Victor Civita, an Italian businessman, founded Editora Abril in 1950,[1] which was the first publisher of Walt Disney comics in Brazil.

The following year, the MTV brand returned to Viacom, and in late 2013 its broadcast network was sold to Grupo Spring, which publishes the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone.

[5][6] Grupo Abril also is the owner of Fernando Chinaglia, the largest distributor of publications in Latin America (acquired in 2007).

In addition to its media interests, the group has entered the education market with assets that produce many curriculum and instructional materials, including internet applications.

It distributed films from The Walt Disney Company and 20th Century Fox on VHS for the Brazilian market.