DVD vs. Syndication

[Rezny@gmail.com]

DVD's of a series are far superior than the syndicated version of the same series because the DVD's air EVERYTHING-By that,I mean parts of an episode of a series that are NOT included in the syndicated version.Why is this,and why are syndicated series (by any syndicator-SONY Pictures TV,Viacom,etc) severely edited with parts of the original broadcast left out?

[Marvo301]

The reason shows are edited for syndication is to make room for more commercials. When many classic shows were made there was 26 minutes of programming per half hour and 4 minutes of commercials. Now it's more like 22 minutes of programming and 8 minutes of commercials. So when classic shows go into syndication they have to edit out 4 minutes of the episode to make room for the extra commercials. This is why I prefer to watch classic TV on DVD!

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...there were three minutes of commercials during a "typical" half-hour situation comedy from the '50s, through the early '80s [the "fourth minute" was a local station break right after the end of the program, just before the next show on the schedule]. However, by the mid-'80s, an extra minute of ad time was added by the networks during those shows, in order to compensate for falling ad rates caused by competition from cable TV and the like. In the fall of 1994, NBC began cutting back on opening and closing credits to squeeze even more commercial time out of their sitcoms {and dramas}, a practice the other networks eventually adopted. Today, the average amount of commercial time during a half-hour is about 5 1/2 minutes (including promos), not counting the local "station break", now often featured in the middle of the show, so that each series flows "seamlessly" into the next one {another NBC practice adopted by all networks}.

Local stations usually schedule more commercial time during a half-hour (six minutes was the "standard"); when off-network shows initially entered syndication from the '50s onward, they were sent out via 16mm film prints- and it was up to the local station's film editors to eliminate at least three minutes from each episode to squeeze in more commercials...by the mid-'80s, pre-edited "videotape" prints were sent to those stations, with two or three minutes already trimmed away to accomodate more ad time. Sometimes, the "Lexicon", which was able to slightly speed up or slow down TV images, according to how much commercial time local stations wanted to sell, was used as well. Today, most sitcoms indeed have a 22 minute running time {with commercials, promos, PSA's and station breaks taking up the other eight}. And occasionally, even MORE commercials are shown, cutting back the length of those episodes even further!

[tmac81s]

One thing to beware of.....some DVDs use the syndicated (edited) versions! One that comes to mind is ALF. Often times, the explination about this is that the syndicated prints were in better shape (better picture/audio quality) than the original masters. Now, some landmark series (like "I Love Lucy"), the studios shelled out the extra bucks to restore the original prints and restore parts long ago cut out for syndication. But sometimes they don't do this because it wouldn't be cost effective.

Some series may have music replaced too (like the Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley season sets, starting with season 2 onward), because it costs money to license the music, and unless the sets are big sellers, they don't want to do it. (I've read that Paramount shelled out a lot of money for HD season 1, but it didn't sell as much as they hoped so they quit licensing the music for all subsequent sets.) Sometimes, if enough fans write and protest this, it can make a difference. Quantum Leap had the music replaced in seasons 2-4, but with the 5th (final) season, they retained the original music.

My advice is to research a series' DVD releases before buying it, to make sure you don't get something that's not what you were expecting. The reviews posted on here and on amazon are often very helpful on seeing if a series uses syndicated versions, music replacements, etc.

It would probably be too cost prohibitive, but I've often thought that a studio could put out a "deluxe edition" of a series that would restore the cut parts/keep the music, etc. Maybe charge more for it but I'm sure there is a demand out there for it!

[browneyes106]

tmac brought up a good point. Some DVD sets are syndicated versions of shows. ALF is a good example like tmac mentioned. I was really young when the show aired so I didn't remember a lot of scenes. My sister bought a DVD set to watch with her son and she noticed things were off and she looked online a lot of fans mentioned the edits etc.

The Highway to Heaven DVD's were also editied.

[treky]

some of the "SOAP" DVDs are also edited.

[treky]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...there were three minutes of commercials during a "typical" half-hour situation comedy from the '50s, through the early '80s [the "fourth minute" was a local station break right after the end of the program, just before the next show on the schedule]. However, by the mid-'80s, an extra minute of ad time was added by the networks during those shows, in order to compensate for falling ad rates caused by competition from cable TV and the like. In the fall of 1994, NBC began cutting back on opening and closing credits to squeeze even more commercial time out of their sitcoms {and dramas}, a practice the other networks eventually adopted. Today, the average amount of commercial time during a half-hour is about 5 1/2 minutes (including promos), not counting the local "station break", now often featured in the middle of the show, so that each series flows "seamlessly" into the next one {another NBC practice adopted by all networks}.

Local stations usually schedule more commercial time during a half-hour (six minutes was the "standard"); when off-network shows initially entered syndication from the '50s onward, they were sent out via 16mm film prints- and it was up to the local station's film editors to eliminate at least three minutes from each episode to squeeze in more commercials...by the mid-'80s, pre-edited "videotape" prints were sent to those stations, with two or three minutes already trimmed away to accomodate more ad time. Sometimes, the "Lexicon", which was able to slightly speed up or slow down TV images, according to how much commercial time local stations wanted to sell, was used as well. Today, most sitcoms indeed have a 22 minute running time {with commercials, promos, PSA's and station breaks taking up the other eight}. And occasionally, even MORE commercials are shown, cutting back the length of those episodes even further!

5 1/2 MINUTES???? Oh my god!!! I didn't think there's THAT many commercials!!!

[Regulus]

Originally Posted by treky

5 1/2 MINUTES???? Oh my god!!! I didn't think there's THAT many commercials!!!

I've counted as much as 28 Minutes of Commercials in an hour of programming! During the last decade the overall quality of TV Programming has done nothing but head SOUTH. In 2004 I began questioning WHY was I PAYING the Cable TV Company for the "Privilege" of watching TV. Two years later the "Last Straw" occured. I was at a Gathering, the Host had a Room with a TV Set tuned into a Children's Network so those who brought their Kids had something to preoccupy themselves while we did our thing. The Host made some Lemonade, and I was asked to take some to the kids. As I entered the room the program they were watching went to a Commercial Break. One of the Ads was the one for a Prescription Drug, the one that likes to "Rip Off" a certain Elvis Presley Tune. Bear in mind THIS WAS A CHILDREN'S SHOW! I yelled for the Host, she got there in time to see the end of the Ad. She YANKED the cord out of the TV, then went to a nearby Store to get a Movie for the kids to watch. We both Complained to the Cable Company and the Network, and were given the same "Runaround" (The Cable Company said "They have No Control over what's Advertised", the Network Denied having that ad during the show.) At that time I was paying $65.00 a Month for Cable TV. The Following week I went on Vacation, when I returned I still had about $300.00, which I used to purchase over a dozen Complete TV Series on DVD. I CANCELLED my Subscription, and have since used that Subscription Money to purchase TV Shows on DVD. How have I done? I have accumulated over 22,000 Episodes of TV Shows on DVD, along with over 1,600 Movies and 1,500 Hours of Serials, Documentaries and Other Programming. I watch what I want whenever I want to, NOBODY Butts-In to hawk something I'm not interested in buying, and , best of all, when I finish watching a Show I GET TO KEEP IT!

[zypherix]

Originally Posted by tmac81s

One thing to beware of.....some DVDs use the syndicated (edited) versions! One that comes to mind is ALF. Often times, the explination about this is that the syndicated prints were in better shape (better picture/audio quality) than the original masters. Now, some landmark series (like "I Love Lucy"), the studios shelled out the extra bucks to restore the original prints and restore parts long ago cut out for syndication. But sometimes they don't do this because it wouldn't be cost effective.

Some series may have music replaced too (like the Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley season sets, starting with season 2 onward), because it costs money to license the music, and unless the sets are big sellers, they don't want to do it.

ALF had both syndicated prints and music removed, shortening some episodes with up to 6 minutes. Lionsgate Studios (who released it) claimed the master tapes were in poor quality, yet it was released with crystal clear picture and nearly fully unedited in Germany. So sometimes its just a way for the company to make the DVDs as cheap as possible to release.

[Albert71292]

Originally Posted by treky

some of the "SOAP" DVDs are also edited.

I noticed that. Makes me glad I hung onto my Columbia House VHS tapes of the series. The episodes are unedited on those!

[MickeyMac]

A couple of episodes from the first season of Mr Ed.are edited as well. With some older shows the case is usually some of the original masters have gotten lost, erased or thrown away (back in those days people weren't thinking that people would want to see these shows again years down the road), so they had to go with the cable edited versions.

[shotzette]

What sort of a commercial would affect you so much that you would flip out in front of a room full of children? Seriously?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Albert71292

I noticed that. Makes me glad I hung onto my Columbia House VHS tapes of the series. The episodes are unedited on those!

I was surprised to find out that the Columbia House tapes of Good Times were unedited but the DVD eps of Good Times were edited

[WalrusIsPaul]

I could care less about music replaced as long as the shows i get are complete. Theres people who complain that Vince McMahon substitutes entrance music from the origianl airings with generic. I could care less if theres any music at all when they come to the ring. As long as the shows are complete with original commentery im happy. Diff music or no music does not ruin it for me for me at all, some say it ruins it for them

[treky]

Originally Posted by WalrusIsPaul

I could care less about music replaced as long as the shows i get are complete. Theres people who complain that Vince McMahon substitutes entrance music from the origianl airings with generic. I could care less if theres any music at all when they come to the ring. As long as the shows are complete with original commentery im happy. Diff music or no music does not ruin it for me for me at all, some say it ruins it for them

who's Vince McMahon? What entrance music? When who comes into the ring? And what ring?