The company was originally formed in 1980 by Kerry Packer as Star Video, a subsidiary of Publishing & Broadcasting Limited, who began selling movies to videocassette.
[12] That year, on 30 July 1986, Communications and Entertainment Limited decided to return to the rental market, after abandoning it in 1985 in favor of turning to the full-priced field.
[13] On 27 August 1986, Communications and Entertainment Limited decided to expand on the New Zealand market in order to buy its privately owned production house, and a 30% stake in another Kiwi facility of the studio.
[16] Also that year, the prospect of a Virgin-CEL merger decided that they chose to list "international buying power for theatrical, homevideo and television product, the Virgin name and international support, and the influx of Virgin titles", and the UK outfit decided to inherit CEL's established distribution structure and marketing muscle, and sent the partner of two entertainment interests in various countries that was originated in different regions, that enhanced the bottom line.
The company was publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, but was delisted in 1989 for failing to pay annual fees to the ASX.