Rentrak

Rentrak Corporation was a media measurement and research company serving studios, broadcasters, distributors, retailers, advertisers, and other participants in the entertainment industry. Although its later identity centered on measurement rather than retailing, the business originated in 1977 as National Video, a nationwide video-rental chain founded by Ron Berger. Berger developed the pay-per-transaction system, under which movie studios and retailers could lease titles and share revenue rather than relying solely on conventional wholesale purchases. This operating model became an important foundation for Rentrak's later data-oriented business. National Video became a public company in 1986. In 1988, facing strong competition from Blockbuster Video, Berger sold the franchise chain and renamed the remaining company Rentrak. The renamed business increasingly focused on collecting, processing, and commercializing entertainment-industry data. Its products were designed to function as measurement currencies for evaluating and selling content across multiple distribution channels, including theatrical exhibition, linear television, multi-screen viewing, video on demand, home video, and video games. Rentrak's measurement portfolio included real-time box-office ticket-sales intelligence, television audience and station measurement, video-on-demand reporting based on set-top-box data, and rankings for DVD sales and rentals and video-game sales. The company described its data footprint as covering more than 35 million televisions across all 210 markets. It also promoted its ability to provide video-on-demand measurement from set-top-box information and real-time worldwide box-office intelligence, capabilities that differentiated it from more traditional audience-measurement providers. Its weekly entertainment charts ranked leading titles across box office, video on demand, physical home video, video games, and television engagement. The company changed leadership several times as it developed from a video-rental enterprise into a business-to-business information provider. Berger remained associated with the company until resigning as chief executive in 2000. Paul Rosenbaum served as chief executive from 2000 to 2009, followed by Bill Livek, whose tenure was extended alongside that of chief operating and financial officer David Chemerow in 2011. Rentrak also attracted investment from entrepreneur Mark Cuban, who accumulated shares beginning in 2004 and held an 8.7 percent stake in 2011 before selling his interest in 2015. A major strategic step came in December 2009, when Rentrak acquired Nielsen EDI for $15 million. Nielsen EDI was a recognized provider of box-office measurement, and the transaction strengthened Rentrak's position in theatrical data and made it the reported sole provider of worldwide box-office ticket-sales information for studios and industry analysts. By 2015, Rentrak's StationView Essentials product was used by more than 440 local stations belonging to 68 station groups, illustrating the expansion of its television-measurement business beyond film data. Rentrak reported strong growth in fiscal 2015. Revenue reached $102.9 million, up from $75.6 million in the prior year, while fourth-quarter revenue increased to $28.5 million from $21.6 million. The TV Everywhere product line was the fastest-growing of the cited businesses, while Movies Everywhere and OnDemand Everywhere also expanded. In February 2016, Comscore acquired Rentrak in an all-stock transaction valued at $768 million and renamed the operation Comscore Movies. Reference material states that the business returned to the Rentrak name in 2026 after acquisition by a private-equity fund; the present corporate status and details of that reported transaction require verification.

Rentrak began in 1977 as National Video, a nationwide video-rental chain founded and incorporated by Ron Berger. Berger created the pay-per-transaction model, allowing studios and retailers to lease movie titles and share economics instead of purchasing inventory outright. National Video went public in 1986. Two years later, competition from Blockbuster Video led Berger to sell the franchise chain. The remaining company was renamed Rentrak and gradually moved toward entertainment measurement, research, and data services. Under the Rentrak name, the company developed metrics intended to serve as commercial currencies for entertainment content. Its business covered theatrical box office, television, multi-screen viewing, video on demand, home video, and video games. Rentrak reported viewing information from more than 35 million televisions across 210 markets and emphasized its use of set-top-box data for video-on-demand measurement. It also supplied real-time box-office ticket-sales intelligence and published recurring charts covering leading entertainment titles. Berger left the chief executive role in 2000. Paul Rosenbaum led the company from September 2000 until June 2009, when Bill Livek became chief executive. In 2011, Livek's contract and the contracts of COO/CFO David Chemerow were extended through mid-2015. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban accumulated Rentrak shares beginning in 2004, held an 8.7 percent stake as of September 2011, and sold his interest in May 2015. Rentrak expanded its theatrical measurement capabilities through the December 2009 acquisition of Nielsen EDI for $15 million. The transaction strengthened the company's position with film studios and industry analysts and was described as making Rentrak the sole provider of worldwide box-office ticket-sales information. Its television business also expanded: by July 2015, StationView Essentials was used by more than 440 local stations across 68 station groups. The company reported substantial fiscal 2015 growth. Revenue increased 36 percent to $102.9 million, compared with $75.6 million in the preceding year. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 32 percent to $28.5 million from $21.6 million. Reported growth was led by TV Everywhere, while Movies Everywhere and OnDemand Everywhere also increased. In February 2016, Comscore acquired Rentrak in an all-stock deal valued at $768 million. The operation was renamed Comscore Movies, effectively ending Rentrak's independent corporate identity in the form documented during the 2010s. Reference material additionally states that the Rentrak name returned in 2026 following a private-equity acquisition. Because that reported future or recent ownership change is not independently detailed in the supplied material, the present status of the brand remains uncertain.

• 2026

  Reported restoration of the Rentrak name

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  Supplied reference material reports a return to the Rentrak name following acquisition by a private-equity fund; this requires confirmation.

• 2016

  Comscore acquisition

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  Comscore acquired Rentrak in an all-stock transaction valued at $768 million and renamed the operation Comscore Movies.

• 2015

  StationView Essentials reaches broad station adoption

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  More than 440 local stations across 68 station groups were reported to use StationView Essentials.

• 2009

  Nielsen EDI acquisition

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  Rentrak acquired Nielsen EDI for $15 million, expanding its box-office measurement business.

• 2000

  Leadership transition

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  Ron Berger resigned as chief executive and Paul Rosenbaum took over the role.

• 1988

  The company adopts the Rentrak name

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  After the franchise chain was sold amid competition from Blockbuster, the remaining company was renamed Rentrak.

• 1986

  National Video goes public

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  The company became publicly listed during its National Video phase.

• 1977

  National Video is founded

  [1]Rentraken.wikipedia.org

  Ron Berger founded and incorporated National Video, the video-rental business that later became Rentrak.

A business-to-business entertainment measurement and research provider whose value proposition rested on broad, cross-platform viewing data, real-time theatrical reporting, and standardized metrics used to evaluate, market, license, and sell content.

• Television measurement

  StationView Essentials

  A local-station measurement product used to provide daily media and audience information. By July 2015, the service was reported to be used by more than 440 local stations across 68 station groups.

• Film and box-office measurement

  Movies Everywhere

  A Rentrak product line focused on movie-related measurement and research, including theatrical performance and related entertainment-market data.

• Video-on-demand measurement

  OnDemand Everywhere

  A product line associated with measurement of on-demand viewing and distribution. Rentrak emphasized the use of set-top-box data to report video-on-demand consumption.

• Television and multi-screen measurement

  TV Everywhere

  A television and multi-screen measurement product line tracking viewing behavior across connected distribution environments. It was reported as Rentrak's fastest-growing cited product line in fiscal 2015.

• Theatrical measurement

  Worldwide box-office measurement

  Rentrak's theatrical data service supplied real-time ticket-sales intelligence and supported box-office reporting for studios, analysts, and other entertainment-industry users.

• 2016

  Acquisition by ComscoreM&A

  Background

  Rentrak had built a broad entertainment-measurement portfolio spanning theatrical, television, on-demand, and home-video data.

  Action taken

  Comscore acquired Rentrak in an all-stock transaction and renamed the operation Comscore Movies.

  Aftermath

  Rentrak ceased operating as the independently named company documented in the 2010s.

  Transaction valuation. $768 million (February 2016)

  Source

• 2009

  Acquisition of Nielsen EDIM&A

  Background

  Rentrak sought to strengthen its theatrical measurement capabilities and position with film studios and industry analysts.

  Action taken

  Rentrak acquired Nielsen EDI for $15 million.

  Aftermath

  The deal expanded Rentrak's box-office data business and was described as making it the sole provider of worldwide box-office ticket-sales information.

  Acquisition price. $15 million (December 2009)

  Source

• 1988

  Shift from video retail to entertainment measurementStrategy

  Background

  Competition from Blockbuster pressured the National Video franchise business and preceded the sale of the chain.

  Action taken

  The remaining company was renamed Rentrak and developed a data and research-oriented business serving entertainment companies.

  Aftermath

  Rentrak evolved from a video-rental enterprise into a cross-platform media measurement provider.

  Source

1. 1Rentraken.wikipedia.org