 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Label |
| Industry | Home video |
| Predecessor | Magnetic Video (1968–1982) |
| Founded | 1981; 44 years ago (1981) |
| Fate | Folded intoWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment; still exists asbrand label |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Keith Feldman (president) |
| Products | Home video |
| Brands | |
| Parent | 20th Century Fox (1981–2020) CBS (1982–1995) Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2020–present) |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references [1][2] | |
20th Century Home Entertainment[3][4] (previously known asTwentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC and also known as20th Century Studios Home Entertainment) is ahome video distribution arm that distributes films produced by20th Century Studios,Searchlight Pictures,Blue Sky Studios,20th Century Animation and several third-party studios, as well as television series by20th Television,Searchlight Television,20th Television Animation andFX Productions in home entertainment formats.
For 38 years, 20th Century Home Entertainment was the distinct home video distribution arm ofFox Entertainment Group. It was formed in 1982 as20th Century-Fox Video. On March 20, 2019,The Walt Disney Companyacquired21st Century Fox, and as a result, its operations were folded intoWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Disney's own home entertainment division, where it exists today solely as abrand label.
 Print logo | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Predecessor | Magnetic Video Corporation |
| Founded | c. 1981; 44 years ago (1981) |
| Defunct | January 14, 1983; 42 years ago (1983-01-14) |
| Fate | Merged withCBS Video Enterprises to formCBS/Fox Video |
| Successor | CBS/Fox Video |
| Parent | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
From 1976 to 1981, the video distribution arm had been under a deal with a home entertainment company calledMagnetic Video, a small independent home video distributor founded byAndre Blay and Leon Nicholson that was based inFarmington Hills, Michigan, after a previous relationship with the company. In March 1979,20th Century-Fox acquired Magnetic Video. In late 1981, Fox renamed Magnetic Video Corporation to 20th Century-Fox Video and continued to be headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan.[5][6] However, Blay was forced out at the time, with Telecommunications division president and CEO Steve Roberts taking charge of TCF Video.[6]
During this time, 20th Century-Fox Video released a few titles for rental only, includingEye of the Needle,Caveman,Death Hunt,Dr. No,A Fistful of Dollars,Rocky,Taps,For Your Eyes Only,Omen III: The Final Conflict,Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (akaChu Chu and the Philadelphia Flash),La Cage aux Folles II, andStar Wars. While sale tapes were in big boxes that were later used by CBS/Fox in its early years (dubbed "Fox Boxes" by VHS collectors), Video Rental Library tapes were packaged in black clamshell cases. Similar approaches were taken by other companies; however, none lasted long.
 | |
| CBS/Fox Video | |
| Company type | Joint venture |
| Industry | Home video |
| Predecessors | 20th Century-Fox Video CBS Video Enterprises |
| Founded | June 1982; 43 years ago (1982-06) |
| Defunct | 1995; 30 years ago (1995) |
| Fate | Closed |
| Successors | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Studio Distribution Services CBS Home Entertainment Paramount Home Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Farmington Hills, Michigan (1982–1985) ,Livonia, Michigan (1985–1988) New York City,New York (1989–1991) |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Home media |
| Owners | CBS Inc. (50%) 20th Century Fox (50%) |
| Footnotes / references [5] | |
In June 1982, 20th Century Fox entered into ajoint venture withCBS to formCBS/Fox Video; Roberts remained head of the joint-venture, but was replaced as president in January 1983 by a formerColumbia Pictures executive, Larry Hilford. Hilford had been a verbal critic of the video rental business, but with the situation out of their control, he attempted to make the situation work for them. CBS/Fox and other home video units increased prices of the cassettes by around 67% to maximize income. They also moved to encourage customer purchasing instead of renting. As a part of that, CBS/Fox looked to existing retail chains for direct sales.Toys "R" Us andChild World signed the first direct deals in July 1985 with CBS/Fox. Walt Disney Home Video soon followed with a direct deal with Toys "R" Us.[6]
During this period, two sub-labels of the company were created. The first wasKey Video, launched in April 1984, structured as a separate company but utilizing the CBS/Fox sales and marketing arms; Key's remit was to exploit catalog titles (from both CBS and Fox as well as other companies whose catalogs CBS/Fox had access to at the time, includingLorimar,ITC andUnited Artists) targeted towards collectors and longer shelf life than other titles (later expanded to include acquired titles and non-theatrical programming from outside CBS/Fox, primarily B-movies). Key's offerings were often, though not always, priced for sale at cheaper rates than mainstream CBS/Fox titles.[7] The other wasPlayhouse Video, launched in February 1985 (replacing the short-lived CBS/Fox Children's Video label) and run in a similar fashion to Key Video, with an emphasis on children's and family titles, including those ofThe Muppets,Planet of the Apes originalpentalogy,Shirley Temple movies and content from CBS (including theDr. Seuss specials owned by the network andPeanuts movies and specials).[8] Both of these labels were rendered inactive by 1991; under Fox, the Key Video name (later renamed to Key DVD) made a brief comeback in the 2000s.
In March 1991, a reorganization of the company was made, which would give Fox greater control of the joint venture. All of CBS/Fox's distribution functions were transferred to the newly formedFox Video, which would also take over exclusive distribution of all 20th Century Fox products. CBS began releasing their products under the "CBS Video" name (which had been sparingly used since the 1970s), with CBS/Fox handling marketing and Fox Video handling distribution. CBS/Fox would retain the license to non-theatrical products from third parties, including those from BBC Video and the NBA.[9][10]
Fox Video was run by president Bob DeLellis, a 1984 hire at CBS/Fox who had risen to group vice president and president by 1991. With expected repeat viewing, FoxVideo dropped prices on family films starting in June 1991 withHome Alone at a suggested list price of $24.98, to encourage purchasing over rental.[6]
Bill Mechanic's arrival in 1993 from Walt Disney Home Video, as the new head of Fox Filmed Entertainment, saw new plans to move Fox forward, including Fox Video. However, DeLellis was initially left alone, as Mechanic was occupied setting up multiple creative divisions within Fox. Mechanic had been the one to install the "Vault" moratorium strategy at Disney.Mrs. Doubtfire was released soon after Mechanic's arrival with a sell through price, and surpassed sale projections at 10 million tapes.[6] In 1995, FoxVideo launched a line, Fox Kids Video, in order to release various titles that was aired on the Fox Kids Network, such asBobby's World,The Tick,Eek! the Cat andWhere on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?,[11] although the name was previously used a year earlier on the three volumes of theBobby's World show.[12]
The company was renamedTwentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on March 16, 1995,[13] afterFox Entertainment Group acquired CBS's interest in CBS/Fox. The reorganization also created additional distribution operations (Fox Kids Video,CBS Video, and CBS/Fox Video) and two new media units,Fox Interactive and Magnet Interactive Studios. Total revenue for the expanded business unit would have been over $800 million, with FoxVideo providing the bulk at $650 million. Mechanic kept DeLellis as president of the expanded unit's North American operation, with Jeff Yap as international president. By May 1995, Fox had Magnet under a worldwide label deal for 10 to 12 titles through 1996. TCFHE would also be responsible for DVD when they hit the market.[14] Mechanic had Fox Home Entertainment institute the moratorium strategy with the August 1995 release of the three originalStar Wars movies giving them a sales window before going off the market forever; four months forNew Hope, and until the fall of 1997 forThe Empire Strikes Back andReturn of the Jedi. Sales topped 30 million copies over expectations. The company's 1996 release ofIndependence Day sold 18 million units, making it the industry's bestselling live-action home video release.[6]
With the May 1997 departure of DeLellis, a quick rotation of presidents led Fox Home Entertainment: Yapp for four months before he left to leadHollywood Video, then an interim president—Pat Wyatt, head of 20th Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising, who assumed the post in September 1997. With DVD being aWarner Home Video property, the company did not initially issue DVDs; instead, Fox advocated for digital VHS tapes (which eventually emerged as the obscureD-Theater), then the disposableDIVX. DIVX was a DVD variant that had limited viewing time, launched by theCircuit City consumer electronics chain in June 1998. With DVD's low cost at $20 and DIVX at $4.50, and the desirability for consumers to own DVDs, the DVD format won quickly out over DIVX. News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch wanted a deal withTime Warner Cable, as to secure a lower channel position for the then-newFox Family Channel, so Mechanic adopted the DVD format to smooth the deal.[6]
By 1998, Wyatt became permanent president of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Wyatt then became head of Fox Consumer Products, which put together the video and licensing unit. Wyatt had to drop the licensing half eventually, as the home video unit boomed. DVD sales were so strong during this period that they factored into green-lighting theatrical films. Wyatt reorganized Fox Home Entertainment, and forged a partnership with replicatorCinram. Being ahead of the other studios, TCFHE began picking up additional outside labels as distribution clients, with their fees covering the company's overhead. Fox Home Entertainment won multiple Vendor of the Year awards. Wyatt's system was a great edge for years. The TV-on-DVD business was initiated by Wyatt through the release of whole seasons ofThe Simpsons,The X-Files,24,Prison Break,It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, andFamily Guy, among other TV shows, which started the binge-watching concept. However, the videocassette rental business was declining such that video rental chains signed revenue-sharing deals with the studios, so additional copies of hits could be brought in for a lower price, and share sales for more customer satisfaction.[6]
Mechanic left Fox in June 2000, while Wyatt resigned in December 2002.Jim Gianopulos replaced Mechanic, while executive vice president of domestic marketing and sales, Mike Dunn, took over from Wyatt. Wyatt left to start a direct-to-video film production and financing company for Japanese-style animated programming.[6]
In 2004, 20th Century Fox passed on theatrical distribution, but picked up domestic home video rights toThe Passion of the Christ.Passion sold 15 million DVDs. TCFHE continued obtaining additional Christian films' domestic home video rights for movies likeMother Teresa and theBeyond the Gates of Splendor documentary. After a 2005 test with aFox Faith website, in 2006, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment launched its own film production banner for religious films using the same name.[15]
Effective October 1, 2005, 20th Century Fox Scandinavia was split into two, 20th Century Fox Theatrical Sweden and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Scandinavia. For the Home Entertainment Scandinavia division, Peter Paumgardhen was appointed managing director and would report to senior vice president of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Europe Gary Ferguson.[16]
By 2005, DVD was on the decline and the rise of HDTVs required a new, high-resolution format; Fox and half the studios backedBlu-ray, while the other half backedHD DVD, and some planned to issue releases in both formats. In late 2006, the company began releasing its titles onBlu-ray.[17] Blu-ray won the format war in 2008, but with streaming services picking up in popularity and the Great Recession, the expected rebound in disc sales never happened.[6]
WithMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) moving itshome video distribution to TCFHE in 2006, by this time the company had moved into second place behind Warner Bros. and ahead of Walt Disney, and had its best year yet. In October, Fox Home Entertainment issued the first to include a digital copy along on a disc with the special-edition DVD ofLive Free or Die Hard. The 2010 Blu-ray release ofAvatar was the year's top-selling title and the top Blu-ray Disc seller, with 5 million units sold. In 2011, Fox released on Blu-ray Disc the fullStar Wars double trilogy on 9 discs, a premium set selling 1 million units its first week in stores, generating $84 million in gross sales.[6]
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In response to Warner Bros., Sony and MGM issuing manufactured-on-demand lines of no-frills DVD-R editions of older films in May 2012, TCFHE began itsCinema Archives series. By November 2012, the archive series had released 100 movies.[18] Fox Home Entertainment also started the early window policy, where the digital version is released through digital retailers two or three weeks before the discs, and was launched withPrometheus in September 2012. This also started Fox'sDigital HD program where customers could download or stream 600 Fox films on connected devices at less than $15/film through multiple major platforms. However, Digital HD was soon dropped as 4K, orUltra HD, was introduced in 2012. In 2014, a high-tech think tank,Fox Innovation Lab, was formed under 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.[6]
In September 2015, the first Ultra HD Blu-ray player was introduced, leading TCFHE to have future movies released the same day in Ultra HD Blu-ray as regular Blu-ray and DVD. The first Ultra HD Blu-ray films were released in March 2016, with Fox being one of four studios involved; Fox had had the most titles with 10.[6]
Dunn added another title in December 2016: president of product strategy and consumer business development. Dunn turned over TCFHE in March 2017 to Keith Feldman taking over his older title, president of worldwide home entertainment. Feldman was previously president of worldwide home entertainment distribution, and, before that, president of international.[6]
In December 2017, theacquisition of21st Century Fox byThe Walt Disney Company was proposed. Disney acquired most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets on March 20, 2019, including 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. On January 17, 2020, Disney retired the "Fox" name from several of the acquired 21st Century Fox assets (to avoid confusion withFox Corporation), including the renaming of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment as 20th Century Home Entertainment.[19] Disney also folded 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment into their existingWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment division to be used solely as abrand label for films and television series by20th Century Studios,Searchlight Pictures,20th Television,Blue Sky Studios,20th Century Animation,Searchlight Television,20th Television Animation, andFX Productions. Additionally, the 20th Century Studios logo now serves as the all-encompassing logo for 20th Century Home Entertainment.
As a result of Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, MGM's home media deal with 20th Century expired and transferred toWarner Bros. Home Entertainment on June 30, 2020.
Following the launch ofDisney+ in 2019 and its international expansion in the following years, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (which had been distributing 20th Century and Searchlight titles since 2020) has begun to discontinue physical distribution entirely in certain regions such as Latin America, Australia,[20] The new agreement negotiated by Bob Iger CEO, Luke Kang VP, Gohn Gelke AVP and Gerard Devan Group Executive is an amendment to the original agreement between 20th Century Fox and HBO that Disney inherited after its acquisition of Fox in 2019, and as such, is not expected to be renewed. Following the end of the 20th Century-HBO deal, Disney plans to retain the 20th Century films on their own streaming platforms going forward after 2022. New Zealand, Russia, Greece, India, the Middle East, Portugal, Asia (except for Japan), Hungary, and Romania, or to let other companies distribute in certain international markets like the United Kingdom (Elevation Sales), Poland (Galapagos), Czech Republic (Magic Box), Spain (Divisa Films), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Scandinavia (SF Studios), France and Benelux (ESC Distribution),[21][citation needed] Germany and Austria (Leonine Studios)[22] and Japan (Happinet).[23]
In February 2024, Disney entered into a home video distribution agreement withSony Pictures Home Entertainment, in which Sony would handle all physical media production and distribution for Disney's home entertainment assets in the United States and Canada.[24] The first 20th Century Studios film to be released by Sony was the home media release ofThe First Omen on July 30, 2024.[25]
20th Century Home Entertainment is used byWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment as the home video label for products released under the20th Century Studios,Searchlight Pictures,Blue Sky Studios,20th Century Animation,20th Century Family,20th Television,20th Television Animation andFX Productions banners. 20th Century's best-selling DVD titles are the various season box sets ofThe Simpsons.[26]
Since July 1993, Fox's Home video operations in France have operated as a joint venture. The joint venture was originally between Fox,Pathé andLe Studio Canal+, and was known as PFC Vidéo (Pathé Fox Canal).[27] In January 2001, StudioCanal exited the venture to start distributing releases through then-sister companyUniversal Pictures Video France (later switching to self-distributing their releases), andEuropaCorp joined the joint-venture. Effectively, the venture was renamed as Fox Pathé Europa.[28] The venture ended shortly after Disney's purchase of 20th Century Fox, with Pathé and EuropaCorp moving to ESC Distribution.[29]
From 1995 to 2020, Fox held a distribution partnership with Pathé's UK branch as well, which began after the then-namedGuild entered into the 50-50 rental joint venture with Fox's UK branch calledFox Guild Home Entertainment. The deal also allowed Fox to take over retail distribution of Guild products fromPolyGram Video.[30] After Pathé retired the Guild name in 1997, The 50-50 rental joint venture was renamed toFox Pathé Home Entertainment the following year. This physical and digital agreement was later briefly carried over toWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment following the purchase of Fox before expiring on June 30, 2021, after Pathé signed a new partnership deal withWarner Bros. Pictures.
In 1996,Fox Kids Network merged withSaban Entertainment to formFox Kids Worldwide, which included theMarvel Productions andMarvel Films Animation library.[31][32][33] Shortly afterward, Saban terminated its existing home video deal withWarnerVision Entertainment, and decided that they would move itself to TCFHE.[34]
In 2001,the Walt Disney Company acquiredFox Family Worldwide, which included theFox Family Channel, theFox Kids brand and Saban Entertainment.[35] A year later in 2002, Saban became BVS Entertainment and its titles transferred toBuena Vista Home Entertainment for distribution.
In 1999, after ending their worldwide deal withWarner Home Video, MGM signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment to release MGM's films outside of the United States and Canada.[36][37][38]
In May 2003, MGM reinstated full distribution rights to their products in regions like Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, although 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment continued distributing MGM titles in a majority of developing regions.[39]
In 2006, after ending a similar deal withSony Pictures Home Entertainment, MGM signed a worldwide distribution deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, reinstating the rights internationally.[6] TCFHE and MGM renewed their home video distribution deal twice (one in 2011 and one in June 2016), this deal would briefly be passed toWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in 2019, before expiring on June 30, 2020,[40] withWarner Bros. Home Entertainment taking over in that same year. As of 2021,Studio Distribution Services, LLC., a joint venture between Warner Bros. Home Entertainment andUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment, distributes in North America, with releases initially alternating between the two companies until 2023.[41][42][43]
After a prior home entertainment distribution arrangement for Australia and Spain, in February 2016,Entertainment One (eOne) and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment signed a new multi-territory distribution agreement, allowing Fox to distribute eOne's titles in the United Kingdom. Fox would manage eOne's existing home video distribution, starting in July 2016.[44]
In March 2019, after the purchase of Fox by Disney, Entertainment One ended its deal with Fox and signed a multinational distribution deal withUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment shortly after.[45] With the acquisition of Entertainment One byLionsgate in 2023, Lionsgate Home Entertainment took over the home media distribution rights of these catalogs.
In 2013, as part ofDreamWorks Animation's existing five-year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox, Fox also released the company's films on home media.[46] This was extended to include DreamWorks' pre-2013 catalog following DreamWorks' purchase of it fromParamount Pictures on July 1, 2014.[47]
Fox's rights with DreamWorks ended in 2017 after the release ofCaptain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and the purchase of DreamWorks Animation byNBCUniversal a year prior.[48][49] With that, DreamWorks transferred the home entertainment rights to its movies to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
In the United States, the company also distributed products fromAnchor Bay Entertainment,Relativity Media,EuropaCorp U.S.A. andYari Film Group.
CBS/Fox Video also once served as a distributor for television and film products released byBBC Video in the United States until these rights expired on June 30, 2000, and weren't renewed. On June 28, 2000, BBC Worldwide announced a new partnership withWarner Home Video for the United States and Canada that would begin effectively on July 1, 2000, excluding the release ofWalking with Dinosaurs, which was instead transferred over from CBS/Fox to Warner Home Video on September 1, 2000.[50]
In 1998, after ending their deal withWEA Video, Artisan signed a deal with Fox to release Artisan's film library in the United States.[51] After the Lionsgate purchase in December 2003, it was expanded to include Canada as well. The deal expired in July 2021, with Lionsgate signing a deal withSony Pictures Home Entertainment to distribute Lionsgate's film library and future releases in the United States.[52]
In February 2006, British-American children's companyHIT Entertainment signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Fox for the exclusive marketing, sales, and distribution rights of HIT's properties in North America beginning in August of that year.[53] The deal would significantly boost HIT's distribution to over 70,000 retail storefronts.[54] The deal between the two companies occurred after HIT closed their standalone home video unit in North America.[55] The distribution deal was not renewed and in February 2008, HIT signed a new home video deal withLionsgate Home Entertainment.[56] Despite the US deal with Fox, HIT continued to self-distribute its own DVDs in the UK (initially havingThomas & Friends titles released through2 Entertain until 2008).
In November 2006, following the major success of Fox's distribution of the company'sStrawberry Shortcake series, animation studioDIC Entertainment struck a five-year deal with Fox to release a small selection of DIC's catalogue on DVD, with the deal includingInspector Gadget,Madeline,Dennis the Menace andCare Bears.[57][58][59] The distribution deal continued withCookie Jar Group after its purchase of DIC in 2008.[60][61] Eventually, Cookie Jar's deal with Fox expired after 2011.
In 2007, to commemorate the successful sales ofStrawberry Shortcake in North America, American Greetings extended their home video deal with Fox to include DVD releases ofCare Bears: Adventures in Care-a-Lot andSushi Pack.[62] In January 2009, American Greetings announced that they would move their North American distribution toLionsgate Home Entertainment;[63] however,Strawberry Shortcake remained under Fox due to the 2003 deal, and was soon expanded to includeStrawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures.
In 2008,WWE Studios signed a deal with 20th Century Fox, allowing it to distribute one theatrical title and four direct-to-video titles annually.[64]
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment started distributingAnnapurna Pictures films in the United States, as part of a distribution pact that began on July 11, 2017. The deal expired at the end of 2019, following Fox's acquisition by Disney.[65][66]
From July 1993 until 2001, Le Studio Canal+'s content was released through PFC Vidéo in France.[27] They exited the venture to release content through Universal.
In June 2013, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment andParamount Home Entertainment formed a joint-venture partnership titled Fox-Paramount Home Entertainment in Nordic territories.[67] In 2016, the company was shut down.
In late 2013, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment began distributingSony Pictures Home Entertainment titles in Spanish territories, including Latin America and Spain. The deal expired in June 2016, allowing Sony to distribute Universal and Paramount titles inSpain. Later that month, Fox signed a deal withWarner Bros. Home Entertainment to distribute Warner's library. The deal was extended in September 2019 after Disney acquired Fox asWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment took over Fox on distributing Warner's library in the country, starting in May 2020. When Divisa Home Video started distributing Disney's titles, the deal expired in April 2022, as Arvi Licensing (a joint venture between Universal and Sony Pictures) signed a deal with Warner to distribute its library.
In Italy, 20th Century Fox has distributed all the titles from Mediafilm on home media from 2005 to 2011.
