A not-so brief rant on the Sloooooow DVD release schedule in U.S.

POSTED BY: Hjermsted
UPDATED: Sunday, October 6, 2002 03:00
VIEWED: 10551
PAGE 2 of 3

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 NEXT PAGE

MILLERNATE

Sunday, July 21, 2002 9:36 PM

Quote:

And of course, syndication. The syndie market is MUCH more lucrative, which is why it's the first step before DVD release. It's also another factor in the release sked, because the longer the DVDs take, the more $ the networks (FX and local FOX affiliates, in this case) can squeeze out from syndication

The only reason that it is believed to be more profitable is because everyone is operating under the belief that it is more profitable. I'd be willing to bet that it would actually be more profitable to do a prompt DVD release right after the season than to wait and then do syndication (which is, from what I recall, a one-time fee paid up front for a set amount of time). of course my theory is going to be put to the test with teh prompt release of the first season of 24 on DVD.

Nathan
"Being popular and well liked is not in your best interest. Let me be more clear; if you behave in a manner pleasing to most, then you are probably doing something wrong." - Janeane Garofalo, from "Feel this Book"

MOJOECA

Sunday, July 21, 2002 11:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Josh294:
But seriously, S3 on dvd in usa in WINTER 2003!!! Also, im not sure about the uk or australia ones, but picture quality on S2 is shockingly bad on the R1 discs
I have no idea if this post means anything or has a point. I am tired.

The 6 month release sked is standard. Winter 2003 means next January, not December '03 as some people have assumed.

Picture quality on my s2 DVDs is just fine. Keep in mind the show was filmed in 16mm during the first couple of years. They switched to 32 in year 3.

--- Joe

MOJOECA

Monday, July 22, 2002 12:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by millernate:

The only reason that it is believed to be more profitable is because everyone is operating under the belief that it is more profitable. I'd be willing to bet that it would actually be more profitable to do a prompt DVD release right after the season than to wait and then do syndication (which is, from what I recall, a one-time fee paid up front for a set amount of time). of course my theory is going to be put to the test with teh prompt release of the first season of 24 on DVD.

I really don't agree. Production companies make tens of millions (hundreds, even) off of syndie deals. There's certainly a market for DVDs, but really only hardcore fans are really to plump down the cash for all seasons. Many bought SIMPSONS season 1, but no way they're going to grab all 13!

Nevertheless, the fact the a show is available on DVD significantly reduces it's value. I'm sure there's a noticable dip in ratings for BUFFY eps that are available on disc. I'm guessing hundreds of thousands of units have been sold? That's a significant loss in viewership.

24 is a different beast altogether. Because it's a balls-out serial, it's resale value is almost nil -- and its first-run ratings were un-spectacular to begin with. Also, FOX apparently wants to create the impression that the show isn't a show at all, but a miniseries event -- hence no summer reruns, and no syndication.

--- Joe

MILLERNATE

Monday, July 22, 2002 3:50 AM

I think you missed my point in this. I'm not saying that they currently will make more money off of syndication as opposed DVD under their current plan. That was not my intent. What I'm saying is that they could very easily change their marketing and financial focus such that they could make more money on DVDs as a primary rebroadcast means than syndication. The fact that DVDs currently only sell to "hardcore fans" is merely a symptom of their current method. This is because, from a marketing and financial planning standpoint, DVDs are treated as an afterthought (I'm talking TV DVDs in this case). I know that the advertising for the Buffy DVDs have been essentially nil. so it only stands to reason that they won't do major numbers on that.

Let us contrast that with movies. Now with movies the primary rebroadcast means are now DVDs and not any sort of television sales. THus they market the DVDs accordingly (take a look at the advertising for The Royal Tenenbaums, which was only a mild financial success, compared with the Buffy DVD release, Tenenbaums are receiving much more of a marketing push) with more advertising and what not. You mention that a show being available on DVD reduces its value? Well conversely a show being on syndication reduces its ability to make DVD sales (thus who knows how well they'd do without free competition). I'd also be willing to bet that the ratings for BUffy's syndication dropped significantly after the first run anyways (which was well before the Season 1 DVD release) as most people pay attention to syndication only in its very initial release (for example: When Nickelodeon managed to reair WKRP after a long hiatus from syndication, people only paid attention at the very beginning).

I'm not saying you are not right under the system as it is now (because you very clearly are). Its just that there is some precedence in related fields to change the approach used to make DVDs something more than an afterthought for "hardcore fans".

Nathan
"Being popular and well liked is not in your best interest. Let me be more clear; if you behave in a manner pleasing to most, then you are probably doing something wrong." - Janeane Garofalo, from "Feel this Book"

J

Monday, July 22, 2002 6:49 AM

You make an excellent point - at least for BTVS - and I wouldn't argue except to add some more considerations. How much money does the abstract film make vs. the TV series in its first run, what does it do overseas, and how rewatchable is it? There's certainly a lot of abysmal movies but there seem to be a much higher percentage of "movies worth watching" than TV series. I don't have that many movies but I could go for a lot whereas there are few TV shows I'd want on DVD - even ones I loved on first run. The points you make about viewership for syndication dropping off go double for DVDs. If I'm not going to watch it for "free" in syndication, I'm really not going to pay for it on DVD. And then there's overseas - a lot of duds in the movie market recoup their losses overseas and, while American TV is popular worldwide, duds are basically duds and I'm not sure how much the foreign DVD TV series market would help, in comparison to DVD movies. Things like that... I don't know what the statistics or dynamics actually are, but I suspect these issues factor into how TV DVDs are marketed. Although, it goes without saying, I wish BTVS wasn't treated like just another TV show.

Oh - one other thing - your average movie is just a single DVD that you can watch in a couple hours, right? I think there's an issue there that you either have to split seasons up and try to "collect" the pieces, or buy large sets. The one is offputting by just being too much bother generally, and the other is offputting because you have to put down more money all at once. And then, in the watching of it, the movies a movie. Put it in see it - your done. Whereas with a TV series, you either have to watch it split up in bits and pieces at random or plan to be watching a large cycle over days or months.

NESS

Tuesday, July 23, 2002 5:37 PM

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this, but one solution you could try is buy an all-region DVD player. I think North America is in one region while the UK and Japan are in another. With an all-region DVD player you can play DVDs from the UK. It probably costs more and then you'll have to order the DVDs through the UK amazon, but at least you can watch season 3 and 4 of Buffy.

Maybe as fans we should start a letter writing campagin. We bother the people at FOX long enough, they'll crack eventually.

MALCOLM

Tuesday, July 23, 2002 6:21 PM

The multi-region DVD is definitely the way to go... I heard that you can alter your own DVD player to play all regions, but I haven't heard how. Anyone know?

I also did a little research on the contractual "window" for releasing TV shows to DVD and apparently it's like FOUR YEARS for UPN for Buffy! And Season Five just hit the shelves in the UK.

That being said, Fox is releasing "24" Season One before Xmas this year. I guess it's easier if it is a Fox show on the Fox Network (Buffy is a Fox show on UPN). Maybe there's hope for Firefly to come out sooner than later. Now if we can just get Fox to show it in letterbox on TV!

SHUGGIE

Tuesday, July 23, 2002 7:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by malcolm:
And Season Five just hit the shelves in the UK.

Actually no. It's out on 21st Oct 2002. S5 has been out on VHS for a while if that's what you meant.

Shug

MALCOLM

Wednesday, July 24, 2002 7:33 PM

I stand corrected!

KOOKYTREE

Tuesday, August 6, 2002 4:17 AM

I'm from England, and not only do we have the S4/S2 DVDs but Buffy S5 and Angel S3 on tape before its even been shown on non-cable TV! But saying that, you guys get the new seasons THREE MONTHS before we do! However, we ALWAYS get a new episode each week once the seasons start in January, so by the end of the season we get the finales in the same week as AMerica (eg. Buffy Season 6 finale was shown 3 days after it premiered in AMerica, but the season opener was shown 3 MONTHS after u lot got in October.) While it may look like we get a better deal, the episodes are often cut so that violence isnt shown, which isnt major but IS patronising, especially as the Buffy is shown at 8pm AND on cable, which isnt very regulated. This year, Willow's spell in the opener was cut (we never saw the snake coming out of the mouth) as was Buffy and Spike's sex in Smashed (much more annoying than the snake thing, though possibly similar as it may have involved a snake going IN a mouth lol) and Spike's attempted rape was hacked at. Most noticeable were the cuts in Villains, were we saw almost nothing of Willow's torture of Warren.She just sort of threatened him, then suddenly he was flames and Buffy was on the scenes saying "What did you *do*?" Hmmm, minor episode cuts but early vid and DVD releases and a new ep every week. I think I'll choose England, Bob. After all, we get *such* great weather. (For you non-ironic Yankees, that was sarcasm. Lol, now who's patronising )

Stay kooky.

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 NEXT PAGE