While it may not look like it at first, there was a method to the madness that was the DiscoVision numbering system. Titles were grouped according to their general classification. Dramas, Thrillers, Musicals all were grouped together. Inside each grouping, there was no apparent pattern to the assigning of numbers.

While the original DiscoVision catalog offering was being established, the numbering system came into being. The entire library of Universal Studios, both Motion Pictures and Television, were assigned DiscoVision numbers. These included not only the historic library of feature films, but all projects on the current schedule as well. A prime example is E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial, a 1982 theatrical release, which was assigned the number 13-009.



MCA DiscoVision couldn't help but deviate slightly from this list. Over the course of the 3 years they were in business, they moved Battlestar Galactica out of the "Television Pilots" area and into "Feature Films" and give it the price increase to match. Two other titles, To Kill a Mockingbird and Lonely are the Brave were originally assigned numbers in the groups "Drama" and "Action" respectively, but by the time the silver catalog was produced, both had been moved to the "Classic" section.

Titles from other studios - Disney, Paramount and Warner Bros. - were assigned numbers in the scheme as well. These programs were preceded with a single letter designator to denote the studio. D for Disney, P for Paramount and W for Warner Bros.