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 as a home media subsidiary of Universal Music Group Distribution in 2004.[5][2] In 2006, Visual Entertainment was renamed Vivendi Visual Entertainment.[6] In 2008, Vivendi Entertainment expanded from home video into theatrical distribution.[7]
In 2009, Vivendi Entertainment acquired much of the library of defunct distributor Genius Products.[8]
In April 2012, UMG sold Vivendi Entertainment to Gaiam and merged with its home entertainment division, renaming the combined subsidiary Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment.[9]
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.[10][11]
Services
The company has provided sales, marketing, and distribution services to studios such as The Weinstein Company,[12] 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, A&E Home Entertainment, which included A&E, History Channel, and Lifetime 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.[13]
In September 2013, the company released Secret Millionaires Club: Volume 2 on DVD.[14]
References
- Universal Music Umusic.com^
- Home Media Magazine^
- The Weinstein Co. Partners with Vivendi Entertainment for Home Video MovieWeb, September 14, 2009, retrieved February 14, 2018^
- Vivendi Entertainment Acquires Assets From Genius Products, Inc. And Becomes Leader... Reuters, 14 September 2009, retrieved February 14, 2018^
- UNIVERSAL MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS INTO EXPLODING DVD MARKETPLACE WITH UMVD/ VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT UMG, 2004-02-17, retrieved 2019-01-06^
- VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS WITH NEW NAME AND LOOK UMG, 2006-06-07, retrieved 2019-01-06^
- VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS INTO THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION UMG, 2008-03-06, retrieved 2019-01-06^
- Erik Gruenwedel. Vivendi Acquires Genius Titles, Select Staff Home Media Magazine, 2009-09-14, retrieved 2008-02-25^
- MarketWatch - archived from the original, MarketWatch, on May 5, 2012^
- Cinedigm To Acquire Gaiam, Inc.'s Entertainment Unit, A Multi-Platform Content Licensor And Distributor retrieved October 20, 2013^
- Dave McNary. Cinedigm Bulks Up With $51.1 Million Acquisition of Gaiam Vivendi Variety, 17 October 2021, retrieved 13 July 2021^
- Newmusicreviews.net retrieved February 14, 2018^
- Jeremy Dickson. DHX amps up Inspector Gadget's 30th anniversary activity 24 October 2013, retrieved 13 July 2021^
- Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club Introduces 'Business in a Box' Exclusively at Toys"R"Us® www.prnewswire.com, 15 October 2013, retrieved 2021-07-13^