Roy Keith Black
Roy Keith Black (30 October 1927 – 28 December 2009) was a British-born businessman who built a global career in media and entertainment.
Born in London, he studied at King William’s College and Trinity College, Dublin. In the 1960s in Dublin, Black led Electronic Rentals Group (ERG), a UK public company that rented televisions. By 1970 ERG had become one of the world’s largest electronic rental companies, operating in 22 countries. ERG owned Gola and the Leisure Division, with interests in brands like Camping Gaz. He was the nephew of Sir Adolph Weiner of Viners Cutlery.
In 1986, after the Independent Broadcasting Authority invited bids for a new satellite TV franchise, ERG was acquired by Granada Limited for about £450 million, helping Granada win the Direct Broadcasting by Satellite franchise.
In 1978 Black moved to Johannesburg with his son Anthony to help expand broadcasting in Southern Africa. His ERG subsidiary Vision Hire helped found the Swaziland Television Broadcasting Corporation (STBC) with Swazi King Sobhuza II. From 1978 to 1979, the Swaziland government used satellites to broadcast anti-Apartheid content. The Swaziland government later nationalised the company, renaming Vision Hire to STAR (Swaziland Television Authority Rentals).
In 1982 Black moved to San Diego, California, and started Video Library, which later became Blockbuster Video. He served on several boards, including the Mingei International Museum, and was chairman of the board of trustees at California Western School of Law from 1991 to 1994, later becoming chairman Emeritus. In 1995 he received an Honorary Juris Doctor, and California Western School of Law opened the Black Family Law Library in his honor.
Black’s wife Maureen (née Peres) was related to Phil Solomon and Mervyn Solomon, founders of Major Minor Records. In 1970 Black and Solomon sold Major Minor Records to EMI for about £10 million; the Solomon family remained major investors in Decca Records. The Times later described Black, the Solomon brothers, and the Oppenheim family as one of Britain’s most influential dynasties in politics and pop culture.
Roy Black died in San Diego in 2009 at age 82.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:23 (CET).