Civic Video
| Industry | Home entertainment |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Headquarters | Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia |
| Services | Home video rentals (VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray, console games) |
| Parent | Civic Retailing Pty Ltd |
CIVIC—previously known as Civic Video—was a chain specializing in home video rentals, providing titles on formats such as VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray, and video games for consoles. At its height, the brand operated hundreds of both franchise and company-owned locations throughout Australia and New Zealand. The business experienced widespread store closures during the late 2000s and 2010s, culminating with the shutdown of its last outlet in Windsor, New South Wales on 28 February 2023, after 38 years of operation.
The downturn of Civic, alongside the broader video rental sector in Australia and New Zealand, is primarily linked to the emergence and growth of digital streaming platforms.
Australia
Originating in 1985 as a purchasing collective for independent video retailers, Civic Video transitioned into a franchising model by 1989. Its main headquarters were situated in Alexandria, Sydney, supported by regional branches located in Canberra, Brisbane, and Perth. The company operated under the corporate entity Civic Retailing Proprietary Limited, with major shareholders also holding interests in VOD Proprietary Limited.
By the mid-1990s, Civic had established itself as the second-largest video rental network across Australia. In 1996, it managed over 250 stores nationwide, launching approximately one new location each month. However, by 2018, only a dozen stores remained across Australia, leading to the closure of its head office in June of that year. By January 2019, roughly six outlets were still active, including the Bunbury store which was preparing to cease operations after nearly thirty years. By November 2019, this number had dwindled to three stores. The final branch closed its doors in Windsor on 28 February 2023, marking the conclusion of Civic’s retail operations.
New Zealand
CIVIC New Zealand commenced operations on 1 December 1998 with an initial network of 28 stores and was headquartered in Auckland. At its peak popularity, the brand garnered over 22,000 followers on Facebook.
By 2018, the official website listed around 20 outlets throughout New Zealand. This number decreased to approximately six by January 2019, with one location facing imminent closure. The last remaining store in Tauranga ceased trading in January 2022.
Slogans
- Its A Civic Video Night Tonight (1988–1995)
- Get It Switched On, Get into Civic Video (1994–1996)
- C it at Civic (2003)
- Have a hot night in with CIVIC (2012)