Smart Mark Video
| Acronym | SMV |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Coplay, Pennsylvania |
| Founder(s) | Mike Burns |
| Owner(s) | Mike Burns |
| Sister | Future Wrestling Alliance (defunct) |
| Website | SmartMarkVideo.com |
Smart Mark Video (SMV) is an American video production and distribution house. It was founded in 1998 by Mike Burns and a group of friends involved in the operation of the now defunct Future Wrestling Alliance independent professional wrestling promotion. VHS releases of FWA events, as well as events for other local promotions like IPW and EWF, were among SMV's initial forays into video distribution. After the folding of the FWA in November, 2000, Burns and company concentrated on acquiring more clients as well as consumers for its video-related services. In 2012, SMV started airing live internet pay-per-view's (iPPV) on its website, starting with Chikara's Under the Hood on December 2.[1] SMV tested the new format with two "free-per-views" held by Chikara's sister promotion Wrestling is Fun! (WiF!).[1][2]
Affiliates
Several prominent American and Canadian independent wrestling promotions have partnered with SMV to produce their VHS and DVD releases, and to handle order fulfillment from their Coplay, Pennsylvania headquarters. Some of these promotions include: Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, the Heartland Wrestling Association, IWA East Coast, Insanity Pro Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, the International Wrestling Syndicate, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Westside Xtreme Wrestling, and St. Louis Anarchy
Library
The SMV catalog of wrestling events exceeds 1,000 titles, encompassing complete shows, compilations, interviews and more. The vast majority of their library contains footage shot from the year 2000 to present.
Corporate Image
The calling card of SMV's staff and videos is their "K5" logo, a loose appropriation of insider wrestling term "kayfabe". The wrestling slang "smart mark"[3] in fact describes someone wise to the conventions of kayfabe.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Namako, Jason (2012-11-07). "Smart Mark Video to run a Chikara iPPV on 12/2". WrestleView. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ↑ Alvarez, Bryan (2012-11-16). "Friday update: Big weekend preview, Survivor Series and UFC 154 notes, GSP's return, Dana and Rousey confirm signing, Hogan sex tape link, Cody Rhodes, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ↑ Pro Wrestling Torch Membership Benefits