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Post by kmorgan on May 8, 2020 21:52:01 GMT -5
I've dealt with them in the past, and always had good results. For example, I got a multi-disc set of fan videos from ConventioCon I and another multi-disc set of audio interviews (including a rare one with Jim). And I'm pretty sure their copy of "People Traps" is from a recording I made and traded with them. I checked yesterday and they still had convention videos available, so I ordered a couple I didn't already have.
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Post by jadenh on May 9, 2020 6:49:57 GMT -5
Alright, HERE'S the final list. No more edits! I noted that Turkey Day '93 and '94 aren't on DVD, but the other ones are. I also included the five promo videos that Netflix did for the new series. List of Specials.txt (4.25 KB)
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Post by jocksinclair on May 9, 2020 12:47:13 GMT -5
That sounds right, one of the Turkey Days was produced by Comedy Central rather than Best Brains, so I think that's why that one's not included. (It's whichever one is hosted by Adam West.) Thanks for putting that together.
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Post by sol-survivor on May 11, 2020 15:07:51 GMT -5
Just got another email. Now they're selling the MST3K.org domain name, too.
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Post by kmorgan on May 11, 2020 20:00:48 GMT -5
Just got another email. Now they're selling the MST3K.org domain name, too.
I doubt I have enough money to buy the domain name. So I settled for getting DVD copies of K-01 and K-02, just in case I lose access to the on-line releases.
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Post by sol-survivor on May 11, 2020 20:08:35 GMT -5
Just got another email. Now they're selling the MST3K.org domain name, too.
I doubt I have enough money to buy the domain name. So I settled for getting DVD copies of K-01 and K-02, just in case I lose access to the on-line releases.
Yeah, I have my own personal domain name that costs me $10 per year. Somehow I think this would be just a tad more.
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Post by majorjoe23 on May 13, 2020 9:04:47 GMT -5
It looks like they might have come to some kind of agreement. I just got an email:
The number of episodes is down, but still thriving - for now! We are still offering Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes that are not available in any other form (truly out of print). As always, this can and will change without warning. (i.e., you may wish to get these NOW while you still have a chance, - SEE SPECIAL OFFER BELOW) Currently, the remaining available episodes are: All of KTMA (including K01 and K02) The 12 episodes that Shout has said they will never be able to produce on DVD The currently out of print episodes from Vols 14, 17, 21 About half of the “Extras” remain. Gone are any extras that were bundled in Shout sets.
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Post by sol-survivor on May 15, 2020 9:03:06 GMT -5
Looks like everything is gone now.
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Post by Troy's Dad on May 15, 2020 11:25:14 GMT -5
Wow. I guess they didn't reach an agreement.
Even the convention stuff is gone, which is a real shame.
Site says: "We are no longer selling anything related to MST3K. Please dont blame Joel or Shout; its just time for a change."
Edit: It's worth noting too, Shout refused the license to RR Parks to produce a fourth series of trading cards, despite the first three selling very well. Makes me think something is going on behind the scenes... store clearance, going after "tape traders", refusing to license successful products...
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Post by Diet Kolos on May 15, 2020 13:03:40 GMT -5
First thing you do when you sell an IP is you make sure you have control of it, so that whoever is buying it doesn't inherit something that is saturated with piracy and essentially worthless.
Or...Shout is actively protecting their IP. Which sounds "no duh", but it's something in the copyright world you have to do. It came up when Susan Hart sued Shout and Shout counter-claimed she wasn't actively protecting her intellectual property, therefore they had some opening of fair use, etc.
But if I had to guess, they're gearing up to sell and are starting to plug holes to help the brand's value to a buyer.
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Post by Diet Kolos on May 15, 2020 13:04:54 GMT -5
It's a real shame though they're no longer selling anything, even the convention tapes. I hope the few weeks heads up was enough for people to get an save them.
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Post by ProjectedPaul on May 15, 2020 15:58:51 GMT -5
I can't figure out who Shout Factory would sell the series to, even if they were planning that. I have some theories on what's going on. I think Shout just wants to protect the value of their IP, especially during the current pandemic. They figure a lot of people are watching their licensed content on official channels, like Shout Factory TV, and they are making money off the ad revenue in such places. I also think that CheesyFlix offering downloadable MP4 and ISO copies of MST3k material earlier this year, including for commercially-released episodes, caught Shout's attention, viewing it as affecting them in a financially-negative way.
I think it's also possible that Shout is raising funds and obtaining credit from financial institutions and ventures. There's a lot of uncertainty in the economy, with no one knowing how long the current crisis will last. I've also noticed that a bunch of announced Blu-ray titles Shout was releasing have pushed back their release dates, due to the situation. Obviously, their ability to create and film new bonus materials and interviews, and have new film and video transfers of licensed product have been hampered (I've read this is happening with other distributors). Physical media sales will likely take a hit in the home entertainment market, even more so than they were before this crisis. Shout's better positioned to to obtain new loans from banks, etc., compared to a typical small business. In applying for such loans, it helps to police your IP against infringement.
I also think the online MST3k store sale has more to do with providing more revenue and income for Shout Factory, to gauge how well MST3k is doing for them financially and how well off the fans are. I would think a disproportionate amount of the MST3k fan base are more likely to still be working in occupations that are essential or allow them to work from home, compared to other fan bases. We're talking about more of them having college degrees, working in IT jobs, etc, allowing them to continue earning incomes they can put towards buying MST3k stuff (The right people will get it).
I recall how NBC opted to renew "Star Trek" for the second & third seasons because a disproportionate share of the viewers were in higher-income earning professions, like doctors, which made them more valuable to advertisers, even though the show was low-rated vs. the competition, which caught their eye in those letter-writing campaigns to save the show in the 1960s.
Also, I think it's possible that the approach the live cast took providing commentary over the Social Distancing show on the Moon Zero Two episode might be a harbinger for reviving the show somewhat. If they could license films and have the new cast write and riff on them in that format safely, it might prove a good sell. They could make some shows in this format on the cheap. The whole film and TV industry has had production come to a complete halt. If MST3k can work and produce new content in this environment, then it has new value. New material and content can be produced in this situation for MST3k, while the competition is sidelined. People are starved for new content in film, TV, and sports. To some, any new original, scripted content will do as a form of escapism.
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Post by cavedweller on Aug 13, 2020 0:43:28 GMT -5
The first to go was MST3UK where I bought several of KTMA episodes. Corporations are putting an end to people freely selling product online. Right now I am trying to pick up as much Godzilla as I can before they go the same direction. Luckily I have all the episodes no longer available. I have the last remaining DVD collections to buy from XXXII to XXXIV. I bought XXXVI last night. Shout factory or those responsible for banning MST3K disc sales should allow them to be available as a print on demand.
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Post by jocksinclair on Aug 13, 2020 10:41:53 GMT -5
sorry, I was on the wrong page, so I responded to a not-new post thinking it was new.
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Post by monkeypretzel on Jul 9, 2022 13:48:46 GMT -5
Interesting bit of info from the MST3K Discourse Forum yesterday (7/8/2022) after a poster asked what happened to CheesyFlix:
Lesley: I do not know the extent of Shout Factory’s involvement in the site shutting down. I do know that the site owner was in contact with Alternaversal directly, and to my knowledge voluntarily sent us all the rare BTS (edit: behind the scenes) stuff he had, a couple years ago. It’s on a hard drive that we have simply not had time to go through methodically.
Point being, depending on quality, legality and any other pertinent factors, the hope is that we can restore this material to share in an official capacity at some point. I can’t make any promises, and can’t give you a timeline just yet, but it is on the to-do list.
I wonder if any of it will ever be seen again?
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