COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 51211

Motion Picture and Video Production

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

38companies1853–1997founding years34still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedVivendi Universal S.A.
1853
FoundedPathé SA
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedGolden Books Family Entertainment, Inc.
1910
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedScholastic Corporation
1920
FoundedKodansha Ltd.
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedSPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedTaurusHolding GmbH & Co. KG
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBonneville International CorporationFoundedKing World Productions, Inc.
1964
FoundedImax Corporation
1967
FoundedChrysalis Group plc
1968
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedCinar Corporation
1976
FoundedNews Corporation Limited
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedRentrak Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCanal Plus
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedWilliams Communications Group, Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedRush Communications
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedSchibsted ASA
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Vivendi Universal S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1853 · France
Formerly known as the Générale des Eaux Group, Vivendi Universal S.A.
Pathé SA →
Active · founded 1896 · France
One of the most illustrious names in motion picture history, Pathé remains one of France's leading forces in film…
Pathé SA →
Active · founded 1896 · France
One of the most illustrious names in motion picture history, Pathé remains one of France's leading forces in film…
Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1910
Since 1996 when a new investor group took control of the company, Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc., a leading…
Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1910
Since 1996 when a new investor group took control of the company, Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc., a leading…
Scholastic Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
The Scholastic Corporation is one of the leading publishers and distributors of books, magazines, and other educational…
Scholastic Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
The Scholastic Corporation is one of the leading publishers and distributors of books, magazines, and other educational…
Kodansha Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Kodansha Ltd.
Kodansha Ltd. →
Active · founded 1925 · Japan
Kodansha Ltd.
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1947 · Germany
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co.
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1947 · Germany
SPIEGEL-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co.
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1956 · Germany
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co.
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1956 · Germany
TaurusHolding GmbH & Co.
Bonneville International Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Bonneville International Corporation operates Salt Lake City's KSL-TV and also KCSG-TV in St.
Bonneville International Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Bonneville International Corporation operates Salt Lake City's KSL-TV and also KCSG-TV in St.
King World Productions, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1964
King World Productions, Inc.
King World Productions, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1964
King World Productions, Inc.
Imax Corporation →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Imax Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen,…
Imax Corporation →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Imax Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen,…
Chrysalis Group plc →
Active · founded 1968 · United Kingdom
1970s-80s:Company experiences success with Tull, Blondie, Billy Idol, and other recording artists.
Chrysalis Group plc →
Active · founded 1968 · United Kingdom
1970s-80s:Company experiences success with Tull, Blondie, Billy Idol, and other recording artists.
Cinar Corporation →
Active · founded 1976 · Canada
Cinar Corporation produces children's television shows and markets supplemental educational materials through two…
Cinar Corporation →
Active · founded 1976 · Canada
Cinar Corporation produces children's television shows and markets supplemental educational materials through two…
News Corporation Limited →
Active · founded 1979 · Australia
News Corporation Limited is the holding company for the large range of enterprises created or acquired since the 1950s…
News Corporation Limited →
Active · founded 1979 · Australia
News Corporation Limited is the holding company for the large range of enterprises created or acquired since the 1950s…
Rentrak Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Rentrak Corporation is the world's largest distributor of pre-recorded videocassettes on a pay-per-transaction basis.
Rentrak Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
Rentrak Corporation is the world's largest distributor of pre-recorded videocassettes on a pay-per-transaction basis.
Canal Plus →
Active · founded 1984 · France
With nearly 14 million subscribers across Europe and Africa, Canal Plus ranks as one of the world's premiere…
Canal Plus →
Active · founded 1984 · France
With nearly 14 million subscribers across Europe and Africa, Canal Plus ranks as one of the world's premiere…
Williams Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams Communications Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,…
Williams Communications Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Williams Communications Group, Inc., a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,…
Rush Communications →
Active · founded 1990
Rush Communications is the most successful African American-owned media company in the United States, operating…
Rush Communications →
Active · founded 1990
Rush Communications is the most successful African American-owned media company in the United States, operating…
Schibsted ASA →
Active · founded 1992 · Norway
After operating for more than 100 years as a family-owned newspaper business, Schibsted ASA was incorporated in 1992 as…
Schibsted ASA →
Active · founded 1992 · Norway
After operating for more than 100 years as a family-owned newspaper business, Schibsted ASA was incorporated in 1992 as…
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1997 · Canada
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a leading independent film and television production company based in Canada.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1997 · Canada
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a leading independent film and television production company based in Canada.
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