The Merchandise Guide
Video: Precision Video
Compiled by Martin Willey

Precision Video catalogues, 1980-1983

Home videotape was first introduced in 1978 by JVC (VHS) and Sony (Betamax). By 1980 UK shops were starting to stock tapes, normally for overnight rental, although some were also sold (at premium prices). By the mid-1980s, there were special video rental shops, and recent films began to appear on relatively cheap tapes.

Precision Video was the video brand of ACC, Associated Communications Corporation, formerly ATV and the parent company of ITC which made Space: 1999. It released mostly ITC films (led by two movies based on The Muppets), compilation ITC series (such as Jesus of Nazareth) and several dance and concert videos. They also sold "library boxes" (economy and deluxe) and "videoworm" book-ends which held up to 3 videotapes on your shelf.

Precision Video is Britain's leading manufacturer and distributor of video software. We offer you a star-studded choice of home entertainment, whatever your taste. No doubt about it, you've come to the right catalogue.

Precision Video is the fastest- growing subsidiary of A.C.C., the giant international entertainment corporation headed by Lord Grade of Elstree. So our catalogue positively glitters with big box office hits from I.T.C. Entertainment, A.C.C.'s production arm.

ACC was taken over by the Bell Group in 1982, and Precision Video disappeared shortly after, before the cheap sell-through market took off. Most of these catalogues are undated.

Price Lists

Alien Attack was numbered VITC3024 and BITC3024, and cost more (£39.99 in 1981, £47.50 in 1982). Destination Moonbase Alpha was VITC2019 and BITC2019, and the other Anderson tapes were also VITC2000 range (£29.99 in 1981, £40.99 in 1982).

1980

105mm x 185mm fold-out leaflet, opens up to twice the size and 4 times the width, with a total of 30 titles. The two Space: 1999 titles are the only Gerry Anderson, while there are 2 other science fiction titles, Saturn 3 and Capricorn One.

1981

210mm x 295mm, 32 pages. Now about 100 titles, including 3 other Gerry Anderson Super Space Theatre compilations, weirdly placed with a 1979 documentary series about computers (pages 8 and 9).

1982

210mm x 295mm, 48 pages, "now over 140 titles". The two 1999 titles are on pages 10 and 11, with nice photos (if you can read "Eagle" back to front). There are now 4 Anderson puppet compilations, earning their own page in the catalogue. Three are also released on a new format, laserdisc.

1983

185mm x 26mm, 51 pages (oddly numbered excluding the cover). Over 180 titles. Cosmic Princess is added, with a total of 7 Anderson puppet compilation titles. There are 25 laserdisc titles, but only the original 3 puppet compilations. Previous catalogues had been in colour on glossy paper, but now it's black and white with green titles, on poorer quality paper. The 1999 titles are on pages 10 and 11.