More Articles By Cindy Spielvogel

• Vivendi adds theatrical, drops “Visual”
  MARCH 6 | Vivendi Visual Entertainment has dropped “Visual” from its name and added a theatrical distribution division. As part of the expansion, Tom O’Malley, formerly general manager of VVE, has been named president of Vivendi Entertainment. More
  
• MVD takes in Big Daddy Music Distribution
  MARCH 5 | MVD Entertainment Group and Big Daddy Music Distribution are merging their DVD and CD distribution businesses under the MVD name. More
  
• Movie Gallery closer to comeback
  FEB. 28 | As court proceedings continue largely in its favor, Movie Gallery is moving closer to exiting from Chapter 11 and implementing its reorganization plan without much interference. More
  
• Fit with spirit
  FEB. 25 | FAITH & FAMILY: Though movie producers have been getting religion by producing faith-based films, there’s another DVD genre that has converted to Christianity: fitness. More
  
• Manda Bala explores Brazil
  FEB. 25 | INDIE FILM GUIDE: It took filmmaker Jason Kohn five years to make the film, which will be released on DVD April 8 by City Lights Home Entertainment. More
  
• Ricki Lake gets down to birth business
  FEB. 18 | After experiencing one hospital birth and then deciding to have a more memorable experience with a home birth for her second child, actress and talk show host Ricki Lake wanted to make New Line’s The Business of Being Born to show other mothers they have choices. More
  
• Echo Bridge sets new management
  FEB. 14 | Echo Bridge Home Entertainment has installed a new executive team. Nathan Hart, formerly CFO, and Mike Newcomb, formerly head of operations, have been promoted to co-managers of the home entertainment division. More
  
• Movie Gallery reports monthly profit
  FEB. 12 | Movie Gallery filed a required monthly financial report with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court showing the company earned $12.7 million in net income for the month ended Jan. 6. More
  
• Bankruptcy Court approves Movie Gallery plan
  FEB. 6 | The U.S. Bankruptcy Court has approved the disclosure statement for Movie Gallery's reorganization plan. More
  
• Movie Gallery's employee incentive plan approved
  JAN. 30 | The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, N.C., granted Movie Gallery’s motion to offer incentive pay to employees in hundreds of additional stores it plans to close. More
  
• Henson Co., Viz Media offer shows for download
  JAN. 28 | More indie suppliers are making download deals, with the Jim Henson Company offering titles on iTunes and Viz Media teaming with Amazon Unbox. More
  
• String of Austen DVDs complement TV special
  JAN. 28 | Costume dramas are back, particularly those that involve Jane Austen, according to Meg Branigan, VP of video marketing for BBC Video. More
  
• Movie Gallery plans closure of 'several hundred' more stores
  JAN. 23 | Movie Gallery filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond for permission to spend about $1 million to compensate employees of more stores it plans to close. More
  
• Screen Media spotlights social issues
  JAN. 21 | INDIE FILM GUIDE: Screen Media Films is launching the Spotlight Initiative with the Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org). More
  
• BabyFirst TV develops DVDs
  JAN. 21 | BabyFirst TV, the channel dedicated to the development of babies and toddlers, is taking its home entertainment division to Toy Fair with its inaugural line of child development DVDs.   More
  
• Porchlight gets Gruesome
  JAN. 21 | Porchlight Home Entertainment has acquired exclusive U.S. DVD distribution rights to three animated children’s TV series from Granada International. More
  
• Koch to handle International Media distribution
  JAN. 17 | Koch Entertainment Distribution signed an exclusive deal to distribute DVDs from International Media, a new company formed by former PBS VP of programming Gustavo Sagastume, who serves as International Media’s president and CEO. More
  
• Gaiam joins Mayo Clinic for DVD line
  JAN. 14 | Gaiam is making a grand entrance into the wellness category this month with a series of 10 new DVDs co-branded with the Mayo Clinic. More
  
• Echo Bridge to step up acquisitions
  JAN. 10 | Echo Bridge Entertainment plans to step up acquisitions now that it has obtained new financing from JP Morgan Securities, according to Michael Rosenblatt, Echo Bridge chairman, president and CEO. More
  
• Movie Gallery reports $80 million loss in six weeks
  JAN. 4 | Movie Gallery is reporting continuing losses during its bankruptcy period, according to filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Securities and Exchange Commission.For the first six weeks since the bankruptcy was filed, Oct. 16-Dec. 2, the company reported a net loss of $80.7 million. Of that total, $53.5 million came from Hollywood Video stores and $27.2 million from stores under the Movie Gallery brand. More