Outside North America, before 1999, Universal releases were distributed by
CIC Video, their international home video joint-venture with
Paramount Pictures. When Universal nearly pulled out of UIP in 1999 following their then-parent
Seagram's purchase of
PolyGram, they would pull out of CIC and renamed PolyGram's home video unit (
PolyGram Video) as Universal Pictures Video.
Distribution deals In the
Netherlands, UPHE distributed most
DVDs of films released theatrically by
Independent Films and TV shows and films from
Studio 100 until 2006, although this is now limited to catalog releases, as more recent films are now released through Warner Home Video and later on,
Belga Home Video. In
South Africa, UPHE distributes films on DVD and VHS through
CIC Video in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1999, the company was moved to
Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment after CIC Video was dissolved in the same year. In 2007, it was moved later to
Nu Metro Home Entertainment on DVDs and Blu-Ray discs until 2013, when Next Entertainment took over until at least 2019. UPHE also formerly distributed
StudioCanal titles on home media in
France (until 2024 when distribution moved to ESC Distribution), most of the
Republic Pictures library in the
UK and most of the
Carolco Pictures library in Australia, Latin America, and several European countries (along with other
StudioCanal properties) until StudioCanal's global distribution deal with Universal expired in January 2022. In the 1980s until the late 1990s, they also distributed tapes released by
Cineplex Odeon in Canada. In the
UK, UPHE previously distributed its films on video internationally through
CIC Video (a division of
Cinema International Corporation, later
United International Pictures) alongside Paramount Pictures. In Japan, releases from both Universal and Paramount appeared on CIC-Victor Video, Ltd. (a joint venture between CIC Video and
JVC) for VHS and on
Pioneer LDC, Inc. for Laserdisc. On February 28, 1999, Universal signed a multi-year distribution deal with
Columbia-TriStar Home Video to allow the latter to distribute Universal's DVD releases outside North America. In June 2002, Columbia-TriStar Home Entertainment formed a joint-venture with Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd called UCA (Universal Columbia Alliance), under which Universal would distribute back catalogue Columbia Tristar titles through retail. UPHE's international operations are a carryover from the PolyGram Video days, but UPHE operates a joint venture in
Australia,
New Zealand and
Scandinavia with
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment called Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The venture distributes UPHE and SPHE titles on home media in those countries and also licensed
anime series and films from the anime library of
NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, the
Japanese division of UPHE's sister company, Universal Pictures International Entertainment, formerly known as Pioneer LDC from 1981 to 2003, Geneon Entertainment from 2003 to 2009 and Geneon Universal Entertainment from 2009 to very late 2013, the year they switched to their current name. The name of the joint venture is Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia. Before that, though,
NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan had a marketing and distribution division in
North America called Geneon USA, which, like UPHE, also distributed home video. At the time, NBCUEJ was known as Geneon Entertainment. Geneon USA shut down in late 2007, and Universal has licensed all of NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan's catalog to other companies rather than directly distributing them themselves. Starting on March 26, 2022, NBCUEJ (through UPHE) distributes and licenses anime series and films. From 2017 to 2018,
Funimation began directly distributing a select number of its titles in Australia and New Zealand through Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia. In September 2018, Funimation transferred distribution to
Madman Entertainment, with Madman handling distribution and classification within the region. On October 3, 2014, Universal established global headquarters for its home video division in Los Angeles. The Universal deal expired upon the announcement of the Universal/Warner Bros. physical media joint-venture, and as a result, Paramount signed a new UK home entertainment distribution deal with
StudioCanal UK and
Lionsgate UK's Elevation Sales on July 14, 2020, that began in November that year. Along with the announcement of the Universal/Warner Bros. NA physical home media joint-venture, Universal announced that they would begin distributing Warner Bros. titles in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan (until 2025) in the third quarter of 2020 through home video, while Warner Bros. announced that they would begin distributing Universal titles in the United Kingdom (until 2025), Italy (until 2024), Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in the first quarter of 2021 through home video. In 2020,
SF Studios had signed a distribution deal with Universal to handle titles across the Nordic region. In late 2023 and late 2024 respectively,
Plaion Pictures and Spirit Entertainment signed a distribution deal with Universal to handle titles respectively in Italy and the United Kingdom, which caused Universal's deal with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to expire in those countries. As for Plaion, they expanded to distribute Universal's titles in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as of January 1, 2026. Since early 2024, ESC Distribution now handles Universal's titles on home media in France. ==Universal 1440 Entertainment==