Seinfeld probably NOT coming to DVD anytime soon (1 Viewer)

Mark Silver · Apr 30, 2003

Eonline is reporting:

MASTER OF HIS DOMAIN: TBS ponying up another $200 million to continue airing reruns of NBC's Seinfeld through 2011.

Now, while i don't think Seinfeld fans will have to wait until 2011, if I were TBS I would be very pretty upset to pay $200 million and then have the producers de-value my investment by putting out DVDs. I would bet they have a "no DVD clause" in this contract for at least a certain window of time.

Scott L · Apr 30, 2003

Good assement Mark, 2011 seems like a hell of a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if the series showed up on HD-DVD by the time the "no DVD clause" is up. I guess that's a good thing as long as interest in the show doesn't decrease over that time.

Steve_Tk · Apr 30, 2003

This is like Friends for me. It's on 3 times a day, why would I need to spend 400 dollars, or more, for the whole thing.

Jeff Kleist · Apr 30, 2003

I'm also positive that specified in said contract was the DVD window

Rex Bachmann · Apr 30, 2003

Mark Silver wrote (post #1):

I think it's the local broadcast stations that subscribe to the syndication of Seinfeld through (initially) paying a premium fee for participation that demanded the exclusive window of delivery. That itself has now changed since the program is now being delivered through the air (locally) and by cable (nationally). You should be aware that TBS is part of the same megaconglomerate, AOL Time Warner---or whatever it's calling itself this week---, that owns it. Castle Rock Entertainment, its producer, was bought up by Ted Turner years ago, even before the merger with Time Warner. So, it's all one big feudal bunch of media companies that (reportedly) can't get along with one another.

At some point, Columbia-TriStar's broadcast-tv syndication rights will expire (and with it any rights to DVD distribution???), and then probably one of the Time Warner companies will inherit the option to release on DVD. By that time the tv saturation of the program will make it favorable, business-wise, to release it in DVD format, because Time Warner will have control over ALL tv distribution of the program and can market the dvd's to the serious Seinfeld-enthusiast market with the prospect of exclusive rights to the profits therefrom. (There'll still be lots of "casual fans" who'll want to see the program more or less regularly, but not buy the whole dvd set.)

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Ruz-El · Apr 30, 2003

I don't fully understand all the ownership issues involved, but I do know this:

I own 2 Oz set, 2 Simpsons sets, 3 Friends set(plus best ofs, and The Mr. Show set. The fact that I own these has not stopped me (or my wife) from watching repeats on TV, so the whole concept of "if it's on DVD, then no one will watch it on TV syndication" argument dosen't make sense to me.

If you like a TV show enough to justify spending $$ on a season set, you probably like it enough that if you see it on the TV, you'll probably stick it out and watch it as well.

I can't be the only one with a remote glued to my hand and too lazy to put DVD in the platter when what I want to watch is on the telly! (movies excluded, although I have caught myself watching hacked up commercial filled features that I own, only to ask myself "what the hell are you doing?"

Richard Waller · Apr 30, 2003

I've got plenty of TV properties on DVD as well, but that doesn't stop me from watching a syndicated episode should I come across it while channel surfing. I'm starting to think we'll never see Seinfeld on this format. :frowning:

Skippy · Apr 30, 2003

One good reason is that the syndicated versions have A LOT cut from them, especially Friends. Sienfeld too, but to a lesser degree. The DVD versions of Friends are uncut, and in many cases have ADDITIONAL footage.

I too have multiple shows on DVD, but still watch all of them syndicated or in reruns.

EricW · Apr 30, 2003

I too have multiple shows on DVD, but still watch all of them syndicated or in reruns.

yes, it's always different when it's publicly broadcast songs on the radio sound different to CDs.

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Michael Martin · May 1, 2003

One good reason is that the syndicated versions have A LOT cut from them, especially Friends. Sienfeld too, but to a lesser degree. The DVD versions of Friends are uncut, and in many cases have ADDITIONAL footage.

Actually, with Friends, it's in EVERY case.

Sitcoms that are scheduled for a half-hour of air time can only be about 22 minutes. All of the Friends episodes on DVD clock in anywhere between 23 and 26 minutes, so you're getting quite a bit of extra footage.

So in response to the guy who asked "why buy when I can watch?" the answer is not only are you missing footage from the original aired version, you're missing what was probably the original edit before they trimmed for time.

I don't know Seinfeld episodes near as well as Friends, but I know that syndicated reruns have often made some plots nearly nonsensical because of trimmed footage.

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Michael St. Clair · May 1, 2003

I virtually never watch syndicated programming of american shows. I wait for the DVD. After all these years, I think I've watched one episode of Seinfeld in syndication.

Yet I have friends who not only watch all of their favorite shows in syndication, but they actually watch just as much after they get the DVDs.

I am very skeptical that DVD availability has a substantial impact on the ratings of syndicated programming.

David Illingworth II · May 1, 2003

In the case of Seinfeld, the edits are increasing actually. I taped many episodes off syndication repeats back in 1998, but recently I've watched several episodes on TBS and also my local station. In almost every episode I've noticed a line being cut, roughly 10 seconds of show. And they're good lines! Apparently, as time goes on the shows get shorter.

Brenton · May 1, 2003

I remember a few months ago, someone had a quote from Jerry Seinfeld that said that he had no desire to release the show on DVD because he was getting plenty of money from syndication. This leads me to believe that he only sees it from his own point of view. To him, the issue is "Do I want the show on DVD?" He's forgetting that there are fans on the other end that really want it.

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