Swedish Wallander 2013 series NOT on Blu-ray -- please help

[McCrutchy]

Hi all,

I have recently been informed by Arrow Films that they will not be releasing the 2013 Swedish Wallander films (with Krister Henriksson) on Blu-ray, because "after some careful consideration and extensive research we came to the decision that it wouldn't be commercially viable to release it on Blu-ray".

I am very upset with this. Swedish Blu-rays are available, but without English subtitles, which is surely caused by the international distributor (Zodiak Media) entering into licensing agreements in the English-speaking world. So it is likely that, the very same agreement that allows Arrow to choose to release on DVD only also ensures that, where the films were released in Blu-ray, they are not English-friendly.

I don't understand why brand new, HD ready television, from a series with brand recognition in the UK, is going DVD only, when other Scandinavian series are chanced on Blu-ray. Arrow has not released any Swedish Wallander on Blu-ray before, so I fail to see how they can predict that such content will not sell.

I hate to ask, but if anyone of like mind could please e-mail info@arrowfilms.co.uk, politely, to express your disappointment with Arrow's decision and show them that there are customers for Blu-rays of the new Swedish Wallander series, I would really appreciate it. It may not, in the end, accomplish a Blu-ray release, but it certainly can't hurt, and it will take just a couple of minutes at most.

Thanks so much,
McCrutchy

[gitsurfer]

Many very popular UK-produced TV series are denied a Blu release in the UK so Wallander was never likely to get one, sadly. Would love to see it happen, though.

Other European markets have had such UK series on BD (i have most of the excellent Spanish Poirot BDs) but I suppose the subtitle issue for Wallander leaves us hoping for an Aussie or a region free North American release.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by gitsurfer

Many very popular UK-produced TV series are denied a Blu release in the UK so Wallander was never likely to get one, sadly. Would love to see it happen, though.

Other European markets have had such UK series on BD (i have most of the excellent Spanish Poirot BDs) but I suppose the subtitle issue for Wallander leaves us hoping for an Aussie or a region free North American release.

Except that Arrow have released various Scandinavian television series on Blu-ray in the past few years, including many with smaller followings than Wallander. In light of those other releases, and the vintage and name recognition of this series, a BD release would seem to be the obvious choice, but unfortunately, Arrow have sometimes neglected the Nordic Noir division of their catalogue. This is why it is important to reinforce our desires to them.

[isaacredfield]

Shame they won't do a limited edition of the complete set, I won't be buying the DVD releases in hope that they eventually do get a decent blu release

[gitsurfer]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Except that Arrow have released various Scandinavian television series on Blu-ray in the past few years, including many with smaller followings than Wallander. In light of those other releases, and the vintage and name recognition of this series, a BD release would seem to be the obvious choice, but unfortunately, Arrow have sometimes neglected the Nordic Noir division of their catalogue. This is why it is important to reinforce our desires to them.

It is perhaps the sales of those other Scandinavian TV BDs (and perhaps the sales of the existing Wallander DVDs) that Arrow are using to inform their decision. Just because some series have had BD releases doesn't mean that they were a commercial success.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Wallander on BD. Of all the Scandinavian (and indeed European) series that we see on BBC4, Wallander is easily the one I enjoy the most.

[nitin]

The BBC is a good expample, the US is getting more releases on blu for BBC series than the BBC is putting out itself in the UK (eg The Hour season 2).

[hagios]

I have all the Swedish with English Subtitles Krister Henriksson WALLANDER'S & I'm waiting on this at a good price:



I would've loved if these came out 1st on BD but I'm satisfied with my collection(as my BD player up-scales it to good PQ!) & probably would not double-dip.

If anyone truly likes these as well as I do I'd go ahead & get this great series now!

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Indeed. It's substantially more expensive to put out a multi-disc Blu-ray release of a TV series, and if previous BDs in the same genre and with the same level of publicity have performed below expectations, why throw good money after bad? The one certainty is that Arrow's decision will have been an informed one: they're not deliberately denying people a Blu-ray release out of sheer spite.

I'd like to know how they determined those expectations, when Nordic Noir titles get almost no coverage:

No screener discs (as far as I'm aware, there certainly have been almost no professional reviews)

Limited to no proper specification announcements (unlike Arrow Video titles)

No threads on other forums (like Criterionforum or Cult Labs)

Limited or no mention of these titles by Arrow on social media (like Facebook)

What I do see is that the people who do purchase these series tend to really enjoy them. Most of the series have dozens of reviews and an average review between 4 and 5 stars.

And again, these are series that are not as well-known in the UK as Wallander is. It's sort of like (hypothetically) releasing Coppola's Rumble Fish and The Outsiders on Blu-ray, and then if those don't sell, using that as justification to not put The Godfather on Blu-ray.

I think if Arrow did a better job of promoting their Nordic Noir releases, there would be more sales, and more sales on Blu-ray. Most people probably assume that a foreign language television show is going on DVD only. And obviously, with titles as niche as these, every little bit of promotion helps.

So, while spite doesn't enter into it, I think there's a fair amount of incompetence with these releases, especially in light of their fantastic packages of cinema titles. It's almost like the two sections are run independently of one another, by different people.

And in any event, if what Arrow says would hold true for Wallander, then that's all well and good for them, but I shouldn't have to choose between Blu-ray versions and English-friendly versions.

If Arrow believes UK Blu-ray sales cannot be justified, ostensibly because the vast majority would buy on DVD anyway, then they should work with the licensors to allow English subtitles on the Nordic Blu-ray editions.

Originally Posted by MichaelB

As you said in your earlier post, many, many other TV series have been denied a Blu-ray release in the UK by many labels other than Arrow, for the simple reason that the market isn't strong enough and there are no signs of any improvement.

Well, Arrow are a big chunk of the UK Blu-ray market, and really, the English-friendly Blu-ray market outside the US. In the UK, beyond Arrow, BFI and MoC, there are the US majors and some very, very small independent labels. So, when there isn't much of a market for a title on UK BD, it's because Arrow need to carve out that market, and beyond their release of The Killing, Swedish Wallander is surely the best bet to do so. After all, in the end, I doubt anyone compelled them to license the new Wallander series, did they?

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

If Arrow believes UK Blu-ray sales cannot be justified, ostensibly because the vast majority would buy on DVD anyway, then they should work with the licensors to allow English subtitles on the Nordic Blu-ray editions.

Why would the Nordic distributors put English subtitles on their blu-ray? If it's not selling enough to justify a UK release, very few of those are likely to import (especially since Scandanavia isn't the easiest place to import from), so why bother with the expense for very few extra sales?

Also, how does a poster from the US know if Arrow heavily advertise their Nordic Noir releases or not? I'm sure I've seen adverts for Arrow releases about the place. I'm sure I've seen a few releases on HMV adverts too...

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Why would the Nordic distributors put English subtitles on their blu-ray? If it's not selling enough to justify a UK release, very few of those are likely to import (especially since Scandanavia isn't the easiest place to import from), so why bother with the expense for very few extra sales?

Actually, a number of Nordic Blu-rays contain English subtitles. Series that have been licensed in the UK, however, usually do not, unless they are licensed after the fact, which often occurs. The Swedish DVDs of the first 26 Henriksson Wallander films contained English subtitles.

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Also, how does a poster from the US know if Arrow heavily advertise their Nordic Noir releases or not? I'm sure I've seen adverts for Arrow releases about the place. I'm sure I've seen a few releases on HMV adverts too...

I was talking about online promotion. In any event, if there has been a big push from high street shops for Nordic Noir titles on Blu-ray, then I would be quite surprised, given the state of home video from brick and mortars in the UK.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I was talking about online promotion. In any event, if there has been a big push from high street shops for Nordic Noir titles on Blu-ray, then I would be quite surprised, given the state of home video from brick and mortars in the UK.

Not a big push, but I'm sure I've seen Arrow titles on print advertisements from HMV. And on the rare occasions I get a copy of Sight and Sound, I've seen Arrow adverts in their too.

I think they (Arrow) tend to target their adverts to people that are more likely to respond, hence keep their adverts limited to cinephille magazines.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Not a big push, but I'm sure I've seen Arrow titles on print advertisements from HMV. And on the rare occasions I get a copy of Sight and Sound, I've seen Arrow adverts in their too.

I think they (Arrow) tend to target their adverts to people that are more likely to respond, hence keep their adverts limited to cinephille magazines.

Again, I don't doubt that Arrow properly advertise their cinema titles. But in any of these adverts, do you see them make a point of the Nordic Noir Blu-ray releases, perhaps even describing specifications and extras?

I see plenty of Arrow advertisements and information being disseminated to consumers, but I don't see a similar level of transparency with Nordic Noir titles.

[hagios]

Originally Posted by hagios

I have all the Swedish with English Subtitles Krister Henriksson WALLANDER'S & I'm waiting on this at a good price:



I would've loved if these came out 1st on BD but I'm satisfied with my collection(as my BD player up-scales it to good PQ!) & probably would not double-dip.

If anyone truly likes these as well as I do I'd go ahead & get this great series now!

This title will be released on June 23, 2014. Pre-order £21.50 at Amazon.co.uk. For me to get this it will have to come down eventually to between £10-15!

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Again, I don't doubt that Arrow properly advertise their cinema titles. But in any of these adverts, do you see them make a point of the Nordic Noir Blu-ray releases, perhaps even describing specifications and extras?

I see plenty of Arrow advertisements and information being disseminated to consumers, but I don't see a similar level of transparency with Nordic Noir titles.

I believe it was a generic Arrow advert featuring a selection of titles from across their ranges/labels, none had listings for specifications or extras, but I'm sure it included The Killing or The Bridge, it was a Scandinavian series either way...

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by hagios

This title will be released on June 23, 2014. Pre-order £21.50 at Amazon.co.uk. For me to get this it will have to come down eventually to between £10-15!

Unfortunately, Amazon's prices for Arrow titles of late have not been very friendly, so it makes sense that even the DVD edition is not cheap.

Personally, I'd rather spend more for a version of much higher A/V quality, which won't be as dated in five or ten years, than save a bit and deal with lowly SD resolution. Even the subtitles on SD are god-awful compared to the much better resolved ones 1080 resolution can allow for.

Originally Posted by Buzz201

I believe it was a generic Arrow advert featuring a selection of titles from across their ranges/labels, none had listings for specifications or extras, but I'm sure it included The Killing or The Bridge, it was a Scandinavian series either way...

One print advert hardly makes up for the neglect they show these titles online though. And I wonder if the Blu-ray versions were specifically pointed out, since that is often a problem in advertising. The DVD version will get the most obvious promotion and the Blu-ray will be relegated to an "Also on Blu-ray!" bubble.

For instance, any time you watch a Nordic Noir Blu-ray, before the menu, Arrow's SD PAL advert for the Nordic Noir series comes on, shilling "outstanding crime series box sets on DVD" (as the narrator says) on Amazon.co.uk. It features series like The Killing and Borgen, and shows pictures of the DVD box sets. It was even added onto for The Bridge. Blu-ray is not mentioned once, and none of the Blu-ray editions are displayed in the advert. Even though they were generally available day-and-date with the DVD editions being advertised.

[malcy30]

I am also very disappointed, it now means I will buy the Swedish BD as can get away with reading the Danish subtitles.

In terms of Arrow promoting stuff their Nordic Noir newsletter is very good, got latest copy today and that regularly updates on Scandinavian shows on TV and their DVD releases. However you do need to know its there.

I do think Wallander does not have the sales potential of The Killing, Borgen or The Bridge as all of them made more of a cultural and audience impact in the UK. You also need to remember on those shows there are not Scandinavian BDs. Borgen S1 BD came out with loads of extras in Denmark long before its UK TV screening and has English subtitles, but they then dropped BD for S2 because of poor sales of the S1 BD. For TV shows Sweden is much more BD friendly than Denmark.

If I was going to rant about Arrow's poor treatment of Scandinavian shows I would say where on earth is the Norwegian movie Kon Tiki. This has had a couple Arrow screenings in London and was screened at the 2013 London Film Festival but still no general release or home version, for a March 2013 foreign language Oscar Finalist. The US (RA locked) and Australian RB BDs came out last summer. Both have the longer Norwegian version, whilst the US also includes the English language international version (filmed by same cast at the same time as a shorter version of film) and making of.

Arrow treats some Scandinavian films they have rights to well, like The Hunt or A Hijacking but others like Kon-Tiki and Nordvest like crap.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by malcy30

In terms of Arrow promoting stuff their Nordic Noir newsletter is very good, got latest copy today and that regularly updates on Scandinavian shows on TV and their DVD releases. However you do need to know its there.

I do think Wallander does not have the sales potential of The Killing, Borgen or The Bridge as all of them made more of a cultural and audience impact in the UK. You also need to remember on those shows there are not Scandinavian BDs. Borgen S1 BD came out with loads of extras in Denmark long before its UK TV screening and has English subtitles, but they then dropped BD for S2 because of poor sales of the S1 BD. For TV shows Sweden is much more BD friendly than Denmark.

I know of the Nordic Noir web site. I seem to recall, when I visited there many months ago, it was outdated (which is one reason I did not sign up for the newsletter), but going back now, it appears to have changed and now is up-to-date. However, Arrow's shopfront there is only selling The Killing Trilogy on Blu-ray (along with the DVD and the Series 3 DVD) and there is a space for Arne Dahl that is blank. Nothing for Borgen, The Bridge, Sebastian Bergman, or anything else.

As for Borgen, I think the Arrow releases are great, but it appalling to think that the only reason we got them, along with The Killing, is because Denmark similarly didn't see a market for Scandinavian BDs. Making consumers choose between a Blu-ray version, and a version they can understand and enjoy is never okay. At least with Arrow's releases, Danes can still enjoy the series, since it is in their native language.

[nitin]

The Arrow shop does sell The Bridge on blu ray, both series, but for some reason Borgen is only listed for s1 and s2, not s3 or the 1-3 box. It is pretty bewildering.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by nitin

The Arrow shop does sell The Bridge on blu ray, both series, but for some reason Borgen is only listed for s1 and s2, not s3 or the 1-3 box. It is pretty bewildering.

If you are responding to my post above, that was for Arrow's Nordic Noir shop, on their Nordic Noir page. For some reason, they decided to set up a dedicated shop for Nordic Noir, but right now, that shop only carries The Killing Trilogy on DVD and Blu-ray, and then Series 3 of The Killing on DVD. There is a section for Arne Dahl, but it is empty, and no other DVDs or Blu-rays are available.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Now, Arrow's main shop carries more, but, as you point out, not all, of the Nordic Noir titles, but that is not the shop you get to from the Nordic Noir site main page.

Essentially, to get all the Nordic Noir titles, one must go to Amazon or an outside vendor, and then specifically search for Blu-ray editions. I myself had to double check on Amazon about this release, and even then, I didn't feel 100% comfortable that a Blu-ray release was not happening until I contacted Arrow directly.

Basically, this is just another way that Arrow have let these programs down. It's all very bothersome, and as I said, I suspect that these releases are largely handled by different people in the company than those that handle the cinema and cult titles.

[nitin]

I had no idea there was a separate nordic shop, seems like a strange decision, especially if it lists even less titles than the main shop.

They are a separate branch though I believe, Arrow Films. Even their cinema releases dont get as much coverage as the Arrow Video ones.