Simon Marketing

Simon Marketing, Inc. was a marketing subsidiary of Simon Worldwide, Inc., itself based in California. In late 1987, the company started licensing agreements with a couple of home video distributors and a duplication contract with Technicolor Videocassette, Inc. Sometime in 1989, Simon Marketing, Inc. formed a home video division called Promotional Concept Group, Inc.

The company's video releases were often duplicated in EP/SLP mode, sometimes with only a linear audio track (except on SP mode tapes where they also had a hi-fi audio track), and opened with a tracking disclaimer ID in a black background, with the text, "FOR MAXIMUM PICTURE QUALITY" in white and the text, "IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ADJUST THE TRACKING CONTROL ON YOUR VCR" in either red or blue. Sometimes, the announcer and/or the font on the disclaimer are/is different, and the disclaimer is followed by either the mid-late 1980's Embassy Home Entertainment/Nelson Entertainment warning screen or the 1986-1991 Vestron Video warning screen. In addition, their releases reused the packaging provided by the regular distributor, except on Vestron Video titles sold through the company, the regular distributor's logo and video copyright information are removed, and as always, the regular distributor's UPC is replaced with Simon's own UPC, beginning with the prefix "097428," and the regular distributor's stock number is removed.

In early 1994, Simon Marketing, Inc. exited the video business, possibly due to many customers complaining about the company's frequent use of EP/SLP mode and lack of hi-fi on their releases. In 1997, Simon Worldwide, Inc. itself was sold to a Massachusetts-based promotion company, called Cyrk, which was once one of the largest promotion companies, and in 2002, Simon Worldwide, Inc. went into liquidation, likely due to a 2001 lawsuit filed against a Simon/Cyrk employee by McDonald's Corporation.

List of licensing distributors

 * ABC Video Enterprises (1987-1992)
 * LIVE Home Video (1991-1994)
 * Family Home Entertainment (1991-1994)
 * Vestron Video (1987-1993)
 * Maier Communications (1990-1991)
 * DiC Video (1987-1990)
 * New Line Home Video (1991-1994)
 * Nelson Entertainment (1990-1991)
 * HBO Video (1989-1994)
 * Random House Home Video (1988-1992)
 * Media Home Entertainment (1987-1990)
 * J2 Communications (1987-1992)

Locations

 * Los Angeles, California
 * Irvine, California (headquarters)