Communications and Entertainment Limited

Communications and Entertainment Limited (CEL) was an Australian home video cassette distributor in the 1980s. They were originally known as Publishing and Broadcasting Video (unrelated to Publishing and Broadcasting Limited).

History

PBV's labels included: Embassy Home Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Entertainment, Muppet Home Video, Star Video (featuring low-budget films from around the world), Australian Video (featuring films from the South Australian Film Corporation), Film World Festival (like Star Video, but better-budget releases), The Storytime Collection (released children's videos of TV and movie versions of famous storybook characters), and Playaround Video (released low-budget horror films, and a few videos of rock (mostly heavy metal concerts).

By the time PBV had become CEL, many of the labels were discontinued, or moved to another company (MGM/UA's releases were through Warner Home Video). CEL's labels included the aforementioned Muppet Home Video, and Thames Video (although this appears to be non-exclusive; some of Thames' video releases were through ABC Video and Festival Video). CEL also released RCA-Columbia Pictures Home Video releases prior to the joint venture with Hoyts.

CEL had also bought Sundowner Film and Video Productions Pty Ltd. The company was publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, but was delisted in 1989 for failing to pay annual fees to the ASX. The company continued for a few years until 1993, when it filed for bankruptcy.


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