Doctor Who: Series 5 Steelbook (UK)

[Eldorado]

Can anyone dumb down this talk of 24p, 50I and 60I for me? I don't know what I'm missing.

[stargazeruk]

Originally Posted by Eldorado

Can anyone dumb down this talk of 24p, 50I and 60I for me? I don't know what I'm missing.

It's referred to as framerate of the content (just rounding up the framerate instead of getting into the decimal frame rate of NTSC).

American TVs only support 24p 30i/p and 60i/p. (American TV shows and films are 24p and usually that framerate on blu-ray but broadcast they will be 30i or 60i depending on the station).

UK TVs support the American framerates as well as 25p and 50i/p as well but the blu-ray spec only supports 50i (same as UK broadcasts).

The US has to have a conversion done mostly cause the TVs sold don't support the frame rates used in the UK but the UK sets support all the framerates. The down side is for the UK content to convert it has to be slowed down (longer runtime and audio pitch corrected).

In this instance the BBC used the slowed down US disks instead of using the native disks so the new disks have a slower runtime and audio pitch corrected.

[Eldorado]

Thanks. I ordered Series 5 from Zavvi and I hope it makes it here.

[peskdale]

Originally Posted by Billz

Are there any noticeable differences between the discs in this and the older discs, besides the Next Time trailers being added back in?

The discs in this have DTS-MA audio on the episodes. But obviously it's at the slowed down speed.

Extras are all the same - but are at US standards. So SD Extras are 480p30, and HD Extras (including Confidential) are at 1080p30.

So content-wise, you are probably better off with the original UK set for the best PQ. DTS-HR audio is probably 'good enough' for most people.

[stargazeruk]

Originally Posted by peskdale

The discs in this have DTS-MA audio on the episodes. But obviously it's at the slowed down speed.

Extras are all the same - but are at US standards. So SD Extras are 480p30, and HD Extras (including Confidential) are at 1080p30.

So content-wise, you are probably better off with the original UK set for the best PQ. DTS-HR audio is probably 'good enough' for most people.

The original UK set is also spread out across 6 disks and not 4 disks and I noticed had higher bitrates so they possibly might look slightly better.

I have no idea why but Doctor who is the only BBC show to be a mix bag when it comes to blu-ray releases and odd decisions.

When it came to the 50th Anniversary special when they released it as a 24p cause they just used the 2D encoding from the 3D disk they did a replacement program and replaced the 24p disks with a 50i disk. The Doctor who Tennant specials they never replaced the 60i disks until the steelbook but when it came to planet earth which was released the same time frame that got a 50i replacement which the original was 60i. BBC has been very inconsistence with releases or re-releases and replacements especially when it comes to doctor who.

[peskdale]

Originally Posted by stargazeruk

The original UK set is also spread out across 6 disks and not 4 disks and I noticed had higher bitrates so they possibly might look slightly better.

The original is a VC-1 encode, whereas the new one is AVC. Would that make a difference bitrate wise?

Originally Posted by stargazeruk

The Doctor who Tennant specials they never replaced the 60i disks until the steelbook but when it came to planet earth which was released the same time frame that got a 50i replacement which the original was 60i.

The original 2007 release of Planet Earth was 24p (with a bonus disc as 60i).

The 2010 Special Edition was a new release at 50i. It had a disc replacement due to bad mastering resulting in over exposed picture, not an incorrect framerate.

The DW Specials was released January 2010. Planet Earth SE wasn't until October 2010 - after the four individual DW Series 5 BDs were released at 50i.

So a change of policy early 2010, switching from global to region-specific releases, would explain the discrepancy here.

An interesting one to look at is Torchwood - the first three series, produced at 50i, were released in 2008/9 at 60i. Miracle Day, produced in he US at 60i, was released in the UK at 50i in 2011 (after the switch to region-specific releases).

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

Has anyone gotten the Series 6 steelbook from Zavvi yet? I didn't see a thread for that set so figured I'd post here. I don't usually use Zavvi for pre-orders and I know others have had issues with them before, but I know the set just came out yesterday, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but would feel better knowing SOMEONE out there got it from Zavvi.

[Headhunter]

Originally Posted by TwinCitiesBluFan

Has anyone gotten the Series 6 steelbook from Zavvi yet? I didn't see a thread for that set so figured I'd post here. I don't usually use Zavvi for pre-orders and I know others have had issues with them before, but I know the set just came out yesterday, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but would feel better knowing SOMEONE out there got it from Zavvi.

I ordered with Zavvi but no movement on mine. I chased them up yesterday and they gave me some of the usual Zavvispeak about trying to source it from the supplier. I didn’t think that sounded too promising so have ordered it from Amazon.

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

Originally Posted by Headhunter

I ordered with Zavvi but no movement on mine. I chased them up yesterday and they gave me some of the usual Zavvispeak about trying to source it from the supplier. I didn’t think that sounded too promising so have ordered it from Amazon.

Ugh, that doesn't sound too good! I debated canceling and flipping my order to Amazon, but I may give it another few days. I don't know why Zavvi always struggles with this.

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

Originally Posted by TwinCitiesBluFan

Ugh, that doesn't sound too good! I debated canceling and flipping my order to Amazon, but I may give it another few days. I don't know why Zavvi always struggles with this.

Annnnnnd I cancelled. Zavvi seems to do fine for items that aren't new releases (I recently placed another order and the three Blu-rays shipped a couple of days after ordering), but they don't get new releases out quickly (or at all). Hopefully Amazon will come through!

[jokercard]

If anyone wants Series 6 in the U.S., it's available for shipping through Amazon.co.uk

Cancelled my zavvi order.

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

Originally Posted by TwinCitiesBluFan

Annnnnnd I cancelled. Zavvi seems to do fine for items that aren't new releases (I recently placed another order and the three Blu-rays shipped a couple of days after ordering), but they don't get new releases out quickly (or at all). Hopefully Amazon will come through!

Originally Posted by jokercard

If anyone wants Series 6 in the U.S., it's available for shipping through Amazon.co.uk

Cancelled my zavvi order.

My Amazon UK order arrived today, after shipping late Tuesday morning. Result! I know Global Priority shipping is pricey, but it's very quick and reliable.

[ImplodingExplosion]

Damn. Managed to miss this one somehow. Just barely managed to get the series 6 SteelBook. If anyone's got a copy they'd be willing to sell for a reasonable price, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by ImplodingExplosion

Damn. Managed to miss this one somehow. Just barely managed to get the series 6 SteelBook. If anyone's got a copy they'd be willing to sell for a reasonable price, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

Can't find S5 anywhere, but S6, S7, and the upcoming 50Th Anniversary SB are all in stock/available preorder at Deff.com.
It used to be £20 flat rate shipping, but it looks like the shipping now starts at £23 and starts bumping up after each 4-5+ items. From what I understand this is Faster Shipping and nto 2-6 weeks -- not sure if it's Priority or the next step down. They also remove VAT and it looks like don't add US sales tax unlike Zavvi and AmazonUk now

They do a full charge at time of order adn hold orders until complete so if you have backordered or preordered items, be aware. I've not gotten and order from them yet, but they appear to pack items better than Amazon or Zavvi from some of the people that have ordered from them