Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment Explained

Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment
Type:Division
Successor:New Video
Location City:111 Universal Hollywood Drive, Suite 400, Universal City, California 91608
Location Country:United States
Industry:Entertainment
Products:Motion pictures, television programs
Fate:Folded into New Video
Owner:Vivendi (2004–2012)
Gaiam (2012–2013)
Cinedigm (2013)
Parent:Universal Music Group Distribution (2004–2012)
Gaiam (2012–2013)
New Video (2013)

Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment (formerly known as Vivendi Entertainment, Vivendi Visual Entertainment and Visual Entertainment) was a film, television, DVD and digital distribution company that operated in the United States and Canada. It was also a distribution partner for independent content providers.[1] [2] [3] [4]

History

Visual Entertainment was founded in 2004 to distribute DVDs as a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, which in turn is a subsidiary of Vivendi.[5] In 2006, Visual Entertainment was renamed Vivendi Visual Entertainment.[6] In 2008, Vivendi Entertainment expanded from home video into theatrical distribution.[7]

On April 3, 2012, Universal divested Vivendi Entertainment due to the buyout of EMI, and the company was acquired by Gaiam and merged with its home entertainment division, renaming the combined subsidiary Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment.[8] It was one of the three units of Universal Music, never fully owned by EMI, that were forced to be sold; other such units were Sanctuary Records and V2 Records.

In October 2013, Cinedigm acquired Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment for $51.5 million. Cinedigm merged Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment into their existing home video business, New Video.[9] [10]

Services

The company has provided sales, marketing, and distribution services to studios such as The Weinstein Company,[11] World Wrestling Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company, Salient Media, NFL Films, Shout! Factory, GoodTimes Entertainment, ARC Entertainment LLC, Classic Media, Hallmark Channel, Indomina Releasing, Nasser Entertainment, Event Film, RHI Entertainment, Polychrome Pictures, Sid and Marty Krofft, Eagle Rock Entertainment, Blowtorch Entertainment, Mill Creek Entertainment, DHX Media, Saban Brands, Saban Entertainment, Palisades Tartan, Palm Pictures, Nelvana, Razor & Tie, Dargaud Media, Pure Flix Entertainment, Codeblack Entertainment, Melee Entertainment, Dimension Extreme and Genius Products.

The company has partnered with DHX Media by creating free episodes, "special collections", and "discounted seasons" for fans of the Inspector Gadget franchise in the US.[12]

In September 2013, the company released Secret Millionaires Club: Volume 2 on DVD.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Universal Music. Umusic.com.
  2. http://www.homemediamagazine.com/genius/vivendi-acquires-genius-titles-select-staff-17029 Home Media Magazine
  3. Web site: The Weinstein Co. Partners with Vivendi Entertainment for Home Video. September 14, 2009. February 14, 2018.
  4. Web site: 14 September 2009. Vivendi Entertainment Acquires Assets From Genius Products, Inc. And Becomes Leader.... dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090922223616/https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS115593+14-Sep-2009+PRN20090914. 22 September 2009. February 14, 2018. Reuters.
  5. Web site: UNIVERSAL MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS INTO EXPLODING DVD MARKETPLACE WITH UMVD/ VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT . UMG . 2019-01-06 . 2004-02-17 .
  6. Web site: VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS WITH NEW NAME AND LOOK . UMG . 2019-01-06 . 2006-06-07 .
  7. Web site: VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS INTO THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION . UMG . 2019-01-06 . 2008-03-06 .
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20120505104455/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gaiam-completes-acquisition-of-vivendi-entertainment-creating-gaiam-vivendi-entertainment-the-nations-largest-independent-content-distributor-2012-04-03 MarketWatch
  9. Web site: Cinedigm To Acquire Gaiam, Inc.'s Entertainment Unit, A Multi-Platform Content Licensor And Distributor . October 20, 2013 . October 31, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131031064605/http://www.newvideo.com/pressroom/release/cinedigm-to-acquire-gaiam-inc-s-entertainment-unit-a-multi-platform-content-licensor-and-distributor/ . dead.
  10. Web site: McNary. Dave. 17 October 2021. Cinedigm Bulks Up With $51.1 Million Acquisition of Gaiam Vivendi. 13 July 2021. Variety. en-US.
  11. Web site: Newmusicreviews.net. February 14, 2018.
  12. Web site: Dickson. Jeremy. 24 October 2013. DHX amps up Inspector Gadget's 30th anniversary activity. 13 July 2021.
  13. Web site: 15 October 2013. Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club Introduces 'Business in a Box' Exclusively at Toys"R"Us®. 2021-07-13. www.prnewswire.com. en.

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