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Roadshow Entertainment

From Alfawiki
Roadshow Entertainment
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryHome video production and distribution
PredecessorRoadshow Home Video (1982–1993)
Founded1982
FateContinues as autonomous video distributor
Headquarters
Australia
,
Australia
Area served
Australia, New Zealand
ProductsHome video, film distribution
OwnerVillage Roadshow
ParentVillage Roadshow

Roadshow Entertainment—previously known as Roadshow Home Video between 1982 and 1993—is an Australian company specializing in home video production and distribution. Operating under the umbrella of Village Roadshow, it manages film distribution across Australia and New Zealand. Its inaugural release was the film Mad Max. Roadshow Entertainment Limited continues to function as an autonomous video distributor within these territories.

History

Established in 1982 as Roadshow Home Video, a branch of Roadshow Distributors, the company initially focused on releasing content on VHS and Betamax formats. Early titles included Sex World (1978), Phantasm (1979), and Mad Max (1979). For a short period, it operated the Vibrant Video label, which specialized in R-rated adult and horror genres before transferring those titles to Palace.

In 1984, Palace Films was created as a distributor, with Roadshow managing its home video releases. By 1985, the company rebranded as Village Roadshow Home Video and began distributing Walt Disney titles in Australia, taking over from Syme Home Video.

During the late 1980s, labels such as Applause Home Video and Video Selection Australia were introduced for family-oriented content. In 1992, Disney ended its collaboration with Roadshow, moving distribution to Buena Vista Home Video Australia's division. The next year, Village Roadshow Home Video changed its name to Village Roadshow Entertainment and phased out several sub-labels.

In 1994, Roadshow formed an interactive division named Roadshow New Media to publish software across Australia and New Zealand. By the late 1990s, Palace concluded its home video distribution arrangement with Roadshow and partnered with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment instead; in 2008, Palace entered into an agreement with Madman Entertainment for DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K releases in both countries.

Roadshow commenced DVD releases in Australia with Evita on 31 October 1997 and later launched Blu-ray titles in 2008.

On 21 September 2020, Warner Bros. announced it would end its long-standing theatrical distribution partnership with Village Roadshow by the end of that year. From 2021 onwards, Universal Pictures International has managed Warner Bros.’ theatrical releases in Australia and New Zealand, while Roadshow continues to distribute Warner Bros. films through physical media and digital platforms.

Roadshow and Village Roadshow subsidiaries and divisions

  • Roadshow Vibrant Video (1982–1983) – division dedicated to adult film distribution
  • Premiere Home Entertainment (1985–1993) – a subdivision of Village Roadshow
  • Festival Video (1983–1990s) – joint venture involving Festival Mushroom Records and Warner Bros.
  • Mushroom Video (1983–1990s) – collaborative effort between Festival Mushroom Records and Warner Bros.
  • Applause Home Video (1989–1993) – part of Village Roadshow
  • Reel Corporation (2000s–present) – Village Roadshow’s budget label
  • Hopscotch Films (2005–2011) – distributed by Village Roadshow until acquired by eOne for $20.7 million
  • Palace Home Video/Entertainment/Films (1984–2000) – originally a subsidiary of Roadshow/Village Roadshow; separated from Village Roadshow in the late 1990s
  • Roadshow New Media (1990s) – gaming software publishing division also known as Roadshow Interactive
  • Roadshow-Lorimar Home Video (1985–1990) – distributor for Lorimar releases
  • Roadshow Music (1994–2013)

Labels distributed, duplicated and re-supplied

Roadshow Entertainment manages its proprietary label, Roadshow Films, serving as the theatrical distribution branch of Village Roadshow. Founded in 1968 by the proprietors of Village Cinemas, its initial focus was on distributing films to drive-in theaters, frequently collaborating with Blake Films under the combined banner Blake-Roadshow. One of their early achievements was securing re-release rights for South Pacific. This accomplishment paved the way for obtaining the Australian franchise for American International Pictures, thereby broadening its film catalog.

In 1971, Roadshow entered into a long-standing alliance with Warner Bros. through the joint entity Roadshow International, subsequently renaming its international distribution division to Roadshow Distributors. This partnership enhanced its presence within the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Following the success of the 1971 release Stork, Roadshow co-established Hexagon Productions alongside Tim Burstall & Associates and Bilcock and Copping, each holding equal shares of 25%. Hexagon was responsible for producing popular titles such as Alvin Purple, which achieved significant acclaim in Australia. After Bilcock and Copping departed prior to Eliza Fraser, Hexagon became inactive by the late 1970s. Concurrently, Roadshow persisted in distributing domestic films like Mad Max from Kennedy Miller Mitchell, as well as international projects including Rebel. In 1974, the company diversified into television distribution through Roadshow Television.

The year 1987 marked a merger between Roadshow and Greater Union Film Distributors, creating Roadshow-Greater Union Distributors while retaining their individual subsidiaries. The firm began handling releases from Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, encompassing productions from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Hollywood Pictures. By 1992, these entities were fully consolidated under Roadshow. In 1989, it commenced distributing films produced by its American subsidiary Village Roadshow Pictures.

In 1998, Buena Vista International launched its own distribution operations in Australia, concluding its collaboration with Roadshow. That same year saw Village Roadshow Pictures dissolve its international division, with Beyond Films assuming responsibility for Australian sales representation. The distribution segment was rebranded as Roadshow Films in 2001; additionally, Miramax ended its agreement to partner with Beyond International.

On 16 December 2014, Roadshow Films acquired a one-third ownership stake (33%) in the American production and sales company FilmNation Entertainment, which decreased to 31% by 2017.

Roadshow's distribution portfolio includes content from various labels such as:

Former Partners

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