Family Home Entertainment

Family Home Entertainment (FHE) was an American home-video company and label established in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom. It was created as the family-oriented counterpart to Caballero Home Video, an earlier Bloom company associated with adult home video. FHE operated from Newbury Park, California, and concentrated primarily on programming suitable for children and families, although its catalogue also included selected general-interest, genre, and horror material during its early years. The company became notable during the expansion of the VHS market in the 1980s. Its releases included episodes and compilations from popular animated television properties such as The Transformers, G.I. Joe, Jem, ThunderCats, Inspector Gadget, Defenders of the Earth, Pound Puppies, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, Gumby, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Care Bears, and Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars! FHE also issued family-oriented films and specials, including material connected with Filmation and the Rankin/Bass television library. Its relationship with Rankin/Bass began in 1989, when FHE became one of the principal home-video distributors for many seasonal television specials. That arrangement ended in 1998, when the relevant home-video rights moved to Sony Wonder and Golden Books Family Entertainment. FHE’s catalogue was broader than its name might suggest. In the early 1980s, the company used the World of Horror label for releases such as Journey into the Beyond and The Child. It also distributed British children’s programs, including Roobarb, Wil Cwac Cwac, James the Cat, and Fireman Sam; Japanese material such as Robotech and The Adventures of Ultraman; and Australian productions including the Dot films. Beginning in 1982, FHE released several Filmation television properties, including Lassie’s Rescue Rangers, The Lone Ranger, Shazam!, Blackstar, The New Adventures of Zorro, and Journey Back to Oz. The company’s corporate structure changed several times. Early releases were distributed by MGM/UA Home Video, while MCA handled notable late-1980s distribution, particularly in Canada. In 1982, Bloom established USA Home Video as a non-family-oriented sister operation. FHE and USA Home Video became part of Bloom’s NCB Entertainment Group in 1984. In 1985, the businesses were reorganized under International Video Entertainment, which later became Live Entertainment. FHE continued as the children’s and family imprint within that corporate succession. During the 1990s, the Family Home Entertainment Theatre banner was used for full-length family films controlled by Live, and some titles were reissued through Live’s budget-oriented Avid Home Entertainment brand. The label continued through Live Entertainment’s 1998 rebranding as Artisan Entertainment and developed the FHE Kids imprint. In the early 2000s, its activities increasingly included newly produced direct-to-video material alongside older television properties. Its releases during this period included the Barbie film series, Crayola Home Entertainment products, and Baby Einstein titles, although Disney later acquired the rights to the Baby Einstein franchise. FHE Pictures was established in 2002 as a limited theatrical arm and released Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, its only theatrical title. After Lionsgate acquired Artisan in 2003, the company discontinued the FHE brand in 2005 as its family-video operations were reorganized under Lionsgate Family Entertainment, an internal operating designation rather than a continuing consumer-facing label. Subsequent family releases used the standard Lionsgate branding.

Family Home Entertainment was founded in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom as a family-oriented alternative to Caballero Home Video, another company associated with Bloom. Its business was shaped by the rise of consumer videocassette ownership and the demand for inexpensive access to television cartoons, children’s programs, family films, and holiday specials. The company’s early catalogue included a mixture of animated television compilations, children’s programming, family features, and selected non-family genre releases. FHE’s strongest identity developed around children’s animation. During the 1980s it released home-video material associated with The Transformers, G.I. Joe, Jem, ThunderCats, Inspector Gadget, Defenders of the Earth, Pound Puppies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gumby, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Care Bears, and other properties. It also handled British, Japanese, and Australian children’s productions for the American market. Filmation programming formed another important part of the catalogue, with releases involving Lassie’s Rescue Rangers, The Lone Ranger, Shazam!, Blackstar, The New Adventures of Zorro, and Journey Back to Oz. The company’s distribution arrangements evolved with its corporate ownership. MGM/UA Home Video distributed some early FHE releases, while MCA distributed important late-1980s titles, especially in Canada. Bloom created USA Home Video in 1982 for non-family material. In 1984, FHE and USA became part of NCB Entertainment Group, and in 1985 the operations were reorganized under International Video Entertainment. International Video Entertainment later changed its name to Live Entertainment, while FHE remained a recognizable children’s and family imprint within the larger company. FHE became one of two home-video distributors associated with much of the Rankin/Bass seasonal-specials library beginning in 1989. This gave the label a recurring position in the holiday-video market. The arrangement ended in 1998 when the rights moved to Sony Wonder and Golden Books Family Entertainment. During the 1990s, the Family Home Entertainment Theatre banner was used for family-friendly feature films controlled by Live Entertainment, while some FHE products were reissued through Avid Home Entertainment, a budget label. The brand continued after Live Entertainment became Artisan Entertainment in 1998 and also operated an FHE Kids imprint. In the early 2000s, it combined catalogue exploitation with new direct-to-video releases, including Barbie films, Crayola-branded products, and Baby Einstein material. FHE also created FHE Pictures in 2002, but that theatrical division produced only Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. Lionsgate acquired Artisan in 2003 and ended the FHE brand in 2005 as part of a restructuring. Family-oriented releases thereafter used Lionsgate branding rather than the Family Home Entertainment name.

• 2005

  Brand discontinued

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Lionsgate ends the FHE label as family releases are moved to standard Lionsgate branding.

• 2002

  FHE Pictures makes its sole theatrical release

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  FHE Pictures releases Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.

• 1998

  Rankin/Bass rights move to other distributors

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Sony Wonder and Golden Books Family Entertainment acquire the relevant home-video rights.

• 1989

  Rankin/Bass distribution relationship begins

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  FHE becomes one of two distributors for much of the Rankin/Bass seasonal-specials library.

• 1985

  Reorganization under International Video Entertainment

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  FHE is reorganized as a children’s and family imprint within International Video Entertainment.

• 1984

  FHE joins NCB Entertainment Group

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  FHE and USA Home Video become part of Noel Bloom’s NCB Entertainment Group.

• 1982

  USA Home Video is introduced

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The company creates USA Home Video as a non-family division.

• 1980

  Family Home Entertainment is founded

  [1]Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Noel C. Bloom establishes FHE as a home-video company centered on children’s and family-oriented programming.

A family-focused home-video distributor and children’s entertainment imprint built around recognizable television animation, preschool programming, seasonal specials, family films, and direct-to-video properties.

• Animated television home video

  Children’s animation catalogue

  FHE distributed VHS and later home-video compilations drawn from widely recognized animated television properties. Its catalogue included The Transformers, G.I. Joe, Jem, ThunderCats, Inspector Gadget, Defenders of the Earth, Pound Puppies, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, Gumby, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Care Bears, and Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars! These releases helped establish the label’s association with children’s animation during the 1980s and 1990s.

• Holiday television specials · 1989

  Rankin/Bass seasonal specials

  Beginning in 1989, FHE was one of two home-video distributors for much of the Rankin/Bass seasonal-specials library. The relationship gave the label a recurring role in holiday home entertainment, although FHE no longer controlled those home-video rights after they moved to Sony Wonder and Golden Books Family Entertainment in 1998.

• Imported children’s programming

  British, Japanese, and Australian children’s programming

  FHE released selected children’s and animation titles from outside the United States, including Roobarb, Wil Cwac Cwac, James the Cat, Fireman Sam, Robotech, The Adventures of Ultraman, and the Australian Dot films. These products expanded the label beyond American television properties and introduced overseas programs to U.S. home-video consumers.

• Direct-to-video family entertainment

  Barbie direct-to-video films

  In the early 2000s, FHE participated in the distribution of Barbie film titles as part of its growing direct-to-video activity. These releases reflected the company’s later emphasis on branded family entertainment in addition to older television programming.

• Preschool educational video

  Baby Einstein home-video products

  FHE distributed Baby Einstein products during the early 2000s. The franchise was subsequently associated with Disney after Disney acquired its rights, ending FHE’s role with the property.

• Theatrical family film · 2002

  Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie

  Released through the short-lived FHE Pictures division, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie was the brand’s only theatrical release. FHE Pictures was established in 2002 as an attempted expansion beyond home-video distribution.

• 2005

  Retire the FHE consumer labelStrategy

  Background

  Lionsgate acquired Artisan Entertainment in 2003 and subsequently restructured its family-entertainment operations.

  Action taken

  Lionsgate discontinued Family Home Entertainment and placed family-oriented releases under standard Lionsgate branding.

  Aftermath

  FHE ceased operating as a distinct consumer-facing brand, although its catalogue and corporate lineage continued within Lionsgate’s distribution operations.

  Source

• 2002

  Expand into theatrical distribution through FHE PicturesStrategy

  Background

  FHE was increasingly handling new direct-to-video family products and sought a limited presence in theatrical family entertainment.

  Action taken

  The company established FHE Pictures and released Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.

  Aftermath

  The film was the division’s only theatrical release, and the FHE brand was later discontinued after Lionsgate acquired Artisan.

  Source

• 1982

  Create a separate non-family video divisionStrategy

  Background

  FHE’s principal identity was family-oriented, while its corporate founder also controlled labels serving other types of programming.

  Action taken

  USA Home Video was introduced as a separate non-family division rather than broadening the FHE label’s positioning.

  Aftermath

  The move allowed FHE to retain a children’s and family focus while related operations handled other catalogue categories.

  Source

1. 1Family Home Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org