TV on DVD?

[The Mad Plumber]

I wish I could find a reliable source to confirm this, but it would seem like I've heard or read that the DVD format would ultimately be phased out in favor of Blu Ray within two or three years. One of the issues I would question about this is the ultimate fate of the TV-on-DVD campaign.

Releasing television shows on DVD seemed like the most elegant means of allowing consumers to add their favorite shows to their library. There is even a site called TVShowsOnDVD.com that allows users to track news about their favorite shows and vote for shows they would like to be released on DVD. I was sitting on the couch looking across to our own collection of DVDs and I was having a few thoughts as it is.

First, I've been trying to stop my family from buying further DVDs as I've become tired of how large our library has become and yet the DVDs are seldom watched because they seem to prefer television over video. For example, they bought several seasons of House, M.D. (what an obnoxiously stupid show) and yet they still watch it on television.

Second, I would note how little of DVDs of good shows I manage to watch myself. We have a few seasons of M*A*S*H and one of All in the Family, but I myself rarely watch them beyond their initial viewing. It almost seems that M*A*S*H reruns have been shown so much that it sort of defeats the reasoning of getting the show on video. In my defense, neither show ranks as being a personal favorite.

Third, the TV-on-DVD genre is marred by flawed releases. Some releases are criticized for being syndicated versions of the show (I really don't know what that exactly means; I suppose it means the episode was edited). I would note that the third season release of Married ... With Children wasn't able to afford the rights to Sinatra's "Love and Marriage", resulting in the opening and closing themes being replaced by a generic tune. Also, I would assume the DVD version of A&E's release of Monty Python's Flying Circus are edited just the same as the VHS versions I own which was disappointing.

Fourth, it seems a little strange what programs do make it to DVD release and which ones don't. I was personally disappointed that Disney didn't release the second half of the second season of Gargoyles, especially since they did the first season and first half of the second season so well. Also, I was hoping to see a more dedicated release of Kim Possible as well. Yet, shows like The Facts of Life and Full House manage to find DVD release. Really?

At this point, the TV-on-DVD videos in our collection that get the most traffic are my Mystery Science Theater 3000 videos and I'm still willing to add further sets to my collection. However, I'm still left to wonder what the fate of the TV-on-DVD genre will be if the ultimate phase-out of DVDs in favor of Blu Ray is accurate. Will the genre be moved to Blu Ray?

Personally, I'm trying to do some research on what Amazon calls "video on demand", which I assume to be downloadable videos. If this is accurate, I would tend to see that as being far more practical and elegant than DVD or Blu Ray. You can go to Amazon and see that they offer the sale of individual episodes of shows such as Star Trek. A few of my concerns, however, are the initial cost of the necessary equipment to save and view videos and the life of a purchased download.

[angilasman]

^Well, even someone who owns the House DVD sets would watch it on TV for the new episodes that aren't going to be on DVD untill the next fall.

For the record: I really like House. It has a formula, but it works and is playful with it (like, say, Ultraman).

[Captain Hygiene]

My belief is that Blu-Ray will take over essentially the exact same product that DVD does now. We'll see increasing digital distribution, but just as DVD releases of TV and films superceded video releases of the same products, Blu-Ray will take over from DVD. It amounts to pretty much the same thing in the end, whether it's TV-on-Betamax/VHS, TV-on-DVD, or TV-on-Blu-Ray.

[angilasman]

^Except in one important respect: a BluRay player will still play your DVDs.

... so it's really no big deal!

[Mighty Jack]

And then 5 years after that Blu Ray will probably be replaced with chips in our head or something

I'm not going to jump on Blu Ray, I'm going to wait and see what shakes. Hell, I still own and watch my old VHS for time to time.

As for shows on DVD. I don't own a lot, but there are series I want and do own. I might not watch "Sledge Hammer", "Red Dwarf" or "Firefly" again for another year, but it's nice to know that they are their when I once again get in the mood (For example - I go on an Outer Limits kick every 5 years so. I'm glad I have them on hand)

Some great shows like "Wonderfalls", only lasted 13 eps and your not going to see them rerun anytime soon. Plus there are the extras, red Dwarf is loaded with fun and interesting extras (and the other TV series sets I mentioned also have some nice things in that regard).

Amazons VOD isn't bad, I own the M.A.N.T.I.S. movie. But you can only download it at 2 locations. I'm on my second laptop. If this one crashes and dies, then I no longer will have access to it offline (and online it does get a few hiccups now and then - for some reason it always stops at the 6 minute mark ??)

Edit: I probably will never buy something like C.S.I even though I love the show. Because its readily available everywhere (even at the library) plus, once I know the results of the mystery, I pretty much can't go back and watch it again. Comedies though are more timeless for me and hold up well on repeat viewings.