The Official Network Thread

[Modman]

Originally Posted by Quuhod

GROOVY!

The UK got this

Animal Kwackers - Blockbuster - YouTube

It only took a couple of Sherbet Fountains to come up with this!

[harry o]

I'll always wonder if a 4k version of "the prisoner" was on the cards had network survived.

[Modman]

Originally Posted by harry o

I'll always wonder if a 4k version of "the prisoner" was on the cards had network survived.

I doubt it would have been anytime soon. Anyhoo, Via Vision don't appear to want to run with that ball.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

For the ITC fans here - Imprint in Australia are releasing The Prisoner with a bonus Danger Man disc on blu-ray. 5 Danger Man episodes (2 from the half hour series, 3 from the hour series) which include 2 new to blu ray episodes.

I am, unashamedly, an ITC fan! I'm still not over Network's demise.

Fantastic news. I wonder if the two new HD Danger Man episodes are a taster of things to come?

I also adore the ITC series and Network's restorations which really let the charm and the glorious production qualities shine through. I am still gutted that Tim Beddows, the kingpin at Network, dedicated with such a passion in releasing so much British film and TV passed away before his wish to get everything out there was completed. I have spent thousands over the years buying directly from Network and thanks to Tim and his team at Network I have many, many titles which I have had the chance to own and enjoy watching.

I hope we will see The Sweeney on BD and The Baron films which almost got released.

[Rutger Lundgren]

I hope that they release Department S with all the DVD extras and some new ones.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by Rutger Lundgren

I hope that they release Department S with all the DVD extras and some new ones.

It was enjoyable pre-ordering the Departmet S volumes, as well as Randall & Hopkirk and Man in a Suitcase, and getting them at regular intervals, it made it even more appreciative and exciting, waiting in anticipation for the next volume to arrive in the post.

I presume Network did the likes of Department S on BD as bare bones releases, concentrating, on pushing the boat out, on top notch pitcure and sound quality with no extras, no subtitles to keep costs down on what must have been costly restoration work.

I have no insider information, but I would not be surprised in seeing a Department S BD set with the extras, as you and others hope for. If such a set did come available I would double dip.

[DavidRoylance]

I also supported all of Network's volume by volume ITC releases and would be really excited to see the next video they put up with a release date of the following volume.

I don't think it can have worked for them financially since people found out a full set was soon to be released at a price dramatically less than the money paid for each volume.

Still, I didn't care and supported them because I wanted more ITC series on blu ray. They were Network's Gold Standard to me.

My understanding regarding Danger Man was that Network found that most of the elements for the hour long series were held in the US and getting them back to the UK was a prohibitive expense and so they stopped restoring after only a few episodes. I am sure that someone here will correct me if I am wrong.


[QUOTE=Number 28;21969971]It was enjoyable pre-ordering the Departmet S volumes, as well as Randall & Hopkirk and Man in a Suitcase, and getting them at regular intervals, it made it even more appreciative and exciting, waiting in anticipation for the next volume to arrive in the post.

[The Hornets]

That is probably why they moved to the Super Deluxe Model for the likes of Fireball XL5 and Stingray as that gave you lots of extra stuff for the premium day 1 price before doing a just the episodes release later with no extras at lower price.

They tested that model with the likes of Captain Scarlet where you could buy a deluxe version of the final volume with extras and other content. Again this didn’t appear on the later cheaper complete version.

Did mean they missed a trick with R&H etc. as both the volume releases and the complete set were vanilla discs, so all the early purchasers got was the content to watch a few months early but at a much higher price. They should really have done something like a free Andrew Pixley book on the show with the card box they gave you with the final volume to store your discs in.

However, given what we’ve seen with The Prisoner the other Network BDs of these ITV shows are a shoe in for ViaVision / Imprint to release in the next few years. Proof in the pudding will be if they pony up to restore the other shows that Network didn’t get to like The Saint or The Champions.

Plus if you believe the rumours there’s only a handful of episodes left for them to restore before they can put out the full Sweeney on BD.

[side__on]

Network was my favorite label,really miss not having new releases to look forward to,RIP Tim/Network.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

I also supported all of Network's volume by volume ITC releases and would be really excited to see the next video they put up with a release date of the following volume.

I don't think it can have worked for them financially since people found out a full set was soon to be released at a price dramatically less than the money paid for each volume.

Still, I didn't care and supported them because I wanted more ITC series on blu ray. They were Network's Gold Standard to me.

My understanding regarding Danger Man was that Network found that most of the elements for the hour long series were held in the US and getting them back to the UK was a prohibitive expense and so they stopped restoring after only a few episodes. I am sure that someone here will correct me if I am wrong.

That makes sense about it not working financially for them as they had the ITC single volumes knocking around on their site, until the end if I recall correctly, whilst one could buy the "compact" box sets from retailers and not from Network.

Likewise, I paid up for the single volumes to show my appreciation for the quallity restoration and to assist with their cash flow to see more on BD.

Regarding the Gold Standard, funny enough when I watched the On the Buses film trilogy recently on BD from Via Vision, I thought how can this fall so short in clarity, detail and colour compared to Network's - Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) TV series!

[The Hornets]

Originally Posted by Number 28

That makes sense about it not working financially for them as they had the ITC single volumes knocking around on their site, until the end if I recall correctly, whilst one could buy the "compact" box sets from retailers and not from Network.

Likewise, I paid up for the single volumes to show my appreciation for the quallity restoration and to assist with their cash flow to see more on BD.

Regarding the Gold Standard, funny enough when I watched the On the Buses film trilogy recently on BD from Via Vision, I thought how can this fall so short in clarity, detail and colour compared to Network's - Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) TV series!

You aren’t comparing like with like.

R&H was a recent HD restoration now a few years old by Network from the original film elements.

On the Buses is Studio Canal and they did all the work. As said in that thread only the full frame version of the first film is a recent HD restoration by Studio Canal. The three films in widescreen are probably HD masters from the time the DVD came out, so 20+ years ago now and hence look rubbish in comparison and may not have been from the film elements at that time as many masters around then were done on the cheap by studios. The 2nd and 3rd films need a similar go again, same as was done to 1st film, but Studio Canal haven’t coughed up for them.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by The Hornets

Plus if you believe the rumours there’s only a handful of episodes left for them to restore before they can put out the full Sweeney on BD.

I always found it a little odd Network released The Sweeney, series 1, on BD in 2012, (which eventually went out of print) and went no further, yet brought out 4 box sets of The Professionals in fairly quick succession, 2014-16, and then Out in early 2023. If the rumour is true, which I hope it is, of a few remaining episodes needing to be restored, then surely it would help to get the cash in, not to mention stopping Network being pestered about it being released, by re-/releasing series 1 and 2 and so on. If the plan was to release one BD box set, then that would be tying up money for a while.

[The Hornets]

Originally Posted by Number 28

I always found it a little odd Network released The Sweeney, series 1, on BD in 2012, (which eventually went out of print) and went no further, yet brought out 4 box sets of The Professionals in fairly quick succession, 2014-16, and then Out in early 2023. If the rumour is true, which I hope it is, of a few remaining episodes needing to be restored, then surely it would help to get the cash in, not to mention stopping Network being pestered about it being released, by re-/releasing series 1 and 2 and so on. If the plan was to release one BD box set, then that would be tying up money for a while.

The issue with The Sweeney, covered in depth long back in this thread, is hardly anyone was like me and bought the S1 BD day one at full price. So at that time not economic to do more.

They did a restoration of all seasons but not in HD only SD on DVD. This replaced their original release which was appalling with massive encoding and picture break up issues. I binned mine when I bought the remastered complete DVD boxset many years later from them for peanuts.

The Professionals was different as the only DVDs out there were complete shit with similar picture issues. The restored DVDs not being much better than the original. Luckily sold off both before the BDs were announced. This meant there was a decent market for the BDs even day one so they did the lot. However, they did ditch the idea of the promised deluxe sets with big hardback photo book. That was delayed and delayed for S1 and they finally forgot about it.

Network new in the last few years the BD market has moved on and it’s now complete boxsets or nothing as nobody trusts studios any more to do the lot if it’s released season on season. However, means you tie up loads of cash for years before any sales so destroying your cashflow so helping them go under. It’s rumoured both The Sweeney and Danger Man being in the works for years with no product on sale. This is why for Baron they were selling that TVM release just as they went under and if that sold well it would fund the episodic release but that show was shorter at only one season.

[DavidRoylance]

The rumour is that there was only 1 episode yet to be restored when Network went under.

The good news is that Imprint/Via Vision have a relationship with restorer Jonathan Wood. Clearly they have been working to get the licenses that Network had. Let's hope they make Imprint and Via Vision enough money to further the relationship with JW.

Plus if you believe the rumours there’s only a handful of episodes left for them to restore before they can put out the full Sweeney on BD.[/QUOTE]

[harry o]

Hopefully we may see "the baron" blu ray that network was about to release surface again ???

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by The Hornets

You aren’t comparing like with like.

R&H was a recent HD restoration now a few years old by Network from the original film elements.

On the Buses is Studio Canal and they did all the work. As said in that thread only the full frame version of the first film is a recent HD restoration by Studio Canal. The three films in widescreen are probably HD masters from the time the DVD came out, so 20+ years ago now and hence look rubbish in comparison and may not have been from the film elements at that time as many masters around then were done on the cheap by studios. The 2nd and 3rd films need a similar go again, same as was done to 1st film, but Studio Canal haven’t coughed up for them.

Thank you for the detailed reply, it is much appreciated!

I was comparing R&H as a benchmark for that era with On the Buses, even though the latest BD is an improvement and it's great to have it, I do believe OtB deserves better. Oh, yes the HD restored open matte version is better, but it still does not give me that Network Gold Standard wow factor.

[Kyliefan1]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

The rumour is that there was only 1 episode yet to be restored when Network went under.

The good news is that Imprint/Via Vision have a relationship with restorer Jonathan Wood. Clearly they have been working to get the licenses that Network had. Let's hope they make Imprint and Via Vision enough money to further the relationship with JW.

Plus if you believe the rumours there’s only a handful of episodes left for them to restore before they can put out the full Sweeney on BD.

[/QUOTE]

I heard that rumour too, but the question that I'm very sure everyone would like to know the answer to is which episode was it.

Plus, next January marks the 40th anniversary since the start of Dempsey and Makepeace being shown on ITV. I hope that Imprint/ViaVision acquire the rights to release this on blu ray, complete with the footage from Judgement removed from the episode before its original ITV transmission.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by side__on

Network was my favorite label,really miss not having new releases to look forward to,RIP Tim/Network.

It was my favourite label too. Yes, there were constantly interesting releases which, for me, no other label came near to matching. My runners up would be Indicator, BFI, Studiocanal.

Of all releases of all labels in 2023 Network's BD of Out with Tom Bell was the top by far.

[side__on]

Yeah,Out was my favorite 2023 release as well with Ghost Stories For Christmas Vol 2(bfi)a very close 2nd.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by side__on

Yeah,Out was my favorite 2023 release as well with Ghost Stories For Christmas Vol 2(bfi)a very close 2nd.

I had never come across Out until I saw the first Network trailer appearing on youtube. One could instantly see the gritty quality of the show and its technical rejuvination by Network. Pre-ordered on day one. A time capsule back to London 1978 to crappy wallpaper and flaking paint.

I like the character Frank Ross played by Tom Bell, a one-man heavy squad, a bit tasty when it comes to a scrap, getting released from prison, who does not waste a minute in tracking down with utter determination, no matter what or how complicated it gets to find out who grassed him up.

It was nice to see Brian Coucher (as Chris Cottle), being Frank's stalwart friend, who I always think of as playing the 2nd Space Commander Travis in Blake 7. Chris Cottle a proptieter of a small, financially struggling building company in South London - how the mighty fall when outcast from The Federation by Servalan.

Yes, Ghost Stories For Christmas, Vol 2. was also a must buy, from the BFI shop in London, with my favourite ghost story The Signalman by Charles Dickens with Denholm Elliot. The HD upgrade does lend itself to the atmosphere of the film and the others on the discs.

My personal second favourite release after Out for 2023 was BFI's Brannighan on BD with John Wayne, a classic late 70s early 80s Saturday evening film on the tele. There are planty of extras about the film, but my favourites were two 1970's, Metropolitan Police films, both in HD, - Home Beat Policeman and Your Police and You. Not depicting the Flying Squad, but very much of The Sweeney era with some Sweeneyland type W10/11 locations.