Village Roadshow

Infobox_Company
company_name = Village Roadshow Limited
company_
company_type = Public (asx|VRL)
company_slogan =
foundation = Croydon, Victoria, Australia (1954)
founder = Roc Kirby
industry = Media, Entertainment
location = Melbourne, Australia (headquarters)
key_people = Robert G. Kirby, CEO
num_employees =
products = Cinemas, Radio, Themeparks, Film Distribution, Film Studio
revenue = $1,453 million AUD (2005, [http://www.villageroadshow.com.au/press_releases/pdf/2005%20Results%20Presentation.pdf] )
homepage = [http://www.village.com.au/ www.village.com.au]

Village Roadshow Limited asx|VRL is an Australian media company with interests in cinema, theme parks, film production and distribution. The company is a publicly listed entity on the Australian Securities Exchange. It is majority owned by Village Roadshow Corporation, run by John and Robert Kirby and Graham Burke.

History

Village Roadshow commenced operations in 1954, when founder Roc Kirby began running one of Australia's first drive-in cinemas in the Melbourne suburb of Croydon. The drive-in was adjacent to a shopping strip called "Croydon Village"; hence the company adopted the "Village" name. The company later expanded into traditional cinemas in major areas, though it still operates the "Coburg Drive-In" in Coburg.

In the 1960s the company started its film distribution business (once a 50-50 joint venture with Greater Union) and moved into film production in the 1970s.

In the 1980s, Village Roadshow was one of the leading forces in creating state of the art multiplex cinema complexes. Innovations brought in during this period included using stadium-style seating, sophisticated sound systems and the latest in projection technologies. The cinemas of that era were the forerunners to the multiplexes of today.

In 1989, Village Roadshow took over De Laurentis Entertainment Limited, which brought on a change of name: Village Roadshow Limited. This allowed the company to raise more capital to fund further expansion.

In the 1990s, the company diversified into complementary media and entertainment businesses. This included the purchase and development of theme parks, the purchase and integration of the Triple M and Today radio networks to create Austereo Group Limited, the creation of Village Roadshow Pictures, and the commencement of a co-production deal with Warner Bros..

In 2003, the company incurred massive losses due to several box office flops. In 2004, a move by Village Roadshow Corporation to acquire more stock was halted by German company Boswell Filmgesellschaft, who argued that Village had misinformed shareholders about their voting rights because holders of ordinary shares who also held preference stock were excluded from voting on the buyback.

in 2008, Village Roadshow and Concord Music Group, co-owned by television producer Norman Lear, said they completed a merger forming a new company to exploit their film and music assets. Investors in the new company include Lambert Entertainment and private equity firms Tailwind Capital Partners and Clarity Partners. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSN0742922320080208 Village Roadshow, Concord Music complete merger] ]

Divisions

Village Cinemas

Austereo Radio

Village Roadshow Pictures

VRP co-produces feature films, primarily with Warner Bros.. Major successes include "The Matrix" trilogy, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Ocean's Eleven."

From 1 July 2007 Village Roadshow Pictures Group merged with Concord Music Group to create Village Roadshow Entertainment Group [http://www.villageroadshow.com.au/press_releases/pdf/Village%20Forms%20New%20Music%20Division%2003.04.07.pdf] . VRPG and Concord Music continue to operate separately under VREG where Village Roadshow holds a 39.9% interest with Crescent Entertainment (48%) and Tailwind Capital (12.1%).

Warner Roadshow Studios

Production editing and filming facilities located on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Films such as "Pitch Black", "The Condemned", "Scooby-Doo", "Peter Pan (2003)" and "House of Wax (2005)" were filmed at the studio.

Warner Village Theme Parks

Originally a joint venture with Time Warner, VRP owns and operates Movie World, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild waterpark, Australian Outback Spectacular & Paradise Country - all located in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Village Roadshow Entertainment

A distributor of VHS and DVD titles to the home market. Premiere Home Entertainment and Applause Home Video were both originally a Division of Village Roadshow.

Timeline

1981: Village Roadshow Entertainment was emerged as Roadshow Home Video.

1983: Roadshow Home Video launched a new ident featuring the Home Video font in yellow instead of Red and an Announcer on that ident before the Movie Previews.

1985: Roadshow Home Video became Village Roadshow Home Video and Premiere Home Entertainment emerged in that year.Circa 1990: Applause Home Video was emerged. Disbutor by Video Selection Australia video

1992 or 1993: Premiere Home Entertainment launched a new ident.

1993: Village Roadshow Home Video became Village Roadshow Entertainment.

1996: Village Roadshow Entertainment launched a new ident. Plus Trailers

Reel Corporation

A division of Roadshow which distributes smaller titles to Cinemas and on DVD.

Intencity

A family entertainment centre chain.

ydney Attractions Group

Manages the Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower observation deck and Sydney Tower Skywalk attraction, Sydney Wildlife World, and Oceanworld Manly.

References

External links

* [http://www.villageroadshow.com.au/ Village Roadshow corporate site]