Tempo Video

Tempo Video was a British home video range originally owned by MSD Video that released several Generation 1 Transformers videos in the late '80s and early '90s.

MSD Video had previously handled the distribution for the Video Gems Transformers releases under the name of Multiple Sound Distribution before producing and distributing their own Tempo Video releases. In 1989, MSD handed over distribution of their Tempo releases to Wm. Collins. This is also the time when the 'V' prefix was dropped from the videos' production codes. In 1990, Wm. Collins renamed themselves as Collins Video and briefly took over production of the Tempo Video line before selling it on to Abbey Home Entertainment - a new company from the founders of MSD.

Collins Video made the decision to take the Tempo logo off their packaging, but it can still be seen following the Collins logo at the beginning of the tapes. Similarly in 1992, Abbey released a couple of tapes under the banner of Tempo Kids Club which featured a new logo on their video sleeves, but retained the proper Tempo Video logo on the actual tapes.

Releases

MSD Video

• V8807 — Transformers — Call of the Primitives / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide (July, 1988)
• V8811 — Transformers — A Ghost in the Machine / Heavy Metal Wars (1989)
• V9011 — Transformers — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide (1987)
• V9071 — Transformers — Headmasters: The Rebirth (Parts, 1, 2 & 3) (1988)

• V9079 — Transformers — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot (1988)
• V9134 — Transformers — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain (1988)
• V9152 — The Action Adventure Collection (1988)

Contains the episode "Starscream's Brigade" alongside episodes of Action Force and Inhumanoids.

• V9158 — Transformers — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee (1989)

• 92472 — The Action Adventure Collection II (1989)

Contains the episode "Ghost in the Machine" alongside episodes of Action Force and C.O.P.S.

• 92532 — Transformers — Carnage in C Minor / The Ultimate Weapon (1989)
• 92742 — Transformers — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (1989)

• 92842 — Transformers — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (1989)

Released as part of an "Avon Video Collection", presumably available exclusively through Avon Cosmetics representatives.

• 93452 — Transformers — Starscream's Brigade (1989)
• 93542 — The Action Adventure Collection IV (1990)

Contains the episode "Fight or Flee" alongside episodes of Action Force and C.O.P.S.

Collins Video

• Transformers — Dark Awakening (1990)
• Transformers — Nightmare Planet (1990)
• Transformers — The Girl Who Loved Powerglide (1990)

Abbey Home Entertainment

• 94112 — Transformers — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain (1990)
• 94122 — Transformers — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide (1990)
• 94212 — Transformers — Cosmic Rust / Masquerade (October, 1990)

• 94632 — Transformers — The Nightmare Planet (1992)
• 94852 — Transformers — Super Video (May, 1991)

Contains the episodes "Madman's Paradise", "Call of the Primitives", "Big Broadcast of 2006" and "The Quintesson Journal".

• 95362 — Transformers — Starscream's Ghost / Fight or Flee (1991)
• 95462 — Transformers — Thief in the Night / Surprise Party (1991)

Available exclusively at WHSmith.

• 95832 — Transformers — Only Human (June, 1992)
• 96562 — Transformers — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (1991)

Available exclusively at Blockbuster and Ritz video rental stores.

• 96612 — The Biggest Ever Saturday Morning Picture Show (June 14, 1993)

Contains the episode "Forever Is a Long Time Coming" alongside episodes of Action Force, The Adventures of T-Rex, James Bond Jr, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Captain N: The Game Master.

• 96782 — The Biggest Ever Saturday Morning Heroes (October 4, 1993)

Contains the episode "Starscream's Brigade" alongside episodes of The Adventures of T-Rex, James Bond Jr, Little Dracula, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Captain N: The Game Master.

Notes

• Not only has the title to the episode "Heavy Metal War" gained an 's' on each of its video covers, but on the cassette label of tape #94122 it is merely called "Heavy Wars".

• Apart from "Heavy Metal War", Tempo's selection of episodes came mostly from season three, with a smattering of season two episodes, the latter two seasons of the series having never been broadcast on mainstream British television. This possibly explains the Tempo Video releases' unusual longevity for Generation 1 products.

External links

• The MSD Video era logo clip at YouTube.
• The Abbey Home Entertainment era logo clip at YouTube.
• [1] Obituary for MSD and Abbey co-founder, Anne Miles.