AstralTech

List of Customers

 * Astral Video (Canadian)
 * CBS/Fox Video (Canadian, 1983-1984)
 * MCA Home Video Canada [Some releases]
 * RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (Canadian)
 * Screencraft Video (Canadian)
 * Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Canadian, 1985-2000)
 * Walt Disney Home Video

How to Tell

 * 1985-1995 tapes duplicated by Pathé Video and AstralTech have a coloured sticker, usually white, on the tape guard. These stickers always have numbers on them.
 * In addition, Astral Media acquired Pathé Video in early 1990.
 * On any tape duplicated by AstralTech between 1990 and 1993, there are 8 digit numbers printed in dark ink on the bottom middle spine.
 * From 1994 to early 1995, AstralTech printed out print dates on their tapes that were similar to the ones on US-marketed tapes duplicated by Technicolor.
 * Beginning in 1997, tapes duplicated by AstralTech have DTMF phone dial-tones at the beginning and end.
 * Beginning in 1995, tapes duplicated by AstralTech have ink information on the bottom middle side akin to those duplicated by Technicolor, except the information reads the name of the release and cartridge numbers in either 0/0, 00/00, 000/000 or 0000/0000.
 * For example, if the cartridge number reads "13/40", that means the tape is cartridge number 13 out of the 40 cartridges, although in some ways, this does not reliably guarantee that only 40 copies of the VHS release were produced by this arm. Or, if it reads "089/510", that means the tape is cartridge number 89 out of 510 cartridges.



Fun Facts

 * Astral Media sold its video duplication and distribution arm to Technicolor in 2000, however, the sale did not include the Astral Home Entertainment video wholesaling and marketing operation.
 * Pathé Video became the official duplicator of Disney video tapes marketed in Canada in 1985. Disney's Canadian home entertainment subsidiary was known as BVA Video Ltd., whereas its US home entertainment subsidiary was known as Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment since 2008, also known as Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. since 1997 and formerly known as Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Co., Inc. (1980-1987) and Buena Vista Home Video, Inc. (1987-1997).
 * On 1990-2007 tapes, the engraving on the left or right side of the tape that says either "BVHV" (1990-1997) or "BVHE" (1997-2007) may be similar to the one on US-marketed tapes duplicated by Technicolor, except it may be yellow and not orange.
 * Pre-1995 tapes may have another engraving on the left (if "BVHV" is on the right) or right (if "BVHV" is on the left) side of the tape that says "DIS" in black. This may be only on tapes that wound up under the Walt Disney Home Video label.
 * However, on tapes that wound up under the Buena Vista Home Video label, the black engraving may say "BVA".

Locations

 * Montreal, Quebec (19??-????)
 * Toronto, Ontario (19??-????)