A rant regarding TV DVD distributors & sales

[TeeVeeCloset]

As a avid reader of Sitcoms online posts and a TV on DVD collector (about 100 sets owned) I finally have the time to write a few thoughts on the subject of sales and profit when it comes to releasing titles. I address my thoughts regarding the major studios and distributors like Paramount, Warner Bros & Sony. I read all the posts regarding worries about how titles will sell and why we have to wait sometimes 2 years between season releases. Some posters I really respect seem to also side with the studios when it comes to sales numbers. The bottom line in this case is GREED........... The fact is DVD sets DO NOT HAVE TO SELL extremely well for profit to be made.....First to manufacture a $39 boxset it costs about $5 to produce the actual set...yes it is that cheap! Any property that is owned by a studio for at least 20 years, no residuals are paid to the actors!, The studio has made a ton of money for countless years syndicating that show to stations over and over again.....do you know that a local station or cable network pays on the average of $5000 or more everytime one I LOVE LUCY episode or a similar property is played over the airwaves....one episode of "SEINFELD" goes for a million dollars in the NY market! Lets use "Different Strokes" for example....yes it hasn't made money for Sony in the last 15 years or so, but it was in syndication for about 5 years after it's network run and the studio made a truckload of cash over and over again....when the magic of DVD came along a new revenue opportunity was born....more money to be made with no artist royalties to pay out and a manufacting cost of $5....yes the films have to be transferred, cleaned up, boxart must be created to make the best possible product, I understand all that.....but for the consumers to be told that we must all buy something or we won't get another season is bull.............they simply don't want to release titles that won't make them a ton of profit, it's not because they are LOSING MONEY!!!! I actually read a few posts that the studios lose money on releasing some titles......A show like Happy Days has made millions of dollars for Paramount through licensing (dolls, lunchboxes, etc), not to mention the syndication dollars it continues to bring in to this day.......they pay nothing on all these shows, they are a CASHCOW to own, to release them only adds to the pile of cash already generated....it is only about GREED.......I welcome thoughts and comments from all my fellow collectors who anxiously await to finish a series they have collected.

[geekfemme]

I hear ya.
I just posted somewhere else how I'm anxiously awaiting more seasons of Quincey M.E. I totally got into watching an episode every day with my coffee and breakfast, it was like a golden moment, but *poof* it disappeared after only Season 1-2 boxset. gah.

I'm also really bothered on how some sets they charge OUTLANDISH prices for, like 'The Young Ones', or 'SCTV', or what the heck is up with the huge prices and SPLIT SEASONS of 'The Thundercats'. I was totally stoked when I heard it was coming out, until I saw the price tags. I have yet to buy one of the 1/2 seasons, because I can't afford it yet.

Honestly, some of us are dirt poor working folk, and this is getting ridiculous.

(DON'T get me started about studios releasing a movie, then months later coming out with a special 'unrated' cut, then a few months later coming out with a special 2-Disc with all new features, then coming out with another one with new commentaries, then a Criterion with more features, then a packaged set of all the similiar movies.....I don't like being forced to re-buy the damn movie (since I love the extra goodies). Just release them all at once and stop trying to trick us out of our money, you devious bloated gaseous moneybags).
(oops, I started.)

[Better Days]

Makes me think of a line from "In living Color": Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money.

But it is getting better....since most of the big money shows are out, they have no choice but to lower their greed.
And as TV-DVD popularity increases, they'll put out less popular shows and at lower prices.

[Johnny S]

You are absolutley right. But my friend, that is how business is done. You do what you think will make the most money. And yes it is greedy, but there is something we can do about it. If you want your favourite show to be continued on DVD, then it is as simple as this. Buy it! If it sells really good (99% of the time, because sometimes they don't release subsequent seasons due to things like music. ex- Malcolm In The Middle) there will be subsequent seasons. Even the TV DVD master Gord Lacey would agree with that.