The Complete History of Home Video

Pre-history

• June 1972: Avco was the first to sell home videos on cartridge under the Cartrivision name.
• September 1976: RCA and 20th Century-Fox enter into an agreement that gives RCA access to 100 pre-1974 titles for its videodisc system.

1977

• Magnetic Video Corporation became the first company to release films on videocassette.

1978

• Charles Band establishes Media Home Entertainment to release independent and public domain films.
• Universal Studios begins releasing films on the new LaserDisc format under the MCA DiscoVision label.

1979

• Paramount Pictures sets up a deal with Fotomat to rent and sell 43 of their films on videocassette. Later, Paramount Home Video releases Paramount films for wide retail.
• Time-Life Video is established.
• Columbia Pictures sets up Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, which releases the first 20 Columbia Pictures films on videocassette.

1980

• WCI Home Video releases the first 20 Warner Bros. films on videocassette.
• Walt Disney Home Video sets up a deal with Fotomat to release 13 titles on videocassette. These titles would later be made available for wide retail months later.
• Universal Studios begins releasing films on videocassette under the MCA Videocassette, Inc. label.
• MGM/CBS Home Video, a home video joint venture between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and CBS, is established.

1987

• In July, Technicolor announced its acquisition of CBS/Fox's duplication facility; the acquisition was completed sometime in September.
• Shortly after Technicolor's acquisition of CBS/Fox's duplication facility, VCA-Teletronics was spun off from Technicolor.

1990

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • Rank Video Services America (Northbrook, IL; Garden Grove, CA; and Mexicali, BC)
  • Technicolor Videocassette (Hollywood, CA; Newbury Park, CA; and Livonia, MI)
  • Premiere Video (Livonia, MI)
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing (Hauppauge, NY)
  • High Speed Video (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Crest Cassette Corporation (Wilmington, CA)
• In late March, The CBS/Fox Company moved to Rank Video Services America from Technicolor Videocassette, though it would not start duplicating their product there until that August.
• In August, Shape Inc. introduced its eco-friendly Genesis cassette shell, comprised of less parts than the industry-standard V-0 design. A test run of the shell was performed by VTR Productions shortly after for an educational program on how to troubleshoot defective videotapes.

1991

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • Rank Video Services America (Northbrook, IL; Garden Grove, CA; and Mexicali, BC)
  • Technicolor Videocassette (Hollywood, CA; Newbury Park, CA; and Livonia, MI)
  • Premiere Video (Livonia, MI)
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing (Hauppauge, NY)
  • Future Duplicators (Fairlawn, NJ)
  • VCA-Teletronics (Leonia, NJ)
  • Crest Cassette Corporation (Wilmington, CA)
  • Producers Color Service Inc. (Southfield, MI)
  • Celebrity Duplicating Services, Inc. (Canoga Park, CA)
  • Video Entertainment Corporation (Canada)
• By late March, West Coast Video Duplicating (Brisbane, CA; and Culver City, CA) has also become formally licensed.
• The following duplicators have also joined the JVC fold by September:
  • Allied Film and Video (Bingham Farms, MI)
  • Cassette Productions (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Centercom Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
  • Custom Duplication Inc. (Inglewood, CA)
  • Denver Dubbing (Englewood, CO)
  • Diamond Entertainment Corporation (Anaheim, CA)
  • The Duplication Factory (Chaska, MN)
  • FP Video Services, Inc. (Indianapolis, IN)
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication (Burlington, VT)
  • Video West Productions (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Come November, another JVC license is issued, to Video Duplication Services Inc. (Brooklyn Heights, OH; Columbus, OH; Dayton, OH; and Youngstown, OH).

1992

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • Celebrity Duplicating Services (Canoga Park, CA)
  • Crest Cassette Corporation (Wilmington, CA)
  • Custom Duplication Inc. (Inglewood, CA)
  • Diamond Entertainment Corporation (Anaheim, CA)
  • Technicolor Videocassette (Hollywood, CA; Newbury Park, CA; and Livonia, MI)
  • West Coast Video Duplicating (Brisbane, CA)
  • Denver Dubbing (Englewood, CO)
  • Rank Video Services America (Northbrook, IL; Garden Grove, CA; and Calexico, CA)
  • FP Video Services, Inc. (Indianapolis, IN)
  • Allied Film and Video (Bingham Farms, MI)
  • Premiere Video (Livonia, MI)
  • Producers Color Service Inc. (Southfield, MI)
  • The Duplication Factory (Chaska, MN)
  • Future Duplicators (Fairlawn, NJ)
  • VCA-Teletronics (Leonia, NJ)
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing (Hauppauge, NY)
  • Cassette Productions Unlimited (Arden, NC)
  • Video Duplication Services Inc. (Brooklyn Heights, OH; Columbus, OH; Dayton, OH; and Youngstown, OH)
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Cassette Productions (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Video West Productions (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication (Burlington, VT)
  • Centercom Inc. (Milwaukee, WI)
• Early in the year, Video Lab Cassette Division (New Brunswick, NJ) also obtained a JVC license.
• New JVC licenses were issued by July to:
  • MagneTech Corporation (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
  • AKO Enterprises (Romeoville, IL)
  • American Sound & Video (Warren, MI)
  • EMC Productions (St. Paul, MN)
  • Mardee (South Plainfield, NJ)
  • International Cassette Corp. (Greenville, TX)
  • Media Associates Inc. (Fairfax, VA)
  • Premiere America Inc. (Seattle, WA)
• In September, Technicolor acquired the assets of Video Cassette Duplicating Corp.'s duplication facility in Cincinatti, Ohio, which at the time was the only duplication facility Video Cassette Duplicating Corp. operated after its Marina Del Rey, California and Hackensack, New Jersey plants were consolidated.

1993

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • AKO Enterprises
  • Allied Film & Video
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • Cassette Productions
  • Cassette Productions Unlimited
  • Celebrity Duplicating Services, Inc.
  • Centercom Inc.
  • Century Cassette Corp.
  • Crest Cassette Corporation
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • Diamond Entertainment Corporation
  • Duplication Factory
  • EMC Productions
  • fp Video Services, Inc.
  • Future Duplicators
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing, Ltd
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • MagneTech Corporation
  • Mardee
  • Media Associates Inc.
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • Rank Video Services America
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication
  • Technicolor Videocassette, Inc.
  • VCA Teletronics Inc.
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • Video West
  • West Coast Video Duplicating, Inc.

1994

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • Action Duplication
  • Advanced Audio/Video Productions, Inc.
  • AKO Enterprises
  • Allied Film & Video
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Audio-Video-Color Corp.
  • Arrow America Video
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • Cassette Productions
  • Cassette Productions Unlimited
  • Celebrity Duplicating Services, Inc.
  • Centercom Inc.
  • Century Cassette Corp.
  • Christian Video International, Inc.
  • Cine Magnetics Video & Film Laboratories
  • Color Film Corporation
  • Curtis Inc. Audio & Video Communications
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • Diamond Entertainment Corporation
  • Downeast Duplicating, Inc.
  • Duplication Factory
  • EMC Productions
  • Full Perspective Video Services, Inc.
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing, Ltd
  • Heartland Custom Cassettes
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • The Little Warehouse, Inc.
  • MagneTech Corporation
  • Mardee
  • Matrix Video Duplication Corporation
  • Media Associates Inc.
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • Mirror Image Duplication Services
  • Morning Sun Productions
  • MPL Film & Video
  • Northstar Video Duplicators Inc.
  • Osborn Productions
  • Precise Video Services Inc.
  • Precision Tapes
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • PSI Audio/Video Duplication
  • Quantum Video Tape Company
  • Rank Video Services America
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication
  • Sifford Video
  • Silva Communications
  • Tapes Unlimited, Inc.
  • Technicolor Video Services
  • United Audio/Video Group
  • Vaughn Communications, Inc.
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • The Video-Matic Group
  • Video Services Group, Inc.
  • Videotape International, Ltd.
  • Video West Productions
  • VU Videos, Inc.
  • WEA Manufacturing Inc.
  • West Coast Video Duplicating, Inc.
  • WRS Motion Picture & Video Laboratory

1995

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • 3-G VideoCassette Corporation
  • Action Duplication
  • Advanced Audio/Video Productions, Inc.
  • AKO Enterprises
  • Allied Digital Technologies Corp.
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Audio-Video-Color Corp.
  • Arrow America Video
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • Cassette Productions
  • Cassette Productions Unlimited
  • Celebrity Duplicating Services, Inc.
  • Centercom Inc.
  • Century Cassette Corp.
  • Christian Video International, Inc.
  • Cine Magnetics Video & Film Laboratories
  • Color Film Corporation
  • Curtis Inc. Audio & Video Communications
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • Diamond Entertainment Corporation
  • Downeast Duplicating, Inc.
  • Duplication Factory
  • EMC Productions
  • Full Perspective Video Services, Inc.
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing, Ltd
  • Heartland Custom Cassettes
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • The Little Warehouse, Inc.
  • MagneTech Corporation
  • Mardee
  • Matrix Video Duplication Corporation
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • Mirror Image Duplication Services
  • Morning Sun Productions
  • MPL Film & Video
  • Northstar Video Duplicators Inc.
  • Osborn Video
  • Precise Video Services Inc.
  • Precision Tapes Inc.
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • PSI Audio/Video Duplication
  • Quantum Video Tape Company
  • Rank Video Services America
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication
  • Sifford Video
  • Silva Communications
  • Tapes Unlimited, Inc.
  • Technicolor Video Services
  • United Audio/Video Group
  • Vaughn Communications, Inc.
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • The Video-Matic Group
  • Video Services Group, Inc.
  • Videotape International, Ltd.
  • Video West Productions
  • VU Videos, Inc.
  • WEA Manufacturing Inc.
  • West Coast Video Duplicating, Inc.
  • WRS Motion Picture & Video Laboratory

1996

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • 3-G VideoCassette Corporation
  • Action Duplication
  • Advanced Audio/Video Productions, Inc.
  • AKO Enterprises
  • Allied Digital Technologies Corp.
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Audio-Video-Color Corp.
  • Arrow America Video
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • Cassette Productions
  • Cassette Productions Unlimited
  • Centercom Inc.
  • Central Video
  • Century Cassette Corp.
  • Christian Video International, Inc.
  • Cine Magnetics Video & Film Laboratories
  • Color Film Corporation
  • Curtis Inc. Audio & Video Communications
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • Digital Excellence Inc.
  • Downeast Duplicating, Inc.
  • Dub South Inc.
  • Duplication Factory
  • DXB Video Tapes, Inc.
  • EMC Productions
  • Full Perspective Video Services, Inc.
  • Heartland Custom Cassettes
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • The Little Warehouse, Inc.
  • MagneTech Corporation
  • Mardee
  • Matrix Video Duplication Corporation
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • MediaCopy
  • Mirror Image Duplication Services
  • Morning Sun Productions
  • MPL Film & Video
  • Northstar Video Duplicators Inc.
  • Opryland Productions Duplicating Services
  • Osborn Video
  • Precise Video Services Inc.
  • Precision Tapes Inc.
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • PSI Audio/Video Duplication
  • PVS Corporate Services
  • Quantum Video Tape Company
  • Rank Video Services America
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication
  • Sifford Media
  • Silva Communications
  • Tapes Unlimited, Inc.
  • Technicolor Video Services
  • United Audio/Video Group
  • Vaughn Communications, Inc.
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • The Video-Matic Group
  • Video Services Group, Inc.
  • Videotape International, Ltd.
  • Video West Productions
  • VU Videos, Inc.
  • WEA Manufacturing Inc.
  • WRS Motion Picture & Video Laboratory

1997

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • 3-G VideoCassette Corporation
  • Action Duplication
  • Advanced Audio/Video Productions, Inc.
  • AKO Enterprises
  • Allied Digital Technologies Corp.
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Audio-Video-Color Corp.
  • Arrow America Video
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • Cassette Productions
  • Cassette Productions Unlimited
  • Celebrity Duplicating Services, Inc.
  • Centercom Inc.
  • Central Video
  • Century Cassette Corp.
  • Christian Video International, Inc.
  • Cine Magnetics Video & Digital Laboratories
  • Color Film Corporation
  • Curtis Inc. Audio & Video Communications
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • Digital Communications Technology Corporation
  • Digital Excellence
  • Downeast Duplicating, Inc.
  • Dub South Inc.
  • Duplication Factory
  • DXB Video Tapes, Inc.
  • EMC Productions
  • Full Perspective Video Services, Inc.
  • Heartland Custom Cassettes
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • The Little Warehouse, Inc.
  • Mardee
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • MediaCopy
  • Mirror Image Duplication Services
  • Morning Sun Productions
  • MPL Film & Video
  • Northstar Video Duplicators Inc.
  • Opryland Duplicating Services
  • Osborn Video
  • Precise Media Services, Inc.
  • Precision Tapes Inc.
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • PSI Audio/Video Duplication
  • PVS Corporate Services
  • Quantum Video Tape Company
  • Rank Video Services America
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication
  • Sifford Media
  • Silva Communications
  • Sound Video Corporation
  • Sterling Video Services
  • Tapes Unlimited, Inc.
  • Technicolor Video Services
  • United Audio/Video Group
  • Vaughn Communications, Inc.
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • The Video-Matic Group
  • Video Services Group, Inc.
  • Videotape International, Ltd.
  • Video West Productions
  • VU Media Duplication
  • WEA Manufacturing Inc.
  • WRS Motion Picture & Video Laboratory

1998

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • Action Duplication
  • Advanced Audio/Video Productions, Inc.
  • AKO Enterprises
  • Allied Digital Technologies Corp.
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Audio-Video-Color Corp.
  • Arrow America Video
  • AstralTech
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • Centercom Inc.
  • Central Video
  • Century Cassette Corp.
  • Christian Video International, Inc.
  • Cine Magnetics Video & Film Laboratories
  • Cinram
  • Color Film Corporation
  • Curtis Inc. Audio & Video Communications
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Deluxe Video Services, Inc.
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • Digital Communications Technology Corporation
  • Digital Excellence Inc.
  • Downeast Duplicating, Inc.
  • Dub South Inc.
  • Duplication Factory
  • DXB Video Tapes, Inc.
  • EMC Productions
  • Full Perspective Video Services, Inc.
  • Hauppauge Video Manufacturing, Ltd
  • Heartland Custom Cassettes
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • The Little Warehouse, Inc.
  • Mardee
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • MediaCopy
  • Mirror Image Duplication Services
  • Morning Sun Productions
  • MPL Film & Video
  • Northstar Video Duplicators Inc.
  • Opryland Duplicating Services
  • Osborn Video
  • Precise Media Services, Inc.
  • Precision Tapes Inc.
  • Precision Powerhouse
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • Producers Tape Service
  • PSI Audio/Video Duplication
  • PVS Corporate Services
  • Quantum Video Tape Company
  • Rank Video Services America
  • Resolution Video Production and Duplication
  • Sifford Media
  • Silva Communications
  • Sound Video Corporation
  • Sterling Video Services
  • Tapes Unlimited, Inc.
  • Technicolor Video Services
  • United Audio/Video Group
  • Vaughn Communications, Inc.
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • The Video-Matic Group
  • Video Services Group, Inc.
  • Videotape International, Ltd.
  • Video West Productions
  • VTR Video
  • VU Media Duplication
  • WRS Motion Picture & Video Laboratory

1999

• Licensed VHS duplicators this year include:
  • Action Duplication
  • Allied Digital Technologies Corp.
  • American Sound & Video Corporation
  • Audio-Video-Color Corp.
  • AstralTech
  • Cassette Duplicators Incorporated
  • CDI Media
  • Central Video
  • Christian Video International, Inc.
  • Cine Magnetics Video & Film Laboratories
  • Cinram
  • Color Film Corporation
  • Curtis Inc. Audio & Video Communications
  • Custom Duplication Incorporated
  • Deluxe Video Services, Inc.
  • Denver Dubbing, Inc.
  • DXB Video Tapes, Inc.
  • Full Perspective Video Services, Inc.
  • International Cassette Corp.
  • The Little Warehouse, Inc.
  • Media Concepts, Inc.
  • MediaCopy
  • Mirror Image Duplication Services
  • MPL Film & Video
  • Network Duplication Services
  • Northstar
  • Osborn Video
  • Precise Media Services, Inc.
  • Precision Powerhouse
  • Premiere America Inc.
  • Premiere Video
  • Producers Color Service, Inc. Video Cassette Division
  • PSI Audio/Video Duplication
  • Sifford Media
  • Silva Communications
  • Sound Video Corporation
  • Sterling Video Services
  • Technicolor
  • Video Duplication Services, Inc.
  • VideoLab Cassette Division
  • Video Services Group, Inc.
  • Video West Productions
  • VTR Video
  • VU Media Duplication