CBS/Fox Video was a home video company formed and established in 1982, as a merger between 20th Century Fox Video, formerly Magnetic Video Corporation, and CBS Video Enterprises.
The company was based in Farmington Hills, Michigan until 1985, when it moved to Livonia, Michigan. In 1989, it moved its headquarters to New York City, where it stayed until it became Fox Video (now 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) in 1991.
Before CBS/Fox Video existed, 20th Century Fox Video released a select few titles for rental only, including Dr. No, Rocky, and Star Wars. While sale tapes were in big boxes that were later used by CBS/Fox in its early years, Video Rental Library tapes were packaged in black clamshell cases.
CBS/Fox released the film library of 20th Century Fox, in addition to the film libraries of United Artists, ABC Pictures, Associated Film Distributors, some early Tri-Star Pictures films like The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Legend of Billie Jean, and Short Circuit (at the time, TriStar was a joint venture between CBS, Columbia Pictures, and HBO), CBS Theatrical Films (many of the titles had been previously issued through CBS Video's partnership with MGM), TV shows owned by CBS, and in 1984, CBS/Fox became the American licensee of BBC Video products. The United Artists films consisted mainly of pre-MGM merger titles, films from the James Bond and Rocky series, although the post-merger Bond and Rocky 1980s sequels were released by CBS/Fox as well, and some low profile post-merger films under license from MGM/UA. These UA films were later issued through MGM/UA Home Video starting in 1990 (although Fox would later release the post-1986 MGM library years later). Film Gems UK
CBS/Fox used speciality labels for children's videos, music videos, and sports videos. In addition to its main CBS/FOX label, CBS/Fox maintained two other labels, Key Video (mostly B and drive-in fare and some TV movies, and Playhouse Video (children's films and programs, including Planet of the Apes' and Shirley Temple's films, Muppet videos, and Mr. Rogers videos). These became inactive by 1991, though 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment reactivated the Key Video label as Key DVD.
In 1990, a reorganization of the company was made, with most mainstream Fox titles being turned over to the new Fox Video that appeared in 1991. However, CBS/Fox remained active for distribution of BBC Video product and other non-Fox products.
In 1998, Fox Entertainment Group (owned by News Corporation) acquired CBS/Fox Video and the rest of CBS/Fox's non-shopping (film and TV) assets, and renamed CBS/Fox Video to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
The company ceased full operations in 1998, with the release of Our Friend, Martin. A short time later, CBS's merger with Viacom was finalized, and the CBS/Fox partnership ceased existence, although even after the corporate split CBS/Fox did still own some ancillary rights to two Rodgers and Hammerstein film properties, South Pacific and Oklahoma, until 20th Century Fox was able to fully assume CBS/Fox' former share of these films.
Many CBS/Fox titles are out of print, or have been reissued under different labels:
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, MGM Home Entertainment (through 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)