Talk:Random House Home Video

Various Distributors

We all know that, while Random House Home Video was mostly self-distributed, it went through a lot of distributors over the years.

Between 1991-1992, some of its releases were distributed for mail-order by Simon Marketing. And between 1991-1993, some of its releases were distributed for the low-priced budget market by Goldstar Entertainment (formerly known as Goldstar Video).

Finally, beginning in 1995, Sony Wonder, then a subdivision of Sony Music Entertainment (formerly known as CBS Records), became the exclusive sales/distribution agent for Random House Home Video. Future RHHV releases were assigned to Sony Music’s catalog numbers, ISBNs and UPCs. In fact, some (but not all) 1995-99 RHHV releases had this notice on the back of the packaging: "Distributed by Sony Music Distribution and Sony Wonder. Manufactured by Sony Music Entertainment, Inc." However, Sony would not handle the marketing until the very beginning of 2000; Random House still handled the marketing until then.

By any chance, were the post-1995 Sony Wonder-distributed releases of better quality than the 1991-93 Goldstar-distributed releases? A majority of the Goldstar tapes were in EP/SLP, though I have seen a few Goldstar tapes in SP, including copies duplicated at AP International (formerly known as Agincourt Productions), and heard of at least one Goldstar-distributed RHHV tape that is in LP. I’ve seen some 1997-99 Arthur tapes that were in EP/SLP instead of SP.

2601:4C4:4000:A8C0:41CE:5EC4:44E8:30F0 23:59, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

Arthur

Many YouTube VHS collectors consider the 1997-1999 home media releases of the show to be from Random House Home Video, and the 2000-2006 releases to be from Sony Wonder.

The truth is, the 2000-2006 home media releases also had the Random House Home Video logo. And the 1997-1999 releases were assigned with SME catalog numbers/ISBNs/UPCs. In fact, some of the 1997-1999 releases did have the Sony Wonder logo at the back of the packaging. (Even though between 1995-1999, when Sony Wonder was the sales agent of RHHV, RHHV's corporate parent, the book publisher of course, continued to handle the marketing.) April of 1995 was when Sony Wonder took over the sales of the label, May of 1995 was when Sony Wonder took over exclusive music and home video distribution licenses outright to Sesame Street, and November of 1999 was when Sony Wonder took over the marketing of the RHHV label. 69.85.235.235 13:15, 30 October 2024 (UTC)