Cinema International Corporation

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Cinema International Corporation (CIC) was a film distribution company started by Paramount Pictures (then owned by Gulf+Western, now a unit of Viacom) and Universal Studios (then a division of the Music Corporation of America - or MCA - now part of NBC Universal) in the early 1970's to distribute the 2 studios' films outside the United States - it even operated in Canada before it was considered part of the "domestic" market.

[edit] Overview

In 1973, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer closed down its distribution offices and became a partner in CIC, which took over international distribution for MGM's films. CIC also entered the home video market by forming CIC Video, which distributed Paramount and Universal titles on video worldwide. MGM however, had its own video unit, which later became a joint venture with CBS as MGM/CBS Home Video (later known as MGM/UA Home Video, which then became managed by Warner Home Video).

In 1981, MGM purchased United Artists, which had its own international distribution unit. CIC refused to let MGM drop out of the venture at the time, which led to the reorganization of the company as United International Pictures.

CIC's name lived on in its video division, which became directly managed as a joint venture of Paramount Home Video and MCA Videocassette, Inc. (later MCA Home Video and MCA/Universal Home Video). CIC Video survived until the late 1990's/early 2000s, when Universal purchased PolyGram and reorganized its video division under the Universal name, while Paramount took over full ownership of CIC Video and merged it under its own video division.