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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| ASX: VRL (until 2021) | |
| Industry | Media,Entertainment |
| Founded | 1954; 71 years ago (1954) |
| Founder | Roc Kirby |
| Headquarters | The Jam Factory,, Australia |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Robert G. Kirby (executive chairman) Clark Kirby (CEO) |
| Products | |
| Revenue |  A$1.003 billion (2017)[1] |
| −A$65.62 million (2017)[1] | |
| Owner | BGH Capital |
| Divisions | Village Roadshow Theme Parks |
| Subsidiaries | Roadshow Entertainment |
| Website | www.villageroadshow.com.au |
Village Roadshow is an Australian company which operates cinemas and theme parks, and produces and distributes films. Before being acquired by private equity companyBGH Capital, the company was listed on theAustralian Securities Exchange and majority owned by Village Roadshow Corporation, with members of founderRoc Kirby's family in the top roles.[2]
Village Roadshow originally started operations asVillage Drive-Ins (later known as "Village Drive-ins and Cinemas" before becoming today's "Village Cinemas" brand), in 1954, when founderRoc Kirby began running one of Australia's firstdrive-in cinemas in theMelbourne suburb ofCroydon. The drive-in was adjacent to a shopping strip called "Croydon Village"; hence the company adopted the "Village" name. The company later expanded into traditional cinemas in major areas, though it still operates theCoburg Drive-In inCoburg, Melbourne.
In 1968, the company expanded to start its film distribution business with Roadshow (once a 50-50 joint venture withGreater Union) and moved into film production in 1971 with the establishment ofHexagon Productions,[3][4] and the company expanding into a longstanding relationship withWarner Bros. to distribute films in the Australian market.[5][6] The original cinema chain now became one of several businesses the company was involved in.
In the 1980s, Village Roadshow was one of the leading forces in creating state of the artmultiplex cinema complexes. Innovations brought in during this period included using stadium-style seating, sophisticated sound systems and the latest in projection technologies. The cinemas of that era were the forerunners to the multiplexes of today. It was expanded in 1987 when it signed a partnership with rival cinema chainGreater Union to see 200 screens expanded to their circuits by 1990 and having both companies to develop $100 million in their equipment.[7]
The venture was expanded in September 1987 when Roadshow and Greater Union agreed to combine the existing Roadshow Distributors theatrical branch with Greater Union's own theatrical branch, Greater Union Film Distributors to set up new separate-branding labels, Roadshow Greater Union Distributors and Greater Union Distributors, and RGUD continue to handle the existing suppliers, which includedWarner Bros,Orion Pictures andNew World Pictures.[8][9]
In 1988, Village Roadshow took overDe Laurentiis Entertainment Group, which brought on a change of name: Village Roadshow Limited. This allowed the company to raise more capital to fund further expansion.
In the 1990s, the company diversified into complementary media and entertainment businesses. This included the purchase and development of theme parks, the purchase and integration of theTriple M andToday radio networks to createAustereo, the creation of Roadshow Music,[10] the creation ofVillage Roadshow Pictures, and the commencement of a co-production deal with Warner Bros.
Village Roadshow has scaled back its international cinema markets to Australia and Singapore. The company merged its Village Roadshow Pictures arm withConcord Music Group to form a Los Angeles-based diversified entertainment division, Village Roadshow Entertainment Group.
In 2003, the company formed a joint venture,Australian Theatres, withAmalgamated Holdings Limited, owners of Greater Union and several other cinema brands. The original founding business,Village Cinemas, is part of the joint venture.
In 2008, Village Roadshow and Concord Music Group, co-owned by television producerNorman Lear, said they had completed a merger, forming a new company to exploit their film and music assets. Investors in the new company included Michael Lambert and private equity firms Tailwind Capital Partners andClarity Partners.[11] Then, on March 25, 2013, a Wood Creek Capital led investor group purchased Concord Music Group fromVillage Roadshow Entertainment Group.[12]
In late 2019, company veteran Graham Burke stepped down as CEO and became a non-executive director, with Clark Kirby his successor as CEO.[13][14]
In early 2020, Village Roadshow entered talks withprivate equity firmBGH Capital about a take-over. The offer was lowered after theCOVID-19 pandemic closed theme parks and cinemas,[15][16] and shareholders voted to accept it in December 2020.[2] In 2022,Antenna Group announced that it was to acquire the Greek cinema chains from Village Roadshow Operations.[17]
In 2023, Village Roadshow renamed their company from Village Roadshow Company Limited to Village Roadshow Pty. Limited, due to them no longer being listed on theASX.
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