The Official Network Thread

[The Hornets]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

It drives me nuts the way they did the bonus disc for both of these. Only including it in the last season set and excluding it from the complete set.

Sensible strategy and Arrow do similar.

If you want bonus discs buy asap at ideally full price rather than wait for potential future discounts.

These titles aren't economic if everyone waits for sales. Just look to see what happened with Network's Sweeney S1 BD. Too many waited for sales and didn't buy full price so Network binned the future season HD restorations.

[Modman]

It seems that Network were in some sort of limbo between the end of the May and the 9th June when they weren't selling directly to the public but neither were they in liquidation.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4377377

[FinnT72]

Interesting read, though not sure what it means in terms of their stock, etc.

Very sad that it's final though.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Got a few from Rarewaves and Amazon today.

I was surprised to see that The Dark Eyes of London still came with the slip and the booklet. I was certain those would have been gone long ago, but perhaps it was old stock?

The thin covers used by Network for some of their release unfortunately meant that the copy of Baby Love I got from AMZ was litterally bent. I have never seen a case damaged like that. Usually they just break. I am going to return it for a replacement.

I also got The Ghoul on BD and Casting the Runes on DVD.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Have been picking up a few strays lately, mostly DVDs like the various Callan sets, the complete Sweeney, Male of the Species, Sapphire & Steel but also BDs of U.F.O, Kidnapped, The Owl Service, Randall and Hopkirk [Deceased], and Baby Love.

The exchange rate certainly isn't in my favour at the moment so I'll probably hold off for now.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

I was surprised to see that The Dark Eyes of London still came with the slip and the booklet. I was certain those would have been gone long ago, but perhaps it was old stock?

Not sure it ever went beyond the LE stock. Shame though, cos it's an absolute beauty.

[alanxander]

I just received an email from Rarewaves that the "Morecambe and Wise at Thames" DVD collection was available again, but with low stock. They also have the 60s Maigret in stock on Blu-ray for $88.00!

[Lord-Oakbeard]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Not sure it ever went beyond the LE stock. Shame though, cos it's an absolute beauty.

Yes The Dark Eyes of London is a dazzler.

I pre-ordered my copy at the time but a friend ordered many months later and the slipcover and booklet were included.

I still don’t get how Limited Edition numbers are decided. 3,000 copies for Eureka MOC Karloff At Columbia and 2,000 copies for their release of Bela Lugosi Poe set: Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven.

I can’t remember what the numbers for Dark Eyes Of London were but are the LE numbers EXACTLY what they say they are I wonder?

[Mr. Thomsen]

I thought I saw someone mention that slip/ booklet was limited to a 1,000 copies for Dark Eyes, which is why I did not expect to receive a copy with them. But I might be mistaken, and perhaps it was more?

Either way, old mid-tier mystery/ horror does not seem to be a huge seller. Both the Lugosi/ Poe set and the Karloff at Columbia stuck around for quite a while in their limited editions (the Lugosi LE was released in July 2020 and the standard version in April 2021; the Karloff LE was released in May 2021 and the standard in February 2022).

[Ste7en]

Originally Posted by Modman

It seems that Network were in some sort of limbo between the end of the May and the 9th June when they weren't selling directly to the public but neither were they in liquidation.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4377377

Someone in an HMV told me that someone has picked up distribution rights for Network releases. Probably to just shift existing stock, not sure if we will see any future releases though.

[Modman]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Someone in an HMV told me that someone has picked up distribution rights for Network releases. Probably to just shift existing stock, not sure if we will see any future releases though.

I think it was reported about a week ago that Spirit Entertainment had bought the stock, I have no insider knowledge to know whether this is true.

As a result of liquidation Network as a company no longer exists, of course its assets (including stock), goodwill and even name can be sold to someone else.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Modman

As a result of liquidation Network as a company no longer exists, of course its assets (including stock), goodwill and even name can be sold to someone else.

Given that this whole situation appears to have come out of nowhere rather than the result of a prolonged and chronic decline, it does make me wonder whether the existing Directors will just pick up the assets and even the name, and just start again with a clean slate.....

[Modman]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Given that this whole situation appears to have come out of nowhere rather than the result of a prolonged and chronic decline, it does make me wonder whether the existing Directors will just pick up the assets and even the name, and just start again with a clean slate.....

Network were almost £6M in the hole, so I guess trouble had been brewing for a while, of course it depends who the money was owed to and/or when it had to be paid back by.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Modman

Network were almost £6M in the hole, so I guess trouble had been brewing for a while, of course it depends who the money was owed to and/or when it had to be paid back by.

Were they? In that case I stand correct. What a shame. The distribution of their stock is one thing, and it sounds as though that is at least covered, but it's the opportunity cost of all those future titles and restorations that we'll now no longer be getting that really stings. I just don't see who picks that kind of stuff up now.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Modman

Network were almost £6M in the hole, so I guess trouble had been brewing for a while, of course it depends who the money was owed to and/or when it had to be paid back by.

I'm far from knowledgeable about business dealings - but isn't that 6M figure referring to stuff invested in but not returned on yet (and now never) such as restorations and licenses? Money they would like have had returned eventually by selling Danger Man on Blu-ray for example.

Isn't it more likely they didn't have the cashflow to pay HMRC and without the much missed and dedicated Tim Beddows to sail them through it, they just couldn't pay and chose voluntary liquidation before they began trading insolvent?

Rumours of Network's interesting bank balance circulated for years, but Tim always managed to keep them going. He was in it for the love of it.

[Modman]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'm far from knowledgeable about business dealings - but isn't that 6M figure referring to stuff invested in but not returned on yet (and now never) such as restorations and licenses? Money they would like have had returned eventually by selling Danger Man on Blu-ray for example.

Isn't it more likely they didn't have the cashflow to pay HMRC and without the much missed and dedicated Tim Beddows to sail them through it, they just couldn't pay and chose voluntary liquidation before they began trading insolvent?

Rumours of Network's interesting bank balance circulated for years, but Tim always managed to keep them going. He was in it for the love of it.

The statement of affairs simply refers to other debtors (including prepayments), like you I am no expect at reading accounts (many moons since I studied accounts and finance) and nor I am privy to the details of Network's business model or financial dealings. I am sure somethings will come out in the wash.

Anyhoo picked up a few titles from Rarewaves with the weekend discount e.g. Quatermass BR.

[Douglas R]

Originally Posted by Modman

I think it was reported about a week ago that Spirit Entertainment had bought the stock, I have no insider knowledge to know whether this is true.

As a result of liquidation Network as a company no longer exists, of course its assets (including stock), goodwill and even name can be sold to someone else.

I'm pretty sure after reading about liquidation that the company can't be bought or started again under the same name.

[Ste7en]

Originally Posted by Modman

I think it was reported about a week ago that Spirit Entertainment had bought the stock, I have no insider knowledge to know whether this is true.

As a result of liquidation Network as a company no longer exists, of course its assets (including stock), goodwill and even name can be sold to someone else.

Ah, yeah, that was the name I was told.

Apologies, I haven't been online much. Pleased to hear the confirmation. I can relax about picking up Ten Little Indians now

[oddbox83]

Well, I wouldn't relax. They're just distributing remaining stock, they won't be pressing new. I think they may have had a relationship with Network anyway to distribute their stock to retailers, and the HMV staff comment is Chinese whispers.

[Quuhod]

Dear Network fans out of interest what was the last disc you ordered direct from them?
Mine was The Ghoul on 22/5/23 for the massive sum of £6!
Gawd luv 'em for releasing titles like that for such a great price. Deeply sorry they're gone.