Stalled series? There's Hope! - Page 7

brett tolino · 07-01-2008, 06:55 AM

This is the first time I've come to this site in a long time.

I used to post about the shows I wanted to see released or state why I believe a series release did not 'perform to expectations' but was continually put down by some of the know-it-all-people who come here and trash the posts claiming 'The series didn't sell, get over it, its not coming. No one wants it, etc.' and its nice to see there may be some hope on the horizon.

For me, I've stopped buying everything TV on DVD.

I used to be quite the spender and supporter of TV on DVD but after the Dynasty debacle, where Paramount is releasing it piece meal in volume sets, I just gave up. In today's economic climate, its just too expensive to buy piece-mealed then, only to have the studios release the shows I supported seasonally released with extra bonuses unavailable previously in a boxed set. I didn't want to go through that with the volume sets like I did with I Love Lucy.

Also, after years upon years of waiting for many of the shows I purchased to see completion, I guess I just lost interest.

So, here's to hoping some of these shows will see the light of day:

Knots Landing
Party of Five (last tv on dvd I bought)
All in the Family
One Day at A Time
Charlie's Angels
Eight is Enough
Alice
Six Million Dollar Man
Bionic Woman

Robert13 · 07-01-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett tolino

This is the first time I've come to this site in a long time.

For me, I've stopped buying everything TV on DVD.

Also, after years upon years of waiting for many of the shows I purchased to see completion, I guess I just lost interest.

So, here's to hoping some of these shows will see the light of day...

Hi Brett, I remember reading your posts. I have been checking on news for a while but, like you, I've stopped buying everything TV on DVD right now for the simple reason that nothing released has been of interest to me. I wish classic tv would pick up again on dvd. And not just one release but several in a month like it used to be.

Jeff*H · 07-01-2008, 09:57 AM

Regarding stalled series, has Universal stopped putting out classic TV releases? It seems like it's been months and months since we've seen any announcement out of them regarding both classic shows they have in progress (i.e. Murder She Wrote, Rockford Files) or new shows. They have apparently been licensing a few out. And they haven't announced any classic shows that are new to DVD. Yet they've been offering them up online like crazy (Netflix and Hulu come to mind).

Honestly, it seems like CBS Paramount is the only one continually issuing the classics on DVD (and despite the occasional screw-up i.e. The Fugitive, they are generally doing a good job). Sony, Fox and Universal appear to be pulling away from the biz for the most part.

Does anyone have any insight as to what's going on? Is everyone moving away from packaged media towards internet streams where they can get advertising revenue? My understanding is the Return on Investment is (or was) much greater with DVD vs. internet releases.

brett tolino · 07-01-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert13

Hi Brett, I remember reading your posts. I have been checking on news for a while but, like you, I've stopped buying everything TV on DVD right now for the simple reason that nothing released has been of interest to me. I wish classic tv would pick up again on dvd. And not just one release but several in a month like it used to be.

Thanks Robert!

I still check the news on TVonDVD.com because I would like to buy more TV on dvd but what's being announced currently does not interest me either.

Like you, I'm all for Classic TV on dvd!

Jay_B! · 07-01-2008, 05:13 PM

it seems like TV-DVD has only become good for current programs. There are five TV-DVD sets coming soon on my "must get" list, and only Family Ties season 4 ISN'T 2007-2008 related (well, South Park's 11th season started in early 2007, but still... it's hardly vintage). There are so many great programs from the 50's-90's that are just sitting around collecting dust and the companies are doing nothing about it.

Sunfire Ranger · 07-01-2008, 05:16 PM

I would love to see the rest of Superboy come to DVD (Seasons 2-4). The recent "Superboy DVD Campaign" proves that there is a large demand for the rest of the show on DVD.

I'm not sure if this counts as an abandoned/stalled show, but I would also like to get SpongeBob Squarepants - Season 5:Volume 2 on DVD. I hope the execs at Paramount will confirm the release soon.

The Marvel Action Hour animated series is another show I'm interested in seeing get completed. The fans got the Fantastic Four portion of the Marvel Action Hour back in 2005, but I hope BVHE (or if some other studio picks up the license to issue it) at some point releases the Iron Man one.

RichieMagoo · 07-01-2008, 07:54 PM

I used to check TVshowsondvd.com every day to see keep abreast of the releases of classic shows.....but the good stuff has become so infrequent, why bother?

And even if something good does come out occasionally, I will no longer buy it unless it is something that compeletes a set I've already started collecting. I will no longer buy the first season or two of any show, for fear that I will have to wait years to get future seasons...if at all.

What they've with All In The Family and Taxi is a disgrace! If sales were good enough for them to put out more than the initial season, then they should warrant the rest of the series- because naturally, the people who bought seasons 1-6 of AITF and 1-3 of Taxi, will almost certainly buy the remaining seasons- so what's the problem?!

Personally, I don't care about extras or other frills (The extras usually royally suck- and even when they are good, you watch them once and that's it- just give me the shows...in a timely fashion!)

This treatment has really tuirned me off of buying DVDs. I had started amassing quite a collection...but I've stopped- as having a bunch of incomplete series doesn't interest me...nor does waiting 10 years to complete a series.

Jay_B! · 07-02-2008, 02:59 AM

I agree with the same thing. It's funny that after three or four seasons, a company decides to throw in the towel. If the first few seasons justified another set, why stop? There is no reason any series with three or more seasons out on DVD should be abandoned. I mean, it takes Fox 2/3 of the way into Bob Newhart to realize he's not going to make the same money for the company that The Simpsons (which seems to have gotten abandoned too even) does?

Gord Lacey · 07-02-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichieMagoo

I will no longer buy the first season or two of any show, for fear that I will have to wait years to get future seasons...if at all.

But you're guaranteeing that the show won't be continued if you don't buy it.

The problem with classic TV, and the subject of an upcoming editorial, is that there can be HUGE dropoff between sales of season sets. You want to know why a show got to season 4 and not further? It's because 30% of the people that bought season 1 collected up to season 4. The dropoff is simply too huge for the companies to continue releasing the show. I have sales data from one studio, and they saw nearly a 70% dropoff between seasons 1 and 2 for a series. YIKES!

Gord