DVD Pricing strategies... who picks the costs? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 05-25-2004, 06:21 PM

I noticed with a lot of DVD's for tv shows, the pricing can be outragious.

Who picks the prices? For example, Fox wants $100 per season for The X-Files.... yes, it's an hour long series, but the same company releases shows like Roswell, Buffy, Angel, Dark Angel and the sort, which are also an hour-long each, for roughly half that.

The worst culprits have to be the pay-cable channels. Season 3 of Queer As Folk retails for $119.99.... that is $120 for FOURTEEN EPISODES!!!! HBO also charges ridiculously high prices (around $100) for seasons of The Sopranos and Six Feet Under, both of which only have 13 episodes to a season. Also, HBO has been price-gouging Sex And The City season 5 ($50 for 8) and season 6, pt. 1 ($50 for 12), while seasons 2-4 were the same price for 18 episodes. Luckily I got both deeply discounted on sale.

I cringed when I saw that Paramount is charging $49.99 for the first seasons of Happy Days and Laverne And Shirley. Both shows are classics, but if they're charging that for the first half-seasons, what the heck are they going to charge for seasons 2 onward, where it was a full season? Yet at the same time, you can get the second (25 episodes) season of Three's Company for $25.99 at Best Buy normal price, and many of the classic shows Columbia has in their vault for $25-30 a season as well. When you see the price of season 2 of TC, and also see the prices of the Friends seasons (going from $29-35), what is the excuse of charging $50?

Just curiously, what determines DVD pricing. I really don't understand it.

barwars · 05-25-2004, 07:52 PM

Demand.
FOX can charge $100 for the XFiles, because fans will pay it.
Same thing goes for Star Trek, money is not a decision maker in many cases.

If I want a series on DVD, Ill buy it regardless.
Unless its exorbinantly priced, something like 10 episodes for $60.... then no.

vashti1999 · 05-25-2004, 09:25 PM

The first series I ever bought in seasons sets is the Sopranos. I got the first three season sets all within a month of each other a year and a half ago. The price was up there, but I liked the show and just settled on paying what I'd have to to own it. It actually made buying other stuff more appealing because I assumed that paying that price for a four-disc, 13 episode set was typical, when in actuality HBO just prices their stuff obscenely high.

I just read in the local paper today that the Northern Exposure season one set is listed at $59.98 for two disks! They are double sided disks, but still that seems high for a two disk, 8 episode set. The article mentions music clearance as part of the reason the price is high. I know that's the case with a number of series. Aside from music clearance issues, it would be nice to see the same uniformity the various studios use to price their dvd movie releases with tv-dvd releases.

To echo barwars88 though: If I want a series on DVD, Ill buy it regardless.

robyrob · 05-25-2004, 09:29 PM

its all about money, and how much they think they can get out of us - i think the "music rights" and other explanations are simply excuses to gouge the public further

TJL · 05-25-2004, 09:33 PM

I guess HBO and Showtime figure that since they're not going to make any money selling commercial time like the networks do, they might as well make a few extra bucks from their top shows.

A show like X FIles isn't going to make as much money in syndication as other shows (like sitcoms) so they might as well jack up the price a bit to sell the sets to the hardcore fans.

dawsongirl · 05-26-2004, 03:10 AM

I don't have the money to pay whatever, even though I want to. I refuse to pay retail for the sets. Amazon can be cheap...half.com too. But hell, I balk at $37 for Futurama.

Dean Winchester · 05-26-2004, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
A show like X FIles isn't going to make as much money in syndication as other shows (like sitcoms) so they might as well jack up the price a bit to sell the sets to the hardcore fans.

actually, The X-Files has done fairly well for an hour-long series in syndication. It was on FX for 5 years, where it was treated well, then it moved to TNT and Sci-Fi, both of which treat it good too. It's also been in weekend syndication for a few years as well. That show, ER, Law And Order and Buffy The Vampire Slayer have probably been the most successful hour-long shows in syndication in the past 5 or so years. None of these shows quite have done as well as Friends, Cosby or Seinfeld in reruns, but considering that hour-long series usually don't do 1/10th as well as their 30 minute counterparts (Dallas was the #2 series of the 1980's after Cosby... it has NEVER done well in syndication, compared to how Cosby Show has been around for 16 years in syndication non-stop), those shows have all done phenomenal in reruns.

Dean Winchester · 05-26-2004, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
Demand.
FOX can charge $100 for the XFiles, because fans will pay it.
Same thing goes for Star Trek, money is not a decision maker in many cases.

true, but imagine how many MORE sets of X-Files will sell if retail was $50?

When it comes to any set that costs more than $50 at Best Buy, I will resort to ebay to purchase it. $50 is the max I'll pay for a tv show, regardless. For example, Queer As Folk season 3 retails for $120, and Best Buy wants $89.99 for it, I am not paying $90 for 14 episodes, especially when most people agree season 3 was the weakest season, but yet I found a copy on ebay for $49.99 and won it. Even tho the case was a little worn, the discs were all mint, and I feel like that was a much more reasonable price (I got the first 2 seasons from a friend combined for $40, but that's another thing).

My #1 fave series is Buffy, and considering their seasons retail for $50, I won't go higher than that for any other series, especially since the Buffy DVD's are packed with a lot of extras, so I feel like I received my money's worth

spunkygirl · 05-26-2004, 09:58 AM

I think the DVD companies have a say in the pricing too, cause they get a cut.

Usually stores will mark down tvshowDVD's. I mean $49.99 isn't set in stone, I have seen shows priced for that, get marked down to about $32.99.

I think popularity of a show is a factor too, if they figure the fans of that show want the DVDs badly enough then they'll pay the prices they ask them too.

TJL · 05-26-2004, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
true, but imagine how many MORE sets of X-Files will sell if retail was $50?

Exactly.
I remember a time way back when at the start of the video rental boom (pre blockbuster when video stores were still a mom and pop industry) VHS movies were rarely for sale. Manufacturers figured "why would a consumer buy a movie when you could rent?" so the tapes were 80, 90, or 100 bucks!

I actually payed $83 bucks for a copy of "Return Of The Jedi" when it first came out on video. I had to special order it from the video store, because noone but hardcore film fans actually bought movies!

Eventually the companies caught on and realized they could sell tons of videos if they lowered the price, and the video biz really took off.

Still, there will be some companies that will keep the cost up, for some reason.

I would love to start a "Star Trek" DVD collection. But 100 bucks a season is a bit beyond my price range right now.

Ant-Lox · 05-26-2004, 12:10 PM

I will not go over $60 when I'm buying a season set. The most expensive TVDVD I bought so far was Frasier Season 1 which was about $48.

I really want to start buying Star Trek TNG, but $119 is what FYE wants for each season and Suncoast wants $140, thats just too much damn money.

Dean Winchester · 05-26-2004, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vashti1999
I just read in the local paper today that the Northern Exposure season one set is listed at $59.98 for two disks! They are double sided disks, but still that seems high for a two disk, 8 episode set.

what is especially bull is that the second season is only 7 episodes as well... so why didn't they bunch the first 2 seasons together?

barwars · 05-26-2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
what is especially bull is that the second season is only 7 episodes as well... so why didn't they bunch the first 2 seasons together?

ahh yes, Ive never seen the series....
but you DO get a kickass box.

FamilyTiesGOP · 05-27-2004, 09:28 AM

The price also depends on where you buy the DVDs. Target generally has lower prices than some other places. They had Cheers Season 3 for $35.00, while in the Barnes and Noble store (don't know about online) is still charging $50 for Season 2!

TJL · 05-31-2004, 03:24 PM

I'm bumping this thread up because a friend and I were discussing DVD prices last night, and like us he was perplexed about the pricing strategies, but he brought up an interesting point...

Do you think the residuals paid to actors, actresses, show creators, etc. have anything to do with pricing?

David Duchovney fought pretty hard for a bigger piece of the X Files residual dough, so maybe they charge more for the DVDs to give him a bigger cut of the profits.

Just a thought...

05-25-2004, 09:25 PM	#3
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	The first series I ever bought in seasons sets is the Sopranos. I got the first three season sets all within a month of each other a year and a half ago. The price was up there, but I liked the show and just settled on paying what I'd have to to own it. It actually made buying other stuff more appealing because I assumed that paying that price for a four-disc, 13 episode set was typical, when in actuality HBO just prices their stuff obscenely high. I just read in the local paper today that the Northern Exposure season one set is listed at $59.98 for two disks! They are double sided disks, but still that seems high for a two disk, 8 episode set. The article mentions music clearance as part of the reason the price is high. I know that's the case with a number of series. Aside from music clearance issues, it would be nice to see the same uniformity the various studios use to price their dvd movie releases with tv-dvd releases. To echo barwars88 though: If I want a series on DVD, Ill buy it regardless.
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05-25-2004, 09:29 PM	#4
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	its all about money, and how much they think they can get out of us - i think the "music rights" and other explanations are simply excuses to gouge the public further
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05-25-2004, 09:33 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I guess HBO and Showtime figure that since they're not going to make any money selling commercial time like the networks do, they might as well make a few extra bucks from their top shows. A show like X FIles isn't going to make as much money in syndication as other shows (like sitcoms) so they might as well jack up the price a bit to sell the sets to the hardcore fans.
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05-26-2004, 12:10 PM	#11
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	I will not go over $60 when I'm buying a season set. The most expensive TVDVD I bought so far was Frasier Season 1 which was about $48. I really want to start buying Star Trek TNG, but $119 is what FYE wants for each season and Suncoast wants $140, thats just too much damn money.
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05-25-2004, 06:21 PM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	DVD Pricing strategies... who picks the costs? I noticed with a lot of DVD's for tv shows, the pricing can be outragious. Who picks the prices? For example, Fox wants $100 per season for The X-Files.... yes, it's an hour long series, but the same company releases shows like Roswell, Buffy, Angel, Dark Angel and the sort, which are also an hour-long each, for roughly half that. The worst culprits have to be the pay-cable channels. Season 3 of Queer As Folk retails for $119.99.... that is $120 for FOURTEEN EPISODES!!!! HBO also charges ridiculously high prices (around $100) for seasons of The Sopranos and Six Feet Under, both of which only have 13 episodes to a season. Also, HBO has been price-gouging Sex And The City season 5 ($50 for 8) and season 6, pt. 1 ($50 for 12), while seasons 2-4 were the same price for 18 episodes. Luckily I got both deeply discounted on sale. I cringed when I saw that Paramount is charging $49.99 for the first seasons of Happy Days and Laverne And Shirley. Both shows are classics, but if they're charging that for the first half-seasons, what the heck are they going to charge for seasons 2 onward, where it was a full season? Yet at the same time, you can get the second (25 episodes) season of Three's Company for $25.99 at Best Buy normal price, and many of the classic shows Columbia has in their vault for $25-30 a season as well. When you see the price of season 2 of TC, and also see the prices of the Friends seasons (going from $29-35), what is the excuse of charging $50? Just curiously, what determines DVD pricing. I really don't understand it.

05-25-2004, 07:52 PM	#2
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Demand. FOX can charge $100 for the XFiles, because fans will pay it. Same thing goes for Star Trek, money is not a decision maker in many cases. If I want a series on DVD, Ill buy it regardless. Unless its exorbinantly priced, something like 10 episodes for $60.... then no.

05-26-2004, 03:10 AM	#6
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	I don't have the money to pay whatever, even though I want to. I refuse to pay retail for the sets. Amazon can be cheap...half.com too. But hell, I balk at $37 for Futurama.

05-26-2004, 09:58 AM	#9
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I think the DVD companies have a say in the pricing too, cause they get a cut. Usually stores will mark down tvshowDVD's. I mean $49.99 isn't set in stone, I have seen shows priced for that, get marked down to about $32.99. I think popularity of a show is a factor too, if they figure the fans of that show want the DVDs badly enough then they'll pay the prices they ask them too.

05-27-2004, 09:28 AM	#14
FamilyTiesGOP _ Senior Member Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 1,631	The price also depends on where you buy the DVDs. Target generally has lower prices than some other places. They had Cheers Season 3 for $35.00, while in the Barnes and Noble store (don't know about online) is still charging $50 for Season 2!

05-31-2004, 03:24 PM	#15
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I'm bumping this thread up because a friend and I were discussing DVD prices last night, and like us he was perplexed about the pricing strategies, but he brought up an interesting point... Do you think the residuals paid to actors, actresses, show creators, etc. have anything to do with pricing? David Duchovney fought pretty hard for a bigger piece of the X Files residual dough, so maybe they charge more for the DVDs to give him a bigger cut of the profits. Just a thought...