R2 Releases (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Wight]

What's up with all these shows getting R2 releases,well before being given a R1 release?I always thought that they get released in North America,first,and then are released in Europe,months later.At least,that's the way it is with movies.The studios will release movies in North America first and them release them,both theatrically and on dvd,months later over in Europe.

 

[Martin_C]

Reason Number 1: The studios in the US wait until they have enough episodes (usually 100) to sell the show into US Syndication. Why would stations want to buy episodes of a show, that are already available elsewhere (on DVD)?

Reason Number 2: Music licensing appears to be much easier in other Regions. (Ally McBeal).

Reason Number 3: Sometimes shows are simply more popular in the ROTW than they ever where in the US.

 

[Patrick.C]

Reason Number 4: Movie tie-ins. With all of the remake movies that draw from classic television (Bewitched, Miami Vice, Dukes of Hazard, etc.) the marketing folks like to tie-in to DVD releases of the classic shows with movie ticket promos, "sneak peaks" of the movie, etc. The release date of the movie can delay the release of the DVDs if there's a tie-in.

 

[Marko Berg]

This used to be categorically true, but the gap has been getting smaller and with big movie releases such as the Star Wars prequels and War of the Worlds isn't even there as the films were released theatrically simultaneously everywhere. This can apply to DVD releases also.

Movies and TV shows also may have different distributors overseas. For instance, what may be released by Universal in the US can be released by Paramount in Europe, and a particular distributor may see an opportunity in releasing a TV show that isn't possible to repeat somewhere else because of different licensing and distribution agreements. Releases around the world aren't controlled by a single business in Hollywood, even if that business owns the rights to that show in the US.

 

[Stephen Wight]

So,those shows are more popular in Europe,than they are here?There must be a demand for Miami Vice season 2 being released "across the pond" long before it's released here.