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| Company type | Film distributor, music distributor |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Arnie Holland, Sky Spooner, David Lawrence |
| Products | Motion pictures, music |
| Website | lightyearentertainment |
Lightyear Entertainment, headquartered in Studio City, California, is a distributor of independent motion pictures in theaters, on DVD, Blu-ray, Video On Demand, as well as a distributor of music and music videos on CD, DVD, and digital distribution.[1]
Lightyear releases movies into theaters directly. After the theatrical run, digital distribution and licensing (including VOD, EST, SVOD and TV) in North America is now conducted through MVD Distribution. Physical distribution of DVDs and BluRays is also through MVD Distribution. From 2017 through June 2023, digital distribution was conducted through The Orchard (which became 1091). From 2010 to 2018, both digital and physical releases were through eOne Distribution. From 2008 to 2010, it was through Vivendi/Universal Distribution,[1] and from 1995 to 2008, through Warner Home Video. From 1991 to 1995, it was distributed through BMG.
Lightyear's music business in North America is conducted through Virgin Music/Universal Music Group.
Its origins were as a management buyout of RCA Video Productions, Inc. (a.k.a. RVP Productions) in 1987 from Bertelsmann, which was originally created in 1984.[2] The company was a co-producer of the Jane Fonda workout series, and pioneered in the areas of children's and music videos, as well as helping to create the fitness genre. Lightyear is now again the distributor of the original Jane Fonda Workout videos on DVD and Digital.
Recent films distributed by Lightyear include Tanna (nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2017), Maze, Jirga, The Hippopotamus, and Goldstone. Other films include Voodoo Macbeth, a-ha: The Movie, 16 Bars and The Etruscan Smile.
Lightyear's original productions include the films Aria, Heaven and The Return of Swamp Thing, as well as the Stories to Remember series of animated films for children. It also produced concert films by Lou Reed, Eurythmics, Stevie Nicks, and Jefferson Starship, and the documentary Elvis '56.
- ^ a b Chris Tribbey. "Lightyear Entertainment's 25-year Journey". Home Media Magazine. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
- ^ Cohn, Lawrence (1987-07-15). "Management buyout for RVP Prods.: N.Y. Firm to be Named Lightyear". Variety. pp. 3, 28.