Lost in Space: The Complete Second Season slated for September

[Brian]

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1350


Ron Epstein, owner of The Home Theater Forum (HTF) website - and one of the most extreme Lost In Space fans I've ever had the pleasure of talking to - has a special announcement today for other fans of the show.

Ron has maintained a very good relationship with Fox Home Entertainment, at the very highest levels, and proves it time and again...most recently this past January when he enticed Fox's Senior VP of Marketing (and overseer of all DVD product development) Peter Staddon to hold an online chat with members of the HTF website.

This morning Ron posted there an intriguing announcement about Lost In Space - The Complete 2nd Season:


It's official. I waited till after April Fools day to post this....

Lost in Space Season Two DVD set will be released in September with bonus features included.

More details as they are released.

VERY cool! A September timeframe is couple of months later than what we previously heard about this, but Ron's proven time and again what a cautious reporter he is, and so we think you can take this one to the bank. Oh, sure...Fox can always change things on him. But they wouldn't have told Ron if they weren't pretty darn sure themselves.

And "bonus features included"...wowsers; that's great to hear. Thanks to Fox for raising the bar on the second release, and thanks to all the fans who purchased the first set and proved to the studio that you are interested in this series!

Stay tuned, and we'll see if we can get out of him some of those "more details" Ron was talking about. In the meantime, be sure to visit Ron's website. The HTF is the official discussion forum of TVShowsOnDVD.com, is where this site was conceived, and features some of the best folk you'll ever meet for online discussion of DVD, Home Entertainment, and related topics. Ron and co-owner Parker Clack are always happy to see new members who want to participate in a friendly manner...so check it out!

[dlemond]

From TV shows on DVD

Lost in Space - Season 2 'Split'
Posted by David Lambert
5/14/2004


When we first learned that Lost In Space was going to get a 2nd Season DVD release, the word about it came from none other than Ron Epstein, owner of The Home Theater Forum (HTF) website - the site where Gord and I first met and he first dreamed up the idea for TVShowsOnDVD.

Now Ron has come back and reported something new about the next Lost In Space season. At first he was very careful in describing it as a rumor:

I have the opportunity to speak with a few people involved with the Lost In Space fan clubs.

Rumor has it that Fox is considering releasing the second season as a 2-part set. In another words, dividing up the season in two separate releases.

The reason? To lower the price of each set so that more stores will carry them.

Personally, if this is true, I hope Fox does not go this route. Breaking up the set into two parts is not an attractive purchase option for the fans who want an all-inclusive purchase.

It also *seems* that releasing 2 separate packages can't be as cost-effective as releasing one. Therefore, people will most likely pay MORE when they buy two packages rather than one.

Of course, just speculation...Take all of this as rumor.

Very quickly there was a response in that thread from Fox Home Video's Sr. Vice President, Peter Staddon, who personally wanted to explain the situation to Lost In Space fans, including Ron:

We are indeed looking at this option.

In an ideal world I would like to produce a complete Season 2 package. The sad reality is that although Season 1 sold ok, it did not sell well enough for many accounts that carried it to carry Season 2. Dividing it into two volumes and lowering the shelf price is a way of getting the series into distribution. We are not trying to gouge the fan base here we are trying to get the product on the shelf!

The combined pricepoints of volumes 1 and 2 should be pretty close to the pricepoint of Season 1, we are not trying to make 1 + 1 = 3 here.

Thanks for your interest,

Peter Staddon

The discussion in the thread continued, with most showing understanding and support. One reader posted disappointment, though. HTF owner Ron soon returned with this statement about that:

You know, I am perhaps one of the biggest LIS fans out there.

I too was disappointed to hear that Fox was considering releasing this set in two parts.

However...

Peter Staddon took the time not only to personally confirm the rumor but also explain that dividing the set gives a far better opportunity for the product to even get out (where otherwise it would not have).

...I stand behind Fox's decision.

Ron also points out a short time later that "Fox could have just stopped putting any more seasons on DVD. I look at this situation as a studio doing whatever they can to increase sales in order to get all the seasons out. Give them credit for that."

Peter Staddon returned later to briefly explain the exact plan for this "split" release:

I just wanted to add that we are committed to releasing both volumes of Season 2 this year. I believe volume 1 is in September and volume 2 is in November.

Thanks for your interest.

Peter Staddon.


You can read the entire contents of the thread by clicking here. It's great that Mr. Staddon took the time to come to the HTF and explain what the plan is, why they're doing it, and show that they are really being on the sides of the fans with this. When retail chains are hesitant to continue stocking future seasons of a series, then it's better that the studio look for creative solutions rather than simply abandoning the TV show entirely. We can only hope that this works, not only so that we can get Lost In Space's third season, but so that perhaps Mary Tyler Moore Show fans can have some hope as well!

Bottom line is that we can expect Lost In Space - Season 2, Volume 1 in September, and probably will get Lost In Space - Season 2, Volume 2 in November. Our thanks to Ron Epstein and Peter Staddon for the fine discussion over at the Home Theater Forum. A site well worth our support!

Link to this page:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1499

[wayman]

I saw this on the store shelves yesterday. It isn't supposed to be released until 9-14-04. I didn't buy it as I haven't finished Season 1 yet, but I was surprised to see it.