Looking back...

[Dr Maturin]

We all know that direct-to-video movies are usually bad, but if sci-fi can't thrive on TV, would it be possible for shows like Firefly to make it on DVD sets alone? If B5 made half a bill on sales, according to JMS, is that as much as a show on TV would make from advertising? There is, of course, the fact that people would be taking a risk by buying a $50-100 set, but what if they had special screenings in front of a diverse crew of critics before release?

Thoughts?

Three years later and here we are. Well, we now know that an established series priced at about $20 will sell. It's still questionable whether or not a new series would sell. Perhaps negotiations should start including "will finish on direct-to-DVD if cancelled" angles...

Let's put it this way: you've now put out every episode of every Star Trek series, as well as 'deluxe versions' of every Star Trek film. That's followed by a jumbo collection of all of the above for a slightly lower price. So aside from Star Trek: The Animated Series,

Done.

what can you now sell? Maybe weird compendiums like Picard's Greatest Hits or The Date Collection,

Close. We got those "Fan Collective" sets.

but if you already have every episode, why would you want them.

Seems obvious to me: the only thing to do is create new Star Trek whether it's for television or DVD. Incidentally, the same goes for Buffy, Angel, The X-Files or Babylon 5. Otherwise, slapping a new cover on the same old episodes ain't gonna do it.

Correct again.

If Babylon 5 came out like this now I would buy it. But it would be a decision by pre-viewing it rather than paying a lot of money for the whole lot.

So what did you do with VitD?

[Talwyn]

I bought VitD unviewed and unreviewed on the strength that it was written & directed by JMS and included 3 original cast members who have always been fans of the series themselves.

It was IMO, a good buy but I can see that not every fan is going to love it.

The fact that it went straight to DVD and has sold well presents entertainment production companies some interesting options now with regards on how to make money from their product.

However, as I see it, it takes a TV series to establish a cult following. It needs broad exposure on free to air television as that is the mass media medium which we all tune into. The internet will eventually take over to a large extent once the technology is there from service providers and we see hyper fast download speeds that can deliver programes on demand to you.

I see future of TV being a bit like Amazon.com in that there will be a program that tracks what you view and will offer similar items for you to watch/purchase. And that is the key word here - purchase. I believe the days of free to air TV, that relies only advertising & product placement in the shows that it airs, will be numbered. I think that there will always be a role for free to air TV, much like radio still has but the 'net will surpass it as the dominate entertainment medium just like TV did to radio in the 1950's.

Getting back though to B5 & VitD, well it's like Jan has said & JMS has replied: exec's at WB have to find/grow a pair of gonads and green light futher "episodes" of B5 that will be sold direct to DVD. If they procrastinate and stall then it will be harder to entice original cast members back [these guys still have to work] and get them to sign contracts and commit to shooting schedules etc. Meanwhile, we as fans, continue to suffer the lack of continuing stories set in the B5 universe even though we've proved beyond any shadow of doubt the profitability of this concept - direct to DVD.

[moreorless]

If direct to DVD releases really take off one of the most interesting things for me will be the freedom it will give lenght wise. Films generally have to be 1.5 to 3 hours long with TV series 45-22 mins long spread over around 20-22 episodes in the US where as DVD doesnt really have any limate beyond what the fans consider good value for money.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Nice old discussion to bring up.

I really think the industry will take a couple of looks at this. We already see that Stargate SG1 is going to continue in this fashion with two movies coming up. That's the second market test for these things, so we'll have to see how those do.

I really think there are two franchises that could benefit like crazy from this: Star Trek and Firefly.

Firefly may be too late, but those fans were rabbid for so long that that dvds (and serenity, btw, which had a sizable budget) continue to thrive.

Star Trek can be easily done. You can either do it by doing what they're doing now by replacing cast members or do a whole new ship but set in original series time for very cheap. People would love the retro feel I think. Unfortunately, if they would have had foresight a few years ago, I think Sulu adventures would have been wonderful. I think it's too late for that now.

That's my take. Where's my B5: TLT - The Series announcement?!

[Dr Maturin]

I forget...is that Pegasus movie going to be on Sci-Fi or direct-to-DVD...?

[KoshN]

Perhaps negotiations should start including "will finish on direct-to-DVD if cancelled" angles...

That might work because you do it before:

• the sets are scrapped,

• the wardrobe and props are sold off

• the CGI is lost, and

• the actors' contracts expire

...which is all the stuff that makes completion on Direct-to-DVD too expensive to do.

[Dr Maturin]

That might work because you do it before:

• the sets are scrapped,

• the wardrobe and props are sold off

• the CGI is lost, and

• the actors' contracts expire

...which is all the stuff that makes completion on Direct-to-DVD too expensive to do.

Exactly. And you KNOW when a show has a fan base. I'd even settle for "will finish on a special DVD set with x amount of episodes in order to close the story," with maybe, "and possibly more based upon sales figures."

Also, Razor will be on television first, I found after some quick research.

[Darth_librarian]

Good thread. I like this idea a lot. Razor was totally planned as DVD only first, but had to be on TV due to some contractual stuff. Expect that to change. The option to do x maount of DVD specials or to tie up a series on DVD / download would be great. I hope Hollywood cottons onto this...

[Dr Maturin]

Razor will be released on DVD in short order after the TV debut...something like two weeks. I just wish that they'd release the third season on DVD at least two weeks before the debut of the fourth on TV.