August of 1974 Media Concepts was founded by Bob Skidmore and John P. Gallagher. John and Bob brought numerous years of experience in the broadcast business with them, having had successful careers with RKO General Broadcasting/WOR in New York City. After purchasing a franchise from First Cine-Tel the company set out to sell, market and maintain ”IN-ROOM” closed-circuit television entertainment systems and programming to the hotel and hospital industry. In the process the company became a distributor of JVC professional video equipment, added television production facilities, an equipment rental department, as well as duplication facilities and thus became known as “West Florida’s oldest video specialty house.”

When consumer video became a reality a retail showroom was added and soon expanded to a second location, the first video store in a mall East of the Mississippi. Two franchise operations were also added and the retail chain became known as “VIDEO CORNER”. During this growth period Magnetic Video Corporation selected Media Concepts as its’ first software movie distributor. In the months that followed other suppliers products were added and Media Concepts became the first video software distributor in Florida, and for that matter, one of the first in the United States. In 1985, with a customer base of over five-hundred stores, the wholesale software distribution arm of the company was sold to a national distributor, Video Trend/Major Video, and relocated to Tampa, Florida.

After the sale Media Concepts began looking for a new direction in a young and ever changing industry. MCI became the first commercial videotape duplication house in the state. This led to manufacturing its own brand of VHS cassettes and becoming one of thirty-three JVC licensed loader/duplicators in the nation. Today Media Concepts is one of the largest CD, DVD and tape duplicators serving the Tampa Bay area.

In the early nineties, Media Concepts and international fitness trainer, Tony Little, joined forces and produced numerous fitness videos and related products under the brand name known as Media Studio Group. These videos were marketed worldwide through electronic and mass merchant retailing. Each video achieved Gold and/or Platinum status and most are still marketed under various labels today.  Media Concepts maintains one of the few forensic audio/video labs with an in-house expert witness professional, in Florida. Since 1975 it has played a vital role in evidentiary law having worked with state attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement and private practice council. It has been involved in Florida death row, criminal and civil trials throughout the state.

As a part of its expansion into duplication Media Concepts entered into the production business. This afforded the company an in-house capability to produce programming in the studio or on location, in standard definition  or high definition, and with full in-house postproduction capabilities. In 1998 Media Concepts had the distinction of producing the first Non-Theatrical DVD in the world for a leading Florida condominium developer.

After thirty-four successful years Bob and John turned their attention to retirement. April 1, 2008 saw Richard “Rick” Smith, a thirty-year staff member, and Scott J. Richardson, a 25-year staffer, purchase the company. Today they are taking the company to new horizons in the ever-changing world of technology.

The future and direction of Media Concepts, Inc., is only limited by technology, customer needs and the ability of the staff and management to meet and exceed those needs in a timely, professional and cost effective manner. If the past is any indication of the future, then they have just begun…..