I dunno... i just can't get excited about this link at Galactica CIC about a strange Season 2 - Part 1 DVD release strategy:
That's right kids, you can have the Cylons over for Christmas because Universal has announced that they'll release the second season of Battlestar Galactica on December 20! Universal has released very little information regarding the set; it's 3 discs (single-sided), Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1), and it'll have English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio (with English and Spanish subtitles). They've made a point to call this "Season 2.0," which means it'll be the first part of season 2; 10 episodes.
The good part about this is that the episodes will be out nice and fast for everyone who wants to watch them or are specifically waiting for the DVDs. However instead of spending all the time and money on a bare-bones half-season set, they could simply throw up the episodes for download at a few bucks a piece. If you buy all twenty, you are spending about the same for DVDs, but we can get them RIGHT NOW.
I am personally not a huge DVD buyer... I would prefer an on-demand solution for the episodes, so maybe this news isn't meant for someone like me. It just feels sort of slimy to release 10 episodes now... 10 episodes next spring... then a 20 episode set with extras... and who knows... probably a 33 episode combined season 1 & 2 set with even more extras before season three... it just goes on and on...
But, like I said, if you love watching TV on DVD, this might be good news for ya!
Beh. Sounds like they're jerking us around again with the multiple DVD releases, like they did with the bare-bones Best Buy S1 release. I'm gonna wait and see if they have a better package after all of S2 airs.
Posted by: Aero Leviathan | September 30, 2005 at 06:14 PM
Whatever it takes for Universal to make money so they keep producing new episodes is fine by me.
Posted by: managizzle | September 30, 2005 at 11:49 PM
ditto managizzle's comments.
Posted by: Carlos | October 01, 2005 at 10:39 AM
I would consider buying it to the addition "Pegasus" footage promised by R. Moore on the last podcast. Otherwise I will wait for a full release (probably will anyway).
OTOH, DVD may be able to open a show to new viewers. I think this show should be seen by as many people as possible.
Posted by: Drew | October 01, 2005 at 01:14 PM
Yeah, I'll wait until they do the extended Pegasus episode. This stuff is so good it's got me laughing and crying just watching it. I can't believe we have to hold out till January for the next episode. Assholes.
Posted by: Carlos | October 01, 2005 at 04:44 PM
managizzle - but who are they really tageting with this? Is a non-fan going to run out and by this thereby increasing the profit of the show? Besides, most show renewals are based around ratings and ad revenue, not DVD sales.
If you want to grow the fan base, try offering the shows online... all of season one and season two at a pay-per-ep download. Look at all the positive press that was received when the show put up the first ep and the finale for streaming! You would see adoption of the show mearly to support a new model of distribution.
Hell I would buy episodes just to support it! Anyhow, just my thoughts. I know enough people that were confused by the bare-bones Best Buy release this year. I had to tell them to hold off until the full DVD release... they weren't aware there were different releases.
I have already seen people saying that these 10 episodes ARE ALL of season 2 and compaining that such a good show only got ten episodes! There is consumer confusion out there and universal isn't helping.
Do a search on Technorati.com for "bsg only ten episodes" and read some of the complaining fans. A situation like that is not good in my book.
Posted by: Trapper Markelz | October 01, 2005 at 06:00 PM
Good points Carlos. I do think that television studios are increasingly factoring in potential dvd sales when deciding the viability of a show. And Universal will milk this show for all the money they can, even if their decisions are short-sighted.
I've tivo'd and burned to dvd every episode, yet I still went out and bought the dvd. Go figure.
Posted by: managizzle | October 03, 2005 at 02:07 AM
I meant to type good points 'trapper.'
Posted by: managizzle | October 03, 2005 at 02:55 PM
Managizzle - I have nothing wrong with Universal milking the show for all that it is worth... however I would just like to see more innovative ways of doing it. Open up some merchandising... try online episode sales... anything new and different is bound to build buzz about the TV shows in ways that it did in the first season.
Posted by: Trapper Markelz | October 03, 2005 at 06:26 PM