Sony Video Software

From Home Video

History[edit]

Sony Video Software was originally formed in the late 1970s as Sony Video Software Operations to handle the management of such software, most notably, pre-recorded Betamax players.

The company entered video production in 1983, by starting the Sony Video 45 label. Its first product was Duran Duran in cooperation with Capitol Records, with Thorn EMI Video providing the full-length version. This was soon followed by the Sony Video LP and Sony Video EP labels.

This was soon followed in 1984 by their scripted titles under their own Sony Video Software Operations label, with The Snowman becoming a major hit for the company. This was soon followed the year with the acquisition of home video rights to the cartoon series Voltron.

In late 1985, the company was renamed to Sony Video Software Company. Soon afterwards, the company launched the Fighting Fury Video label for martial arts fare. The company scored a major coup in 1987 when they secured a deal with Rabbit Ears Productions to distribute the Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics on videocassette. The company briefly expanded to international markets such as the UK and Spain in an attempt to compete with Vestron Video, but it did not last very long.

In 1988, the company launched a film production unit, Sony Pictures, whose major purpose was to distribute films for theaters, like Tiger Warsaw. Later that year, the company was shortened to SVS, Inc., and the film production division became SVS Films. Sony would later reuse the Sony Pictures name in 1991 two years after acquiring Columbia Pictures Entertainment.

In 1991, SVS became a sub-label of RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, which was soon renamed to Columbia TriStar Home Video. SVS was renamed to SVS/Triumph Home Video, and became a label for low-profile titles. The label was quickly folded into Columbia TriStar Home Video in 1992.

Releases under the Sony Video Software label[edit]

1985[edit]

Catalog number Title Country of origin Original year Length Version MPAA rating Film format Tape count Tape break placement (if applicable) Color Released Note(s)
426 The Tripods
From The Fremantle Corporation
UK 1984 150 min TBD NR Academy 1 N/A Color 1985

Releases under the Fighting Fury Video label[edit]

1986[edit]

Catalog number Title Country of origin Original year Length Version MPAA rating Film format Tape count Tape break placement (if applicable) Color Released Note(s)
N/A Shaolin Fox Conspiracy Hong Kong 1982 75 min TBD NR Academy 1 N/A Color 1986