RLJ Entertainment

RLJ Entertainment traces its operating history to Image Entertainment, which was founded in 1981 as a distributor of LaserDiscs. LaserDisc offered higher picture and sound quality than VHS and Betamax, and Image established a strong position by acquiring and distributing a broad range of programming. Its early catalog included adult material as well as mainstream releases. The company secured exclusive or specialized distribution arrangements involving major studios including Universal, Fox, Orion, and Disney, helping it become a prominent LaserDisc distributor. In August 1994, Image entered the CD-ROM market by releasing films in that format. During the late 1990s, however, the home-video market shifted decisively toward DVD. Image redirected its business toward DVD rights and assembled a catalog that emphasized programming often overlooked by major studios and record companies. Its acquisitions and licensing activities covered music concerts, television programs, foreign films, anime, documentaries, special-interest material, and other library content. It also obtained audio, broadcast, and digital-download rights for portions of its catalog. Image continued a long-term relationship with The Criterion Collection and worked with a large number of independent content owners. Image entered the feature-film release business in 2008. It subsequently developed distribution arrangements with several important rights holders. In 2005, it agreed to distribute selected anime titles from Bandai Visual under the Honneamise label; that relationship ended in March 2007 when Bandai Visual moved its United States distribution to Geneon USA. In August 2010, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment entered a multiyear arrangement with Image to market and distribute selected Image DVDs and Blu-rays, while Image retained its own sales and marketing functions. The Sony arrangement ended in April 2012. In April 2011, Image agreed to distribute Lakeshore Entertainment's film library on home media, an arrangement that also provided access to elements of the New World Pictures library acquired by Lakeshore. A corporate restructuring followed in 2012. RLJ Acquisition agreed to acquire Image Entertainment and Acorn Media, with the companies operating together as RLJ Entertainment. The combination gave the new group a broader catalog and connected Image's North American physical-media operation with Acorn's expertise in British and international television programming. In 2014, RLJ Entertainment acquired Acorn Media UK. That transaction included a 64 percent interest in Agatha Christie Limited, adding a significant literary-property and television-rights component to the group. AMC Networks announced a definitive agreement to acquire the RLJ Entertainment shares it did not already own or that were not held by Robert L. Johnson. The deal valued the remaining shares at approximately $59 million according to the cited company history. RLJ stockholders approved the transaction on October 31, 2018, and AMC Networks completed it on November 1. RLJ Entertainment consequently became a privately owned subsidiary of AMC Networks, with Johnson and affiliates retaining a reported 17 percent interest. The transaction placed RLJ's film, television, and specialty-content assets within AMC Networks' wider television and streaming ecosystem. The continuing status of RLJ Entertainment as a separately marketed brand is not sufficiently documented in the supplied sources.

• 2018

  Acquisition by AMC Networks

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  AMC Networks completes its acquisition of RLJ Entertainment after stockholder approval, taking the company private.

• 2014

  Acquisition of Acorn Media UK

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  RLJ Entertainment acquires Acorn Media UK and a 64 percent interest in Agatha Christie Limited.

• 2012

  Formation of RLJ Entertainment

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  RLJ Acquisition acquires Image Entertainment and Acorn Media and combines them under the RLJ Entertainment name.

• 2011

  Lakeshore library distribution agreement

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Image agrees to distribute Lakeshore Entertainment's film library on home media and gains access to portions of the New World Pictures library.

• 2010

  Sony Pictures distribution partnership

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment partners with Image to market and distribute selected Image DVDs and Blu-rays.

• 2008

  Expansion into feature films

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Image expands its release schedule to include feature films.

• 2005

  Bandai Visual distribution agreement

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Image signs an agreement to distribute selected Bandai Visual anime releases under the Honneamise label.

• 1994

  Entry into CD-ROM releases

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Image enters the CD-ROM market with film releases.

• 1981

  Image Entertainment is founded

  [1]RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Image Entertainment begins operations as a LaserDisc distributor in the United States.

A specialist entertainment-rights and home-video distributor focused on catalog, independent, international, television, music, anime, documentary, and special-interest programming, later operating within AMC Networks' broader media portfolio.

• Physical home entertainment · 1981

  LaserDisc releases

  Image Entertainment's original business centered on LaserDisc distribution. The company released mainstream films, adult titles, music programming, and other video material during the period when LaserDisc competed with VHS and Betamax. Its relationships with major studios helped it develop a substantial position in the format before the market moved toward DVD.

• Home video

  DVD and Blu-ray catalog

  DVD became the core of Image's later physical-media business. The catalog included feature films, television programming, concert films, foreign-language productions, documentaries, anime, special-interest programs, and library titles. Image also released Blu-ray products as high-definition physical media developed, including titles supplied through arrangements with Sony Pictures and Lakeshore.

• Television distribution

  Television programming

  RLJ Entertainment and its predecessor distributed television series and programs from United States, British, and international rights holders. The Acorn businesses strengthened the group's position in British television and catalog programming, while the broader Image catalog included domestic television material and special-interest series.

• Music video and audio

  Music and concert programming

  Music was an important specialist category for Image. The company distributed filmed concerts, music programs, and audio releases, including CD products. Its rights portfolio included broadcast, audio, and digital-download rights for portions of its programming, allowing music content to be distributed across more than one format.

• Anime distribution · 2005

  Anime releases

  Image distributed selected anime titles through its 2005 agreement with Bandai Visual, using the Honneamise label. The arrangement ended in March 2007 when Bandai Visual transferred United States distribution to Geneon USA.

• Digital content

  Digital video and audio catalog

  In addition to physical products, Image held digital-download rights for a large number of video and audio programs. This extended the company's specialist catalog into digital distribution as consumers increasingly moved from discs toward electronically delivered entertainment.

• 2018

  Accept AMC Networks acquisitionM&A

  Background

  AMC Networks sought full ownership of RLJ Entertainment after already holding an interest alongside Robert L. Johnson-related shareholders.

  Action taken

  AMC Networks agreed to acquire the remaining RLJ shares, and the transaction was approved by stockholders and completed on November 1, 2018.

  Aftermath

  RLJ Entertainment became a privately owned subsidiary of AMC Networks. Robert L. Johnson and affiliates retained a reported 17 percent stake.

  Consideration for remaining RLJ Entertainment shares. $59 million (2018 acquisition announcement)

  Source

• 2014

  Acquire Acorn Media UKM&A

  Background

  RLJ Entertainment pursued additional international distribution capability and access to established British television and literary-property programming.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Acorn Media UK in a transaction that also included a 64 percent interest in Agatha Christie Limited.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded RLJ's United Kingdom presence and added an interest in the Agatha Christie rights business.

  Source

• 2012

  Combine Image Entertainment and Acorn MediaM&A

  Background

  RLJ Acquisition sought to combine two specialist entertainment distributors with complementary catalogs and geographic strengths.

  Action taken

  RLJ Acquisition agreed to acquire Image Entertainment and Acorn Media and operate the combined businesses under the RLJ Entertainment banner.

  Aftermath

  The transaction created the RLJ Entertainment operating group and broadened its film, television, home-video, and international distribution activities.

  Source

1. 1RLJ Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org