Simitar Entertainment - History

History

In 1980, Mickey Elfenbein, former president and CEO of K-Tel International, and Philip Kives (K-Tel founder) started Simitar Entertainment. Simitar bought Pickwick Records. Simitar was a long-time leader in budget VHS throughout the 80s and early 90s. Reach Entertainment produced sports home video programs for Simitar. By April, 1997 Simitar was the first independent in the U.S. with DVD releases. In 1999, Simitar's revenues rose from $5 million to $40 million in just three years. On March 9, 1999, Cherry River Music Co. (owner of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)) sued Simitar Entertainment for copyright infringement of WWF—The Music, Volume 3 and won. In 2000, Simitar folded/went bankrupt, due to problems in the music division. Simitar's Total Assets were $19,570,059. Simitar's Total Debts were $25,556,878. In 2000, Simitar auctioned off its movies. Brentwood Communications, Inc. (BCI) offered to pay $215,000 to acquire Simitar's movies. Ed Goetz and Greg Glass went to BCI to start a DVD division. In October/November 2003, BCI was purchased by Navarre Corporation.

Read more about this topic:  Simitar Entertainment

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    You that would judge me do not judge alone
    This book or that, come to this hallowed place
    Where my friends’ portraits hang and look thereon;
    Ireland’s history in their lineaments trace;
    Think where man’s glory most begins and ends
    And say my glory was I had such friends.
    William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)

    Revolutions are the periods of history when individuals count most.
    Norman Mailer (b. 1923)

    What would we not give for some great poem to read now, which would be in harmony with the scenery,—for if men read aright, methinks they would never read anything but poems. No history nor philosophy can supply their place.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)