Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment
Company typeDivision
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Defunct2013; 11 years ago (2013)
FateFolded into New Video
SuccessorNew Video
Headquarters
111 Universal Hollywood Drive, Suite 400, Universal City, California 91608
,
United States
ProductsMotion pictures, television programs
OwnerVivendi (2004–2012)
Gaiam (2012–2013)
Cinedigm (2013)
ParentUniversal Music Group Distribution (2004–2012)
Gaiam (2012–2013)
New Video (2013)
Websitecinedigm.com

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][2] 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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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][unreliable source?][relevant?]

References

  1. ^ "Universal Music". Umusic.com.
  2. ^ a b Home Media Magazine Archived August 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "The Weinstein Co. Partners with Vivendi Entertainment for Home Video". September 14, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  4. ^ "Vivendi Entertainment Acquires Assets From Genius Products, Inc. And Becomes Leader..." Reuters. September 14, 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "UNIVERSAL MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS INTO EXPLODING DVD MARKETPLACE WITH UMVD/ VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT". UMG. February 17, 2004. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  6. ^ "VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS WITH NEW NAME AND LOOK". UMG. June 7, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS INTO THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION". UMG. March 6, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  8. ^ MarketWatch - archived from the original on May 5, 2012
  9. ^ "Cinedigm To Acquire Gaiam, Inc.'s Entertainment Unit, A Multi-Platform Content Licensor And Distributor". Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  10. ^ McNary, Dave (October 17, 2021). "Cinedigm Bulks Up With $51.1 Million Acquisition of Gaiam Vivendi". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Newmusicreviews.net". Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  12. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (October 24, 2013). "DHX amps up Inspector Gadget's 30th anniversary activity". Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  13. ^ "Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club Introduces 'Business in a Box' Exclusively at Toys"R"Us®". www.prnewswire.com. October 15, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
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