Budget "Pilot Episodes" line from Warner Brothers (1 Viewer)

Patrick Mirza · May 3, 2004

Warner Home Video will release a number of TV pilots in a new budget line. Arriving on June 8th under the "TV Premiere DVD" banner are pilot episodes for ER, Gilmore Girls, Kung Fu and The Waltons. The episodes, all already available in their respective box set collections, will be priced at a cheap $5.98.

LanieParker · May 3, 2004

WHy do they do this? I don't really understand the reasoning behind it. Is it because some people may want to test the waters before plunking down $50 for the whole series or season sets?

Jason Seaver · May 3, 2004

There you go. $50 is a pretty big chunk for an impulse buy, but $6 retail is nothing. Heck, retailers may choose to give those things away in hopes that someone will come back for the set.

Michael Harris · May 3, 2004

I think its a good idea. Think of it as a sampler. Just hope they don't get the idea of not including pilots on the season set.

oscar_merkx · May 3, 2004

that is a very good point indeed. Having said that though i would like to think that this would draw in the casual viewer before purchasing the box set

Gord Lacey · May 3, 2004

We reported on this back in March:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1304

This is a cheap way to sample a series since each of the discs also include $5 off the full set. Should you decide to buy the full thing then this disc is costing you about $1. I think it's a great way to introduce people to a series, and if they pick it up then they have a loaner disc to get others hooked.

Gord

Casey Trowbridg · May 3, 2004

I agree with Gord, I like this idea, and wish other studios would follow suit.

David_Blackwell · May 3, 2004

I have a better idea. Why don't studios release pilots to shows not yet out on DVD in season sets to get feedback (to see who sends off comments and how many comments on what shows should get released on DVD pronto)?

Just an idea.

Be Seeing You,
David Blackwell

Ron Lee Green · May 3, 2004

In a similar vein, Sony put dvds of Barney Miller, Donna Reed, King of Queens, and Mad About You, inside certain packages of General Mills cereals. I guess its the same theory: to get people to sample the discs and hopefully buy the season sets. I wish more companies would do this. I'd love to "sample" more shows like Donna Reed which is not even available in season sets.

Casey Trowbridg · May 3, 2004

My first reaction is because a show might get a lot of comments but that might not translate in to purchases. I'll bet that there are people that vote for shows on Gord's site that don't buy them when they hit the shelves at least not right away. Just because a lot of people might comment on a disc, or profess how willing they would be to buy it, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will.
So releasing discs like that might not get a true indication of who is interested in what but releasing pilots of shows already out might result in some people liking them and then buying the already available sets.

david_slater · May 3, 2004

there are also a lot of people that like to buy just the pilots to shows as well. im one of them.
if i want more then just the pilot then i buy the Season or Complete box sets.

Gord Lacey · May 3, 2004

The work for these titles has been done already (transfers at least) so they're using material that has been paid for already. Transferring new material would cost more money and probably raise the cost of the discs. I can also see people complaining, "Why are they just releasing the pilot?! Why not a season set?!"

Can't please them all, can you?

Gord

ChrisRose · May 6, 2004

I think the budget line's a good idea, considering the DVDs will be so cheap.

Buying the Smallville pilot DVD for $20, and then watching the exact same extras from it turn up on the season 1 box set later... sucked. Complete waste of money. But if the pilot had been $5...

I agree with David that they should release more pilots for shows that *aren't* on DVD yet.

(And boy do I wish the Donna Reed Show pilot had been for sale in stores, here in Canada. Still hoping for season sets someday...)

Anthony Hom · May 6, 2004

I think A&E should release a pilot sampler for all of its ATV series. Those sets are so expensive, it might get some curious who would dismiss them because of the high costs.

Joshua Lane · May 6, 2004

...actually, Warner Brothers is just following suit with what Central Park Media started last year. With their "Anime Test Drive" program, you buy a DVD of the 1st two episodes for $7.99. Each disc comes with a $10 coupon off the purchase of the corresponding box set.

Home Theater

Entertainment & Streaming Content

Physical Media

Home Theater Equipment and Hardware

Other Diversions

Bargains and Classifieds

Home Theater Forum

Archives

Budget "Pilot Episodes" line from Warner Brothers (1 Viewer)

Supporting Actor

Supporting Actor

Screenwriter

Screenwriter

Screenwriter

Stunt Coordinator

Stunt Coordinator

Supporting Actor

Second Unit

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread

Sign up for our newsletter

and receive essential news, curated deals, and much more

Similar Threads

Forum statistics