run with Fotomat, Paramount debuts 10 titles through their own newly formed home video division. Several of these titles are The Godfather and Saturday Night Fever.
November, 1979 (Broadcast, 1979/11/05, p. 27)
Paramount agrees to have their films on RCA’s upcoming videodisc. Grease, The Godfather and Saturday Night Fever are among the titles licensed.
January, 1980 (Billboard, 1980/01/05, p. 36)
WCI Home Video (Warner Communications Inc.) make available 20 different titles on videocassette, including, Superman (1978), Deliverance (1972) and Blazing Saddles (1974).
January, 1980 (Billboard, 1980/01/05, p. 38)
Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment makes available 20 titles from their catalog. Several of these include The Deep (1977), Breakout (1975) and Fun With Dick and Jane (1977).
April, 1980 (Billboard, 1980/02/09, p. 10)
MCA Videocassette (parent company of Universal), releases their first batch of 25 titles on videocassette. Titles include Jaws (1975) and The Jerk (1979). Although launch is said to have been April, the titles first appear on Billboard charts in June.
May 10th, 1980 (Variety, 1980/03/03, p. 50)
To first test the home videocassette market, Disney makes their titles available to Fotomat’s Drive-Thru Movies program.
September, 1980 (Billboard, 1980/09/06, p. 3)
After a successful test run with Fotomat, Disney releases “10 feature films and 3 animated features” through their own home video division, Disney Home Video. Several of these titles include The Black Hole (1979), Davy Crockett (1955) and Pete’s Dragon (1977). They also announce a rental program for retailers.
November, 1980 (Star Tribune, 1981/03/08, p. 9D)
After having tested their laserdisc system in several U.S. cities for almost two years, MCA and Philips roll out their laserdisc system nationally. This comes just in time for Christmas, and several months before RCA’s own videodisc launch.
March 22nd, 1981 (Star Tribune, 1981/03/08, p. 9D)
RCA finally launches their videodisc system, a format called Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED). The player goes for $500 and the discs in the $20 range. The first title to roll off the presses is Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977).
April, 1981 (Billboard, 1981/04/18, p. 58)
Cult film producer and director, Charles Band, launches his latest videocassette label after having been ousted from MEDA Media-Home Entertainment.
June, 1981 (Variety, 1981/08/26, p. 52)
Caballero Control, an adult film distributor run by Noel Bloom, launches a sister label for more mainstream programming. Their earliest titles are mostly family programs. Their first big title is the television event Pippin from that same year.
August 17th, 1981 (Billboard, 1981/09/05, p. 1)
Warner Home Video notifies retailers that their original dealer agreements with Warner are now cancelled in favor of a “Rental-Only” system for top titles. Other studios, such as Disney, MGM and 20th Century Fox also implement rental agreements. These new reporting and pricing structures are seen as unfair and impractical, causing a massive backlash within the industry.
September, 1981 (Back Stage, 1981/09/25, p. 79)
NBC enters into an agreement to have Warner Home Video distribute 28 different programs, including a series called “Spotlight On.”
January, 1982 (Billboard, 1982/01/23, p. 46)
20th Century Fox revamps their home video division with a new name, new packaging and a “rental only” version of their titles. Corporate offices move to the west while manufacturing facilities remain in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
January 26th, 1982 (Variety, 1982/02/24, p. 47)
First announced the previous year, independent distributor Vestron Video finally kicks off their catalog with their first 10 titles. Among these are Cannonball Run (1981) and Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981).
April, 1982 (Billboard, 1982/03/27, p. 6)
Karl Lorimar Home Video and RCA release actress Jane Fonda’s workout routine on home video. The program is an adaptation of her book with the same title. Because the title was intended for purchase rather than rent, it becomes wildly successful. It spends 239 weeks on Billboard’s Top 40 Videocassettes chart (spending 52 in the top 1 spot).
