“CBS/Fox Video”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The CBS/Fox Company, or CBS/Fox Video was a home video entertainment company formed and established in June 1982, as a merger between 20th Century-Fox Video, (formerly Magnetic Video Corporation), and CBS Video Enterprises which sold film libraries from major American film studios and was the North American licensee of BBC Video releases. These products were released in the VHS, Laserdisc, and Betamax home video formats.

The company was based in Farmington Hills, Michigan (home of its predecessor Magnetic Video) until 1985, when it moved to Livonia, Michigan. In 1989, it moved its headquarters to New York City, where it stayed until it became Fox Video (now 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) in 1991.

CBS/Fox Video was founded under a 50-50 venture with 20th Century Fox in 1982 when CBS broke off a previous venture formed in 1980 with MGM. During this period, both companies continued to operate independently while maintaining their partnership. A reorganization occurred in 1990 with CBS selling products under the CBS Video name (which had been sparingly used since the 1970s) and mainstream Fox titles being controlled by FoxVideo; the change was enacted in 1991. In the early 2000s, CBS/Fox ceased operations.

History

Video rental library

Before CBS/Fox Video existed, 20th Century Fox Video released a few titles for rental only, including Dr. No, A Fistful of Dollars, Rocky, Taps, For Your Eyes Only and Star Wars. While sale tapes were in big boxes that were later used by CBS/Fox in its early years, Video Rental Library tapes were packaged in black clamshell cases. Similar approaches were taken by other companies.

Joint venture

FoxVideo, Inc.

FoxVideo, Inc. was the home video arm of 20th Century Fox that replaced CBS/Fox Video, which was founded in 1982 after CBS Home Video left MGM Home Video (MGM/CBS Home Video from 1979 to 1982) when United Artists merged with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1981 to form MGM/UA Entertainment Co. (1981–1986, renamed MGM/UA Communications Co. in 1986 after ending that year's only deal with Turner Broadcasting System) and its video arm.

In 1982, CBS formed a 50-50 venture with 20th Century Fox after Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer broke off a joint venture with CBS, that was agreed in 1980, to market videocassettes and videodiscs.^[3] This was publicly announced on June 18, 1982, where they announced CBS's 40-acre film and production facility in Studio City, California would be operated by both companies.^[1] In the process, CBS and Fox continued to independently supply programs for the home video market, while CBS/Fox supplied films from motion picture studios.^[3]

In 1985, CBS/Fox became the American licensee of BBC Video products.^[4] CBS/Fox brought large numbers of film libraries such as the United Artists films. The library brought consisted mainly of pre-MGM merger titles (although at the time, MGM holds the video rights to some pre-merger films that are not yet released on video), films from the James Bond and Rocky series, although the post-merger Bond and Rocky 1980s sequels were released by CBS/Fox as well, and some low profile post-merger films under license from MGM/UA. These UA films were later issued through MGM/UA Home Video (now, MGM Home Entertainment) starting in 1989 (although Fox would later release the post-April 1986 MGM library years later). CBS/Fox also secured rights from George Lucas for the video release of The Empire Strikes Back for $12 million on August 30, 1984. Lucas claimed the deal was to prevent the film from being broadcast on television.^[5]^[6]

In 1985, CBS and 20th Century Fox secured a financial package that saw both companies generate between $75 and $100 million. The deal also included the offering of bonds with the investment firm Drexel Burnham Lambert.^[7]

In 1987, the company increased its rights from BBC Video after buying the rights to 600 broadcasts. When asked about how the agreement came to light, then-CBS/Fox president Leonard White said "The deal is timed to coincide with the BBC's 50th anniversary".^[8] Within a month of the announcement, CBS/Fox released a definitive line-up of films named "Five Star Collection IV" which included 28 films. Such films included Revenge of the Nerds, Cat's Eye and Oxford Blues.^[9]

In November 1989, the company filed a lawsuit against MGM/UA over a video distribution agreement that was broken. The claim was that CBS/Fox lost revenue after video releases ended up being films that did not perform well in cinemas while MGM/UA distributed higher-grossing films.^[10] The two companies were placed in a bad relationship since 1981 when MGM/UA brought United Artists which created its own video subsidiary.^[11] The case was settled on June 26, 1992, when both companies resolved their differences.^[12]

The 1990s

In 1990–1991, CBS/Fox began releasing titles from the then-bankrupt Media Home Entertainment. At the end of 1990, CBS/Fox reported they controlled 6.5% of the home video market and reported revenues of $249 million.^[13]

In March 1991, a reorganization of the company was made, which would give Fox greater control of the joint venture. All of CBS/Fox's distribution functions were transferred to the newly formed FoxVideo, which would also take over exclusive distribution to all 20th Century Fox products. CBS began releasing their products under the "CBS Video" name, with CBS/Fox handing marketing and FoxVideo handling distribution. CBS/Fox would retain the license to non-theatrical products from third parties, including those from BBC Video.^[14]^[15]

The end of CBS/Fox Video

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment was founded in 1995. Fox then had 3 video arms during that era. In 1998, CBS/Fox Video folded into CBS Home Entertainment (CBS and the original Viacom had merged in 1970. Paramount Pictures was also a division of Gulf + Western [renamed Paramount Communications in 1989] from 1966–1994. Since Viacom bought Paramount in 1994, Paramount Home Media Distribution distributed CBS Home Entertainment titles), FVI, and TCFHE. FVI eventually folded into TCFHE in 1999.

In early 1998, Fox Entertainment Group (then-owned by News Corporation) acquired CBS/Fox Video and the rest of CBS/Fox's non-shopping (film and TV) assets, and renamed CBS/Fox Video to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

In 2000, CBS's merger with Viacom was finalized, and the CBS/Fox partnership ceased existence, although even after the corporate split CBS/Fox did still own some ancillary rights to two Rodgers and Hammerstein film properties, Oklahoma! and South Pacific, until 20th Century Fox was able to fully assume CBS/Fox's former share of these films. The BBC's license with CBS/Fox ended in Summer 2000 and Warner Home Video took over distribution.^[16]

Specialty labels

CBS/Fox used specialty labels for children's and family's videos, music videos, and sports videos. In addition to its main CBS/Fox label, which was mostly A-list fare, (although the three Porky's, first Bachelor Party (1984) and first two Revenge of the Nerds (1984 & 1987) movies with their low budgets and concepts and mostly young or unknown casts were also released on it), CBS/Fox maintained two other labels, Key Video (mostly B and drive-in fare and some made for television films, plus some of the a.a.p./United Artists back catalogue and low-profile TriStar, MGM/UA and Fox releases); and Playhouse Video (children's and family films and programs, including Planet of the Apes 1968-1973 films, Shirley Temple's films, The Muppets videos, Mr. Rogers videos, and Dr. Seuss specials by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises); this label was also used on the earliest Doctor Who VHS releases. These became inactive by 1991, though 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment reactivated the Key Video label as Key DVD.

Anti-piracy measures

In the attempt to prevent unauthorized tape duplication, CBS/Fox became an early adopter of Macrovision anti-piracy technology.^[17] In countries such as Australia, the company introduced a colored spine that was either yellow or blue on VHS tapes. On Betamax cassettes, a polarized seal was present. These measures were taken to ensure that consumers would be guaranteed that their products were of high quality.^[18]

References

1. ^¹{{cite news|title=CBS and Fox in Video Venture|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/18/business/cbs-and-fox-in-video-venture.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date= June 18, 1982}}
2. ^{{cite news|title=CBS and Fox in Video Venture|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/18/business/cbs-and-fox-in-video-venture.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date= June 18, 1982}}
3. ^¹{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=JeY_afXHSnEC&pg=PA173&dq=cbs+fox+video+1982#v=onepage&q=cbs%20fox%20video%201982&f=false|title=Joint Ventures, Alliances, and Corporate Strategy|last=Rudie Harrigan|first=Kathryn|publisher=Beard Books|year=1985|isbn=978-1-58798-195-1|location=|page=173|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
4. ^{{cite news|title=CBS-Fox Video|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/03/business/cbs-fox-video.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 3, 1985}}
5. ^{{cite news|title=Home Video Rights Sold To 'Empire Strikes Back'|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7370637CEC4D0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=Lexington Herald Leader | date=August 31, 1984}}
6. ^{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ecw8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Vi4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3601,3847529&dq=home+video+rights+sold+to+empire+strikes+back&hl=en|title=Home Video Right to 'Empire' Sold|date=August 31, 1984|newspaper=The Press Courier|access-date=March 30, 2018|agency=Associated Press|page=4}}
7. ^{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-03-02/business/fi-24127_1_financing-package|title=CBS, Fox Discussing Financing Package for Video Partnership|last=Harris|first=Kathryn|date=March 2, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
8. ^{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-04-17/entertainment/8701290500_1_akai-monty-python-troupe-bbc-video|title=CBS-Fox Video Buys Rights To 600 British Broadcasts|date=April 17, 1987|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
9. ^{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-05-01/entertainment/8702020767_1_omen-cannon-video-ipcress-file|title=CBS/Fox Video Continues Lowered Prices With 28 Titles|last=Stevens|first=Mary|date=May 1, 1987|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
10. ^{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1989-11-17/business/fi-1657_1_home-video-distribution|title=CBS/Fox Suing MGM/UA Over Video Distribution Pact|last=Sanchez|first=Jesus|date=November 17, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
11. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/business/the-media-business-cbs-fox-sues-mgm-ua.html|title=The Media Business; CBS/Fox Sues MGM/UA|date=November 17, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
12. ^{{cite news|title=CBS/FOX, METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER RESOLVE PENDING LITIGATION|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CBS%2fFOX%2c+METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER+RESOLVE+PENDING+LITIGATION-a012282034|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=June 26, 1992}}
13. ^{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-01-23/business/fi-564_1_joint-venture|title=CBS May Reduce Role in Fox Video Venture|last=Lippman|first=John|date=January 23, 1991|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
14. ^Sweeting, Paul (March 2, 1991). "FoxVideo Born as New Logo in CBS/Fox Shifts." Billboard, pages 1 and 78.
15. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/30/business/the-media-business-ge-sells-its-50-stake-in-video-unit.html|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; G.E. Sells Its 50% Stake In Video Unit|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=May 30, 1991|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 30, 2018}}
16. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=-g8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA77&dq=cbs/fox+walking+with+dinosaurs#v=onepage&q=cbs%252Ffox%2520walking%2520with%2520dinosaurs&f=false|title=Billboard|last=|first=|date=2000-07-15|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|isbn=|location=|pages=|language=en|via=}}
17. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/arts/video-tanglesin-the-anti-copying-thicket.html|title=Video; Tanglesin the Anti-Copying Ticket|last=Fantel|first=Hans|work=New York Times|date=August 30, 1987|accessdate=November 30, 2012}}
18. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGCJ7qYI48E|title=Home Video Anti Piracy Advices - Redux [Australia]|work=YouTube|time=02:14-03:45}}