B5 Now on TubiTV.com (US)

[Jan]

Found this article on where some of the WB shows are going. The B5 part is:

"Last month, Warner Bros. Discovery made the shocking decision to pull several notable TV shows from the HBO Max streaming service. It was initially unclear when (or if) they would return, but this week, the media conglomerate announced that it has signed deals with the free, ad-supported TV (FAST) networks Tubi and The Roku Channel."

• WB TV Watchlist – a collection of premium television series including “Westworld,” “Raised by Wolves,” “The Nevers,” and “Time Traveler’s Wife,” “Babylon 5, “Third Watch,” “La Femme Nikita” among others

No mention of when it'll happen though.

https://bgr.com/entertainment/canceled-hbo-max-shows-heading-to-the-roku-channel-and-tubi/

(note that it's the only source I've seen so far)

[LateArrival]

Since this would potentially make the series available to different subscribers/audiences, would this be a good thing? HBOMax users had it for two years and now others (Roku ? Tubi) will have the series for a while. And it could always be "purchased" via a steaming service such as Apple or Prime Video, so it isn't in danger of returning to FreeBabylon5 times.

[Jan]

Since this would potentially make the series available to different subscribers/audiences, would this be a good thing? HBOMax users had it for two years and now others (Roku ? Tubi) will have the series for a while. And it could always be "purchased" via a steaming service such as Apple or Prime Video, so it isn't in danger of returning to FreeBabylon5 times.

That's my reaction, yes. And while the #FreeBabylon5 campaign was rewarding, I'm *perfectly* happy for the show to be freely available!

[Jonas]

Is there any way of purchasing it in Europe? You can get Tubi with a VPN, but I'd love to buy the show properly.

[LateArrival]

Is there any way of purchasing it in Europe? You can get Tubi with a VPN, but I'd love to buy the show properly.

I am way behind when it comes to streaming, but think it can be purchased (Feb 2023) on both Apple TV and Amazon. Not sure if one is better than the other version-wise as I know Amazon has the 1993 "original" version of The Gathering (found under season 1) but not sure which version Apple has - "original" or "TNT". Did see the HD/Remastered versions of seasons 1-5 available for purchase on Amazon.co.uk, so is definitely there. The later movies appear to be there as well in SD, although they may also have The Lost Tales available separately as HD.

If memory serves, the Big Deal for HBO Max getting the series in January 2021 was that it would be available to existing subscribers without having to purchase anything.

[Jonas]

Huh, it looks like Amazon.de has the HD versions now, even though they're not properly labelled.

[Looney]

Ugggggh I hate commercials.

And in sad news... I went looking for it and could no longer find the Original Cut of THE GATHERING on Amazon. I've owned it for years and it has disappeared from My Stuff. 😭😭😭😭 (Please tell me it is a glitch.)

[Jan]

B5 is now available on Tubi TV: https://tubitv.com/series/300010071/...n-5?start=true

Season 1 includes the TNT er-edit of 'The Gathering'. No sign (as pretty much expected) of the other movies. Episode descriptions are off, probably because they listed "The Gathering" as episode 1.

[LateArrival]

B5 is now available on Tubi TV: https://tubitv.com/series/300010071/...n-5?start=true

Season 1 includes the TNT er-edit of 'The Gathering'. No sign (as pretty much expected) of the other movies. Episode descriptions are off, probably because they listed "The Gathering" as episode 1.

Thanks Jan!!!

Using the built in search feature for Fire-TV, Babylon 5 now appears under "Free To Me" - which brings up Tubi!! Haven't been able to stream the TNT version of The Gathering since Amazon has the 1993 version at the end of season 1 as episode 0.

...Looks like TNT version is about 90-ish seconds longer and widescreen/cropped while 1993's is 4:3. Am watching on a regular LCD monitor so can't see any great difference in quality between the two versions. Guess the only HD Film is TLT due to that XBox thingee? Or at least in AmazonWorld can purchase TLT in SD as part of the six-feature "Babylon 5: The Movies", but also by itself in HD for $$$.

Minor Update: Watched it on a different device with a larger screen, and the SD Amazon version will show "distortions" at fixed points (read somewhere that Amazon doesn't invest much effort in streaming SD, favoring higher def) while the TNT version on Tubi is clearer. However, the TNT version seems to have the same issue as the DVDs - cropping 4:3 to reach 16:9. But would say the music makes up for it over the original score of Rockin' 90s Music.



Amazon (1993) version with the interesting Alien Scenes.



Tubi (TNT) 16:9/Cropped and Amazon (1993) 4:3




... And oddly enough a Fire TV search now offers Call to Arms and Thirdspace by themselves, but are Unavailable.

[Ubik]

I've been following the ongoing saga of Season 1B of The Nevers for some time. Fans were pretty stoked for the second half of the season to drop. It's had quite a storied production history, with HBO removing Joss Whedon as show runner and replacing him with Phillipa Gosset for the latter half of the season.

But, long story short. We finally get the tail end of S1. However, it seems like they already consigned the show to the bin by having S1B premiere on Tubi, at weird mid-day slots where you have to watch live at their pre-appointed time and no ability to stream it. Fans are, understandably very annoyed.

Make no mistake, Tubi is where HBO / WB shows go to die.

[Jan]

Make no mistake, Tubi is where HBO / WB shows go to die.

Curious if you think that has anything to do with B5? After all, it's been 'dead' for almost 25 years already.

[Looney]

Using the built in search feature for Fire-TV, Babylon 5 now appears under "Free To Me" - which brings up Tubi!! Haven't been able to stream the TNT version of The Gathering since Amazon has the 1993 version at the end of season 1 as episode 0.:

Are you saying you can still access the original cut of THE GATHERING through Amazon? I purchased it years ago and it no longer shows up in my purchases or when I search it.

[LateArrival]

Are you saying you can still access the original cut of THE GATHERING through Amazon? I purchased it years ago and it no longer shows up in my purchases or when I search it.

Yes. Can purchase the 1993 original version "digitally" via Amazon prime video. It is labeled "episode 0" and can be found between season 1 episode 22 and season 2 episode 1. The TNT version doesn't appear to be available for purchase via Amazon - but that version can now be streamed via Tubi.

At least three years ago The Gathering was listed after episode 22 in season 1 as "episode 0" and could apparently be purchased by itself (?) for $0.00. But if one purchased the entire 1st season, The Gathering came as part of the package and could be found by scrolling to it: Ep. 19, 20, 21, 22, 0. Was always listed after episode 22. Even without logging in, could view the available For Purchase season 1 episodes, and at the bottom of the page (under episode 22) was episode 0 for $0.00.

However just checked today, and The Gathering has moved to season one "extras" (see below picture) and there is no longer an individual purchase option for it. Maybe it's now only available if one purchases all of season 1. ???

Could try viewing Babylon 5 season 1 in prime video and scroll past episode 22 to where "episode 0" is. Or possibly log into amazon https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-on-t...dp/B000I5SYHS/ and click on EXTRAS for season 1. Whether or not it's purchased - should be there.

??? Could always manually search Digital Orders under your account for a record of the purchase, or check old emails.



...For what it is worth, SD versions of In The Beginning, Thirdspace, River of Souls, Call to Arms, Legend of the Rangers, and The Lost Tales can be purchased for $1.99 each as "episodes 1-6". https://www.amazon.com/In-the-Beginning/dp/B000TS99DM/ . And the HD version of TLT is also available by itself for $22.99 https://www.amazon.com/Babylon-Lost-.../dp/B000U8MJEC. Weird that the SDs are $1.99 each and the single HD is $22.99.

????
Strange Update: Was looking at the Amazon description (see picture) for B5 season 1:
"2258 CE. The Earth Alliance has just placed a massive space station, Babylon 5, into orbit around a planet in a neutral corner of a distant galaxy to serve as a refuge for for anyone seeking sanctuary from the hostile federations that dominate space."

[Ubik]

Curious if you think that has anything to do with B5? After all, it's been 'dead' for almost 25 years already.

I was just trying to re-iterate it's been a slap in the face for almost any show that landed there. All the recently culled SF shows from HBO MAX have been relegated to this terrible ad driven streaming service. Same for Westworld and Raised by Wolves. Fair, B5 is long dead and maybe we should be glad it's on any streaming venue, but for those other shows they have been culled as part of the WB / Discovery merger in the name of efficiencies and tax write offs. I think it's an insult to those shows. B5 also deserves better.

[LateArrival]

Are you referring to a potential loss of status in B5 moving from a Paid Subscription Service to a Free one? Stargate can (currently) be viewed as part of a Prime $$ Video subscription, but oddly enough can also be viewed for Free via Pluto TV. A Free streaming service - with ads - is better than Nothing. ...and today I learned that "F.A.S.T" = "Free Ad Supported TV".

There do not appear to be that many Free services which don't require a subscription, specific hardware, or linking to an already existing account. Tried casting about to see Who Owns What: Pluto (Paramount), Tubi (Fox), Xumo (Comcast), Crackle (Sony), Freevee (Amazon), plus ones that may (or may not?) require specific hardware - Roku, Plex, etc. Perhaps WB is still jiggling the handle when it comes to streaming and doesn't have their own house in order yet? Was reading about something called "Max" replacing "HBO Max" and "Discovery Plus" in Spring 2023. And Further Reading seemed to indicate that the good ship Warner Brothers is throwing a LOT of shows over-the-side.
Seemed odd that WB would willing share content...
-https://www.vulture.com/article/hbo-max-removing-shows-movies-list.html
-https://corporate.tubitv.com/press/tubi-signs-warner-bros-discovery-content-deal/
-https://www.vulture.com/article/is-hbo-max-going-away-warner-bros-discovery-streaming.html

Could be worse. B5 could have missed one of the little F.A.S.T lifeboats and sunk to the bottom.
...BUT... Apparently some shows sent to F.A.S.T might be Written Off For As A Loss (?) rather than being licensed for a year or two. Hopefully B5 is in the licensing category rather than the other.