vashti1999
02-17-2005, 11:49 AM
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
HBO to hit replay button
By DAVID BIANCULLI
DAILY NEWS TV CRITIC
Thursday, February 17th, 2005
A new season of "The Sopranos" isn't due until next year, but HBO may have something to keep fans busy - the company is bumping up the release date of the fifth-season DVD.
"Frankly, it seems to make sense to us to not let the distance between the release of season four and season five get too great," Caroline Rhea, senior vice president of marketing for HBO Video, revealed to the Daily News, noting season four came out in October 2003.
In the past, HBO has released the most recent season of a show on DVD near the launch date for the next season, as a way to boost interest in the returning show. For example, HBO last week put out the first season of "Deadwood," which returns for its second outing next month.
But, because "The Sopranos" is coming back with what's being billed as the final season in 2006, HBO has stepped up the release of the new DVD to June 7, in time for Father's Day.
Chase in charge
The return date to HBO for "The Sopranos" is dictated by creator David Chase, who demands and receives the time to produce the show on his own timetable. The most recent season, the fifth, ran from March to June of last year.
Yet it's already been a long time since season four of "The Sopranos" was available on DVD and HBO Video is both acknowledging, and trying to stem, the fans' impatience.
Because of Chase's work load and methods, he doesn't personally provide as much as other HBO show creators to the DVD supplementary material - but Rhea says fans and critics seem to accept that. Four directors will provide commentary for the fifth-season box, including Mike Figgis and "Sopranos" fifthseason recurring guest star Steve Buscemi.
Meanwhile, Rhea said HBO is planning a "super-premium" set of "Sex and the City" to hit stores before Christmas.
"I think there is absolutely a super-premium collector's market," she said about "Sex and the City."
Though all seasons have been released in separate installments, Rhea said the complete collection, including additional content and DVD extras not available on the originals, is being developed with "an eye for the collector," including new disc art and lavish packaging.
"It'll be kind of showpiece that you might want to own and preserve, and not use as your everyday set," Rhea said. "I guess it would be kind of like the good china. Or the good shoes."
Specialized markets
According to Rhea, buyers of the HBO Video sets vary from show to show. For "The Sopranos," as many as 60% of DVD purchasers are not subscribers to HBO. For "Curb Your Enthusiasm," it's the reverse: 60% of them are, and are buying the set after seeing and enjoying the show.
She's also beginning to track a new phenomenon - nonsubscribers who buy the boxed set for something like "Deadwood," and like it enough to subscribe to HBO in time to watch the new season unfold.
"If that is the case," she said of this apparent new side effect of DVD sales of TV boxed sets, "then it's kind of a circular, beautiful thing."
HBO to hit replay button
By DAVID BIANCULLI
DAILY NEWS TV CRITIC
Thursday, February 17th, 2005
A new season of "The Sopranos" isn't due until next year, but HBO may have something to keep fans busy - the company is bumping up the release date of the fifth-season DVD.
"Frankly, it seems to make sense to us to not let the distance between the release of season four and season five get too great," Caroline Rhea, senior vice president of marketing for HBO Video, revealed to the Daily News, noting season four came out in October 2003.
In the past, HBO has released the most recent season of a show on DVD near the launch date for the next season, as a way to boost interest in the returning show. For example, HBO last week put out the first season of "Deadwood," which returns for its second outing next month.
But, because "The Sopranos" is coming back with what's being billed as the final season in 2006, HBO has stepped up the release of the new DVD to June 7, in time for Father's Day.
Chase in charge
The return date to HBO for "The Sopranos" is dictated by creator David Chase, who demands and receives the time to produce the show on his own timetable. The most recent season, the fifth, ran from March to June of last year.
Yet it's already been a long time since season four of "The Sopranos" was available on DVD and HBO Video is both acknowledging, and trying to stem, the fans' impatience.
Because of Chase's work load and methods, he doesn't personally provide as much as other HBO show creators to the DVD supplementary material - but Rhea says fans and critics seem to accept that. Four directors will provide commentary for the fifth-season box, including Mike Figgis and "Sopranos" fifthseason recurring guest star Steve Buscemi.
Meanwhile, Rhea said HBO is planning a "super-premium" set of "Sex and the City" to hit stores before Christmas.
"I think there is absolutely a super-premium collector's market," she said about "Sex and the City."
Though all seasons have been released in separate installments, Rhea said the complete collection, including additional content and DVD extras not available on the originals, is being developed with "an eye for the collector," including new disc art and lavish packaging.
"It'll be kind of showpiece that you might want to own and preserve, and not use as your everyday set," Rhea said. "I guess it would be kind of like the good china. Or the good shoes."
Specialized markets
According to Rhea, buyers of the HBO Video sets vary from show to show. For "The Sopranos," as many as 60% of DVD purchasers are not subscribers to HBO. For "Curb Your Enthusiasm," it's the reverse: 60% of them are, and are buying the set after seeing and enjoying the show.
She's also beginning to track a new phenomenon - nonsubscribers who buy the boxed set for something like "Deadwood," and like it enough to subscribe to HBO in time to watch the new season unfold.
"If that is the case," she said of this apparent new side effect of DVD sales of TV boxed sets, "then it's kind of a circular, beautiful thing."