Are TV shows on Blu-ray failing?

[Samuray]

For the last two years or so I kept thinking "TV on Blu" was just off to a slow start, with high production costs and dropping sales of television shows in general impeding a quicker proliferation of TV series on our favorite format. While this may still hold true, I am now expecting this condition to remain unchanged for at least two more years.

You see, I was quietly expecting 2010 to be the year in which most important shows would make the jump to hi-def. Some of them have done so, yes, but the vast majority is still coming out on DVD, and while that's fine by me in some cases, there are others that really me.

First of all, many shows that saw Blu-ray releases last year are being abandoned and are being switched back to DVD-only. That was the case with "Rescue Me" and "Nip/Tuck" as well as "Damages" and "Robin Hood (2006)", but now you can add "Burn Notice", "How I Met Your Mother", the Canadian show "Flashpoint", "Crash" and -- especially disappointing to me -- the fantastic "Breaking Bad" to that list, although there is still a tiny bit of hope with that one.

And then there is "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", which saw a pretty awesome BD release last year, but Season 10 will go back to DVD-only while "Miami" and "NY" still won't make it to Blu-ray. Sure, they're just procedurals and not the highest art of storytelling, but they have compelling visuals and I find it always disappointing when a show goes back to lo-def after a season of Blu-ray.

Another thing I'm really not getting is why most of the new, successful shows haven't found their way to Blu. Some of them have, yes, like "Human Target", "The Vampire Diaries" and "V", but others like "Parenthood" or "Warehouse 13" seem afraid to make the jump. CBS Studios are clearly the worst offender....why won't heavy hitters like "NCIS", "NCIS: Los Angeles" or "The Good Wife" be made available in HD? Then again, "Desperate Housewives" is still rejecting the BLUes, as well...maybe due to the female target demographic, who knows?

Not everything's looking bleak, though: "House, M.D." is finally coming and several newcomers are given the HD treatment, as well. I'm looking forward to "Spartacus: Blood and Sand", for example, and of course "Glee", and quite a few releases from last year will get appropriate successors this fall ("Fringe", "Sons of Anarchy", "Chuck", "Supernatural", "24", "Lost"...). Oh, and HBO's been really good lately when it comes to Blu-ray releases.

Anyway, it seems we have a long road ahead of us before the majority of new TV releases comes out on Blu-ray, as well. I chose that particular headline for my posting because I am surprised how many shows are being abandoned on BD this year, and so it seems this will be an uphill race.

Anyway, I am happy for those shows we do get on Blu and will have to content myself with the DVD sets of the shows we don't.
Thanks for reading.

.Samuray

[Jezza]

Wow, that was a long read.

I think one of the issuses is that not everything can be released on Blu-ray because it wasn't shot in HD, which naturally means that it was filmed in SD, but because of the nature of the way the SD footage was shot, it can't be upconverted and as such will only ever get a DVD release.

For HD TV shows, the thing about them is that not all will be released on Blu-ray because A) most TV shows are only watched once and B) TV shows don't have the same epic nature that movies have, so you don't think "WOW!" TV shows just don't have that because they're on a much smaller scale.
And also, there are only a limited number of HD channels people have and so audiences don't know it was filmed in HD, and because of this, studios will only release a DVD of it.

There are many other reasons, but those are just a few.

[Samuray]

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

Wow, that was a long read.

Yeah, sorry about that. Had to vent.

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

I think one of the issuses is that not everything can be released on Blu-ray because it wasn't shot in HD, which naturally means that it was filmed in SD, but because of the nature of the way the SD footage was shot, it can't be upconverted and as such will only ever get a DVD release

Sure, that holds true for older shows like "The X-Files" or, say, "Buffy - The Vampire Slayer". No problem there, I am not expecting them to upconvert anything and redo special effects. I am only talking about current shows, and pretty much every single one of them is filmed and broadcasted in HD.

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

For HD TV shows, the thing about them is that not all will be released on Blu-ray because A) most TV shows are only watched once and B) TV shows don't have the same epic nature that movies have, so you don't think "WOW!" TV shows just don't have that because they're on a much smaller scale.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I used to be quite the film buff, but for several years now I find much more enjoyment in TV shows (when watched properly, at least --> on BD/DVD on a huge silver screen, not in the living room while ironing clothes )
In my opinion, this is where the good stories are nowadays (especially on cable). Even wrote a book about this, but that isn't part of this topic.

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

And also, there are only a limited number of HD channels people have and so audiences don't know it was filmed in HD, and because of this, studios will only release a DVD of it.

Yeah, maybe still too few people know what Blu-ray is. They go to the store and see two sets, one of them more expensive, and they opt for the cheaper one....regardless of their home cinema equipment. I'm sure that happens and that it is a factor.

[DJ Manyak]

It's not economical to transfer tv shows to bd

1) no one wants to pay $50-$75 per season
2) why pay for something you just got for free ?
3) unless you're a serious fan of a specific show there is no rewatch value there.

[steve_dave]

It's the cost against return issue...

CBS Video released CSI and they have done a great job with remastered DTS-HD MA audio on all releases but sales have not been spectacular. All three Star Trek: The Original Series seasons made it to Blu-ray Disc but again, sales have been underwhelming.

Disney has all but dropped TV on BD due to poor sales with only Lost getting the complete series on Blu-ray Disc. Scrubs went Blu with S8 but the final season is DVD only. You cna only find the fourth season of Grey's Anatomy on Blu-ray Disc while the rest are DVD only.

Warner is only releasing a select number of shows to Blu-ray Disc to ensure profitability.

It is just a case of history repeating itself. TV on DVD also had a rough time planting its feet in the market. So much so that Fox offered "starter" DVDs with the first two or four episodes of a first season to entice customers. They further sweetened the pot by including a $10 coupon to buy any season set. Essentially after discounts, this made the "starter disc" free.

[Sparky4life]

Personally, I would love to see 30 Rock released on blu.

I can't count how many times I have watched Seasons 1-3.

[HDMe]

Some TV shows filmed on 16mm, for example, people have complained about the Blu release quality (see Chuck discussions)... and studios pay attention to that. They'd much rather see a positive review of the DVD release than a negative review of the Blu ray.

Also, people aren't always willing to pay a premium to get Blu ray for all shows equally. Some shows have more re-watch factor than others.

This is also a very much down economy... so while people are making choices on how to spend their money, expect studios to do the same.

[HeelsHater]

Originally Posted by DJ Blend

It's not economical to transfer tv shows to bd

1) no one wants to pay $50-$75 per season
2) why pay for something you just got for free ?
3) unless you're a serious fan of a specific show there is no rewatch value there.

Well put. I don't own any TV shows on Blu and don't really plan on it either.

[sixteenvolt420]

I hope they don't stop, there are a few shows i only watch when they get released on blu, like Lie To Me, Fringe, True Blood and such.

[PantherG]

I personally think it is a waste of time and money for BD editions of TV shows. TV shows do not have the elaborate technical effects that make movies what they are. No CG, lighting effects or the minute details that are present in movies. I am with D J BLEND in expressing the folly of TV shows in BD.

[Mondo Bizarro]

I'm personally only interested in older tv shows that are no longer on the tube or limited to "Nick at Nite" showings. Between high def broadcasting, syndication, the internet and free on demand channels (cable, etc.) I see no reason to buy anything remotely current. That's not to say that I don't very much enjoy the "nostalgia factor" that comes along with classic shows from my youth. Who knows... in 20 or 30 years maybe people will feel the same way about Scrubs as I do Quincy. I wonder if they'll even be available by then.

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by DJ Blend

It's not economical to transfer tv shows to bd

1) no one wants to pay $50-$75 per season
2) why pay for something you just got for free ?
3) unless you're a serious fan of a specific show there is no rewatch value there.

Well they're only free if you don't live in the UK where you have to pay the licence fee so the BBC can remain in opperation.

[mredman]

LOST, Fringe, True Blood, Dexter, BoB on blu ray.
People who have not see these shows on blu ray are missing out BIG TIME!

[The Theory]

Hmm, a disheartening sequence of posts. While I don't particularly have much interest in most of the shows mentioned (already own the Star Trek OS seasons on blu, and Dexter is on my to-get list), I generally enjoy TV shows, but prefer NOT watching around a set schedule. Watching via boxed set is my preference.

With the current economy it makes sense to be tentative about increasing the amount of series on blu-ray, but I don't like hearing that there are shows being cut back. That is the real troubling part of this. As a consumer, if I purchase the first season of a show on blu, I don't want to suddenly find out that subsequent seasons are only a DVD release.

Ah well, it is what it is. I guess my job is simply to go out and buy what I want to own and let the chips fall as they may.

[shawnmchorse]

Originally Posted by Samuray

First of all, many shows that saw Blu-ray releases last year are being abandoned and are being switched back to DVD-only. That was the case with "Rescue Me" and "Nip/Tuck" as well as "Damages" and "Robin Hood (2006)", but now you can add "Burn Notice", "How I Met Your Mother", the Canadian show "Flashpoint", "Crash" and -- especially disappointing to me -- the fantastic "Breaking Bad" to that list, although there is still a tiny bit of hope with that one.

I hadn't seen this regarding "Breaking Bad", and would be very disappointed if Season Three didn't make it to Blu-Ray. I'm about halfway through Season Two currently, and have been loving it. I'm also hoping that there'll be a Sopranos Complete Series on Blu-Ray eventually, since having only the first and last seasons available seems a bit silly.

Regarding rewatchability, yes I think you have be in love with the show in order for there to be much. My Firefly Complete Series Blu-Rays have seen the most usage, for instance. I'm looking forward to rewatching Dexter once Season Four comes out this fall, and am hoping for a price drop on at least the U.K. edition of the Battlestar Galactica complete series as I'd really like to rewatch that also. I can't really imagine buying television Blu-Rays for any series that I hadn't already watched at least some of and decided that I really liked a lot.

P.S. I'm certain my girlfriend will be all over rewatching the Glee Season One Blu-Rays once those come out, too...:-)

[Jim Purcell]

Internet streaming/downloading (through iTunes or Hulu) of weekly TV content probably cuts into TV Blu sales far more then films on Blu.

Might be why TV on Blu is having a shaky start.

Also, paying 60 bucks for what was 40 on DVD is a bit obnoxous.

[fresh's superior]

Originally Posted by mredman

LOST, Fringe, True Blood, Dexter, BoB on blu ray.
People who have not see these shows on blu ray are missing out BIG TIME!

I agree with you - True Blood, Mad Men, Dexter, BoB, etc. Should only be seen in Blu, they all look great

[HD Goofnut]

I'll give you three reasons why TV on BD has been slow to catch on:

1) Hulu
2) Netflix
3) YouTube

[kpkelley]

TrueBlood: The Second Season lead Blu-ray sales for it's release week, so I would have to think that TV series will continue to sell.

Link


I have both seasons of TrueBlood, three seasons of The Tudors, the John Adamas mini-series, Firfely, Band of Brothers, Planet Earth, Three Seasons of Torchwood, Two seasons of Pushing Daisies, and the Complete Series of the anime Basilisk. Seems to be doing fine in my house.

[sixteenvolt420]

OOH, forgot i only watch Mad Men, Weeds, and Dexter on blu as well.