A new division was launched in 1979, Columbia Pictures Home Video, marking the company’s entry into the revolutionary home entertainment market. With the introduction of Columbia Pictures’ hit films on the Beta and VHS formats, the studio established a new distribution system which would prove to be very profitable. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, as it is known today, is a world leader in DVD and videocassette distribution, sales and marketing, and ended the 2003 fiscal year with its highest sales performance ever, having distributed worldwide some of the company’s biggest hit films such as SPIDER-MAN, XXX, and MEN IN BLACK II.

The 1980's meant change and growth for Columbia, beginning with its purchase by The Coca-Cola Company in 1982. Operations expanded into other forms of entertainment such as home video. Television programs were acquired, adding ALL IN THE FAMILY, GOOD TIMES, THE JEFFERSONS and more to an already impressive television library. Merv Griffin Enterprises, producer of the top two game shows WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY!, joined the company in 1986. In 1987 Columbia TriStar Television acquired the distribution rights to Castle Rock Entertainment’s sitcom SEINFELD, the highest-earning, number one syndicated show in television history. The studio continued to turn out some of its biggest box offices hits with TOOTSIE, THE KARATE KID, STRIPES and GHOSTBUSTERS. 1982’s epic film, GANDHI, added another Best Picture Oscar® statue to Columbia's growing collection.