Video City (Australia)
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video rental |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Fate | Liquidation |
| Headquarters | Hobart, Tasmania Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Terrance Ewing (founder) |
| Services | |
| Parent | Classic Video Pty Ltd |
| Website | Archived website |
Video City was an Australian retailer specializing in home video rentals, providing a variety of formats including VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray, as well as console video games for hire. At its height, Video City operated a total of 26 outlets nationwide—21 located within Tasmania, and an additional five across Victoria and Queensland.
History
Established in 1982 by Terrance "Terry" Ewing in Glenorchy, Tasmania, Video City rapidly grew throughout Tasmania, effectively limiting competition from larger chains such as Video Ezy and Blockbuster Video. Its dominant presence on the island facilitated expansion onto the Australian mainland, culminating in the launch of Australia's largest video rental store in New Town, Tasmania in 2002.
Decline
The downturn of Video City was largely driven by the emergence of illegal digital downloads and online streaming platforms. Beginning in the mid-2000s, the global video rental industry experienced a significant decline, initially triggered by peer-to-peer file sharing networks like Limewire and The Pirate Bay, which enabled widespread distribution of pirated content. Subsequently, streaming services including Netflix, Stan, ABC iview, and SBS On Demand further eroded traditional rental markets in Australia. As a physical store operator, Video City, alongside competitors such as Video Ezy and Blockbuster Video, was unable to successfully adapt its business model to the digital environment. The passing of founder Terrance Ewing in January 2015 further impacted the company’s strategic direction and operational stability.
During the 2016 Tasmanian energy crisis caused by the failure of the Basslink cable, which resulted in prolonged internet outages across Tasmania, Video City's physical media offerings experienced a temporary boost in demand. Nevertheless, this revival was fleeting; flagship locations began shutting down with Burnie closing in 2017 followed by Launceston in 2018. After liquidating its extensive collection exceeding 30,000 titles, the final store located in New Town ceased operations in August 2019.
Marketing
In Tasmania during the 1990s, Video City became well-known for its unique sound branding featured in both radio and television advertisements. Its iconic "Good Times" jingle, produced by marketing agency Vision 2000, bore a strong resemblance to the 1989 hit "Good Thing" by Fine Young Cannibals.
Incidents
The New Norfolk outlet was targeted in a burglary amounting to $18,000 in 1997, followed by an armed robbery in 2001. In that same year, Video City contributed $4,800 to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Trust as restitution for a GST overcharge that impacted 20,500 customers during the prior year. In 2007, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (United Voice) initiated legal action against Video City in the Federal Court of Australia concerning alleged unfair dismissals linked to employees declining to sign individual contracts. Additionally, the original Glenorchy location was subjected to a robbery by two offenders in March 2008.