Village Roadshow

{{About|the Australian media company|information about the cinema chain|Village Cinemas}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Village Roadshow Pty Limited

| logo = Village-roadshow-limited-brand.png

| logo_size = 221px

| type = Private

| traded_as = ASX: VRL (until 2021)

| parent =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1954}}

| founder = Roc Kirby

| industry = Media, Entertainment

| location = The Jam Factory

| location_city = South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

| location_country = Australia

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Robert G. Kirby (executive chairman)
Clark Kirby (CEO)

| owner = BGH Capital

| num_employees =

| divisions = Village Roadshow Theme Parks

| subsid = Roadshow Entertainment

| products = {{hlist|Cinemas|radio|theme parks|film studio|VHS|film distribution}}

| revenue = {{loss}} {{A$}}1.003 billion (2017)

| net_income = {{loss}} −{{A$}}65.62 million (2017){{cite web |title=Annual Reports: 2017 |url=https://villageroadshow.com.au/investors/annual-reports/2017#/ |website=villageroadshow.com.au |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804075926/http://villageroadshow.com.au/investors/annual-reports/2017#/ |url-status=live }}

| homepage = [https://villageroadshow.com.au/ www.villageroadshow.com.au]

}}

Village Roadshow Pty Limited is an Australian company which operates cinemas and theme parks, and produces and distributes films. Before being acquired by private equity company BGH Capital, the company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and majority owned by Village Roadshow Corporation, with members of founder Roc Kirby's family in the top roles.{{cite web |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/shareholders-approve-bgh-takeover-of-village-20201207-p56l5d |title=Village family feud ends with BGH bid |publisher=Australian Financial Review |date=December 7, 2020 |access-date=15 February 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411170237/https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/shareholders-approve-bgh-takeover-of-village-20201207-p56l5d |url-status=live }}

History

Village Roadshow originally started operations as Village Drive-Ins (later known as "Village Drive-ins and Cinemas" before becoming today's "Village Cinemas" brand), in 1954, when founder Roc Kirby began running one of Australia's first drive-in cinemas in the Melbourne suburb of Croydon. The drive-in was adjacent to a shopping strip called "Croydon Village"; hence the company adopted the "Village" name. The company later expanded into traditional cinemas in major areas, though it still operates the Coburg Drive-In in Coburg, Melbourne.

In 1968, the company expanded to start its film distribution business with Roadshow (once a 50-50 joint venture with Greater Union) and moved into film production in 1971 with the establishment of Hexagon Productions,{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Graham |date=1975-07-01 |title=Village |pages=34 |work=Cinema Papers}}{{Cite book |last1=Aveyard |first1=Karina |title=Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema |last2=Moran |first2=Albert |last3=Vieth |first3=Errol |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |date=2017-12-26 |isbn=9781538111277}} and the company expanding into a longstanding relationship with Warner Bros. to distribute films in the Australian market.{{Cite book |last=Hanson |first=Stuart |title=Screening the World: Global Development of the Multiplex Cinema |publisher=Springer International Publishing |date=2019-07-26 |isbn=9783030189952}}{{Cite book |last=Goldsmith |first=Ben |title=Local Hollywood |publisher=University of Queensland Press |year=2010 |isbn=9780702238017}} The original cinema chain now became one of several businesses the company was involved in.

In the 1980s, Village Roadshow was one of the leading forces in creating state of the art multiplex cinema complexes. Innovations brought in during this period included using stadium-style seating, sophisticated sound systems and the latest in projection technologies. The cinemas of that era were the forerunners to the multiplexes of today. It was expanded in 1987 when it signed a partnership with rival cinema chain Greater Union to see 200 screens expanded to their circuits by 1990 and having both companies to develop $100 million in their equipment.{{Cite news |date=1987-08-19 |title=$A100-Mil Pricetag On Roadshow/GU Venture |page=41 |work=Variety}}

The venture was expanded in September 1987 when Roadshow and Greater Union agreed to combine the existing Roadshow Distributors theatrical branch with Greater Union's own theatrical branch, Greater Union Film Distributors to set up new separate-branding labels, Roadshow Greater Union Distributors and Greater Union Distributors, and RGUD continue to handle the existing suppliers, which included Warner Bros, Orion Pictures and New World Pictures.{{Cite news |date=1987-09-16 |title=Roadshow, Greater Union Merge Distribution Operations |page=41 |work=Variety}}{{Cite book |last=Groves |first=Don |title=AHL: 100 Years of Entertainment |publisher=Amalgamated Holdings Ltd. |year=2010 |isbn=9780958946612}}

In 1988, Village Roadshow took over De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, which brought on a change of name: Village Roadshow Limited. This allowed the company to raise more capital to fund further expansion.

In the 1990s, the company diversified into complementary media and entertainment businesses. This included the purchase and development of theme parks, the purchase and integration of the Triple M and Today radio networks to create Austereo, the creation of Roadshow Music,{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/australian-label-roadshow-music-shuts-down/|title=Australian Label Roadshow Music Shuts Down|work=Music Feeds|last=Zanotti|first=Marc|date=27 May 2013|access-date=20 December 2017|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428024310/https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/australian-label-roadshow-music-shuts-down/|url-status=live}} the creation of Village Roadshow Pictures, and the commencement of a co-production deal with Warner Bros.

Village Roadshow has scaled back its international cinema markets to Australia and Singapore. The company merged its Village Roadshow Pictures arm with Concord Music Group to form a Los Angeles-based diversified entertainment division, Village Roadshow Entertainment Group.

In 2003, the company formed a joint venture, Australian Theatres, with Amalgamated Holdings Limited, owners of Greater Union and several other cinema brands. The original founding business, Village Cinemas, is part of the joint venture.

In 2008, Village Roadshow and Concord Music Group, co-owned by television producer Norman Lear, said they had completed a merger, forming a new company to exploit their film and music assets. Investors in the new company included Michael Lambert and private equity firms Tailwind Capital Partners and Clarity Partners.{{Cite web |last=Tourtellotte |first=Bob |date=2008-02-07 |title=Village Roadshow, Concord Music complete merger |url=https://reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSN0742922320080208 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Reuters |language=en-US}} Then, on March 25, 2013, a Wood Creek Capital led investor group purchased Concord Music Group from Village Roadshow Entertainment Group.{{Cite magazine |last=Christman |first=Ed |date=2013-03-25 |title=Concord Music Group to be Sold to Wood Creek Capital Management |url=https://billboard.com/music/music-news/concord-music-group-to-be-sold-to-wood-creek-capital-management-1554424 |access-date=2024-10-03 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

In late 2019, company veteran Graham Burke stepped down as CEO and became a non-executive director, with Clark Kirby his successor as CEO.{{cite news | date = 22 February 2019 | work = Mumbrella | url = https://mumbrella.com.au/village-roadshows-graham-burke-to-stand-down-at-end-of-year-566692 | title = Village Roadshow's Graham Burke to stand down at end of year | first = Paul | last = Wallbank | access-date = 25 February 2019 | archive-date = 22 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210422145851/https://mumbrella.com.au/village-roadshows-graham-burke-to-stand-down-at-end-of-year-566692 | url-status = live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/village-roadshow-appoints-clark-kirby-chief-executive-as-chair-steps-aside-20190613-p51xc9.html |title=Village Roadshow appoints Clark Kirby CEO amid boardroom overhaul |last=Duke |first=Jennifer |date=13 June 2019 |website=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425063554/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/village-roadshow-appoints-clark-kirby-chief-executive-as-chair-steps-aside-20190613-p51xc9.html |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Village Roadshow entered talks with private equity firm BGH Capital about a takeover. The offer was lowered after the COVID-19 pandemic closed theme parks and cinemas,{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/village-roadshow-enters-500-million-takeover-talks-with-bgh-20200518-p54txi.html |title=Village Roadshow agrees to takeover talks with BGH |last=Powell |first=Dominic |date=18 May 2020 |website=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422145854/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/village-roadshow-enters-500-million-takeover-talks-with-bgh-20200518-p54txi.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-village-road-m-a-bgh-capital/village-roadshow-opens-books-to-bgh-capitals-revised-offer-idUKKBN22U01N |title=Australia's Village Roadshow opens books exclusively to BGH's lower offer |last1=Duran |first1=Paulina |last2=Nainan |first2=Nikhil |date=18 May 2020 |website= Reuters |publisher= Thomson Reuters |access-date= 18 May 2020}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and shareholders voted to accept it in December 2020. In 2022, Antenna Group announced that it was to acquire the Greek cinema chains from Village Roadshow Operations.{{Cite web |title=Antenna Group acquires cinema chain Village Roadshow Operations, Greece |url=https://antenna-group.com/news/antenna-group-acquires-cinema-chain-village-roadshow-operations-greece/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Antenna Group |language=en}}

In 2023, Village Roadshow renamed their company from Village Roadshow Limited to Village Roadshow Pty Limited, due to them no longer being listed on the ASX.

Assets

=Current=

Roadshow Television
Roadshow Rough Diamond (joint venture with John Edwards){{cite web|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/new-tv-production-company-roadshow-rough-diamond-is-launched/|title=New TV Production Company, Roadshow Rough Diamond, is Launched|website=Filmink|date=16 June 2016|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410135442/https://www.filmink.com.au/new-tv-production-company-roadshow-rough-diamond-is-launched/|url-status=live}}
BLINK TV (unscripted production company)
Australian Theatres (joint venture with Event Hospitality & Entertainment)
Village Cinemas (the original business)
Event Cinemas
Greater Union
Birch, Carrol & Coyle
Roadshow Entertainment
Roadshow Films
FilmNation Entertainment (31%, May 2020){{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/asia/village-roadshow-australia-sale-talks-bgh-coronavirus-1234609114/ |title=Village Roadshow Australia Begins Sale Talks as Coronavirus Weighs on Business |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=18 May 2020 |website=Variety |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=26 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526125307/https://variety.com/2020/biz/asia/village-roadshow-australia-sale-talks-bgh-coronavirus-1234609114/ |url-status=live }}
Village Roadshow Entertainment Group (3%, March 2025){{cite web|title=Village Roadshow Australia "Not Impacted" By US Bankruptcy Filing|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Zac|last=Ntim|date=17 March 2025|access-date=18 March 2025|url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/village-roadshow-australia-us-bankruptcy-filing-1236329349/}}
Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment
Village Roadshow Pictures
Perfect Village Entertainment (China) (joint venture with Perfect World Pictures and WME-IMG China){{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shanghai-wme-img-village-roadshow-launch-chinese-film-venture-beijings-perfect-world-1015034|title=Shanghai: WME-IMG, Village Roadshow Launch Chinese Film Venture With Beijing's Perfect World|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=20 June 2017 |access-date=25 December 2017|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428050335/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shanghai-wme-img-village-roadshow-launch-chinese-film-venture-beijings-perfect-world-1015034|url-status=live}}
Village Roadshow Pictures Asia
Village Roadshow Television
Reel Corporation
Reel DVD
Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Australian Outback Spectacular
Paradise Country
Sea World
Sea World Resort & Water Park
Warner Bros. Movie World (fully owned and operated—licensed from Warner Bros. Discovery)
Wet'n'Wild (joint venture with CNL Lifestyle Properties)
Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas
Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast
Village Roadshow Studios
Village Roadshow Marketing Solutions
Opia
Village Films Greece
Roadshow Music
Golden Village{{cite web|url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hong-kong-shareholder-buys-remaining-golden-village-singapore-stake-after-blocking|title=Hong Kong shareholder buys remaining Golden Village Singapore stake after blocking mm2's bid|date=2 October 2017|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422145851/https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hong-kong-shareholder-buys-remaining-golden-village-singapore-stake-after-blocking|url-status=live}}
Golden Village Pictures