Artisan

Planet Earth: Discovery vs BBC

I see the discovery store will soon have the Hi-Def versions of the incredible Planet Earth series available for $99.00

I also see that Amazon (and others) have the BBC Hi-Def versions already available for $66.95

Is there any significant difference between these two versions? I know that the BBC created it? If not I'm thinking that $66.95 looks a lot better than $99.00.

Artisan

Re: Planet Earth: Discovery vs BBC

I did a little digging (via wikipedia) and it looks like the main difference aside from the price is the narration. In the BBC version David Attenborough provides the narration while in the US version it's Sigourney Weaver.

The BBC HD versions do not have the extras found on the DVD version. I don't know if the Discovery Channel versions will or will not have the extras.

Sean Laughter

Re: Planet Earth: Discovery vs BBC

Aside from the narration I could have sworn I read that the Discovery version had some of the more violent animal attacks and deaths edited out as well, but I could be wrong on that one. I have the BBC version and love it, but i haven't been able to watch all of it yet, but I don't really remember seeing anything too shockingly violent in the BBC version yet, so I'm not sure what would have been removed for the Discovery version.

Artisan

Re: Planet Earth: Discovery vs BBC

The Wikipedia article mentioned that the version aired on Discovery was "heavily edited for time, commercials as well as content."

So that might apply just to the aired version and not the DVD.

Also on the discovery website it says:

"Standard version includes:
Behind-the-scenes features on each episode
Bonus disc featuring "The Future" documentary – a three-part companion series revealing the vulnerability of the natural history of earth."

Which makes it sound like they do not include the extras with the Hi-Def versions either.

So for $30 bucks less I think I'll go with the BBC version. That way I'm sure to get the entire show.

Sumnernor

Re: Planet Earth: Discovery vs BBC

From other posts, I would say the the DVDs for the discovery Channel are cut. I would recommend the BBC series and NOT the more expensive and cut Discovery Channel version-

Mark_TS

Re: Planet Earth: Discovery vs BBC

The Discovery version had to be cut up for commercials, which threw the soundtrack and narration out of whack.
So DC simply cut it up into segments, redid the soundtrack and had Sigorney narrate.
The BBC discs come in one contuous 50 min episode, with a 10 minute production diary at the end of each.
Sir David Attenburuogh narrates.
I did not, like many others, find Weavers narration offensive.
Still, I found the DC $99 price tag offensive, and purchased mine (UK version) for $43 at the Deep Discount sale

"He who panics first gets at least some of his money back." -KD

"He who panics first gets at least some of his money back." -KD