Simon Marketing

Simon Marketing, Inc. was a marketing subsidiary of Simon Worldwide, Inc., itself based in California. In 1987, the company started licensing agreements with a couple of home video distributors and a duplication contract with Technicolor Video Services. 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, 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 are/is different. 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 "097428," and the regular distributor's stock number is removed. In mid-1995, 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 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

 * LIVE Home Video (1990-1995)
 * Family Home Entertainment (1990-1995)
 * Vestron Video (1987-1993)
 * Maier Communications (1989-1995)
 * DiC Video (1987-1992)
 * New Line Home Video (1991-1995)
 * Nelson Entertainment (1990-1991)
 * HBO Video (1987-1995)
 * Random House Home Video (1988-1992)
 * Media Home Entertainment (1987-1993)
 * J2 Communications (1987-1993)

Locations

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