Media Home Entertainment, founded in 1978 by filmmaker Charles Band, began with legal challenges over music rights but quickly grew to become one of the largest independent video distributors in the U.S. Headquartered in Culver City, California, the company was known for distributing iconic horror films such as Halloween, the 1980s A Nightmare on Elm Street series, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, alongside popular Peanuts specials. It expanded its reach through specialized sub-labels like Hi-Tops Video for children's content and The Nostalgia Merchant for classic films.

In December 1983, Media Home Entertainment was acquired by Heron Communications Inc., a subsidiary of Gerald Ronson's Heron International. Despite earlier rumors of sales, its parent company began divesting its video assets in early 1991, leading to Media's eventual wind-down and the sale of its labels, marking the end of its significant run in the home video market.