Utopia: Series Two

[Rob89]

Saw the trailer for series 2, and was very intrigued by the whole Illuminati thing. How disappointing series 2 isn't getting a Blu-ray release. Series 1 is selling well as it's currently 107 in the Amazon Bestsellers Rank in the DVD & Blu-ray section.

[NoFro]

Originally Posted by Rob89

Saw the trailer for series 2, and was very intrigued by the whole Illuminati thing. How disappointing series 2 isn't getting a Blu-ray release. Series 1 is selling well as it's currently 107 in the Amazon Bestsellers Rank in the DVD & Blu-ray section.

That's mad! Given how few Blus are actually in those charts and the fact that the series came out on Blu over a year ago. Watched the second episode of the new series today and I really hope they reconsider!

It's actually at 14 in the Blu Ray chart.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by NoFro

That's mad! Given how few Blus are actually in those charts and the fact that the series came out on Blu over a year ago. Watched the second episode of the new series today and I really hope they reconsider!

It's actually at 14 in the Blu Ray chart.

The question is, how much profit are channel 4 making given it's gone down in price massively since release?

And I would point out chart positions don't mean shit, it could be number 14 having sold 20 copies for all we know (it's probably more than that, but my point is, it may not take a lot to get that high in the charts)...

[Kuros]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

The question is, how much profit are channel 4 making given it's gone down in price massively since release?

And I would point out chart positions don't mean shit, it could be number 14 having sold 20 copies for all we know (it's probably more than that, but my point is, it may not take a lot to get that high in the charts)...

Translation:

I don't know why "channel 4" chose to release Utopia: Series One on Blu-ray, and I don't know why channel 4 are now preparing to shit out another one of their DVD-only release for Utopia: Series Two.

And I would point out that chart positions don't mean shit, because I don't know what they mean.

Now, watch me argue against my interests and argue against your interests, again and again, because I understand how the world works.

[Buzz201]

Screw this, I'm not going to bother arguing with you, I presented some pessimism I felt was logical, but apparently it pissed some people off, and for that I apologise.

I'm going to leave now, before this develops into an argument.

[HotRats]

Just had an email from Amazon cancelling my order for the series 2 blu ray. Well done Channel 4. I hope it gets a release in Europe or possibly the US when the Fincher version is shown

[lifepawn]

Originally Posted by HotRats

Just had an email from Amazon cancelling my order for the series 2 blu ray. Well done Channel 4. I hope it gets a release in Europe or possibly the US when the Fincher version is shown

Has S1 aired in the US at all? If S1 and S2 air here in the US then they have a chance of getting US blu's eventually. Otherwise I doubt they'll see US releases even when Fincher's version comes out, which will certainly get a blu release.

[Dr. Seymour Love]

Originally Posted by lifepawn

Has S1 aired in the US at all? If S1 and S2 air here in the US then they have a chance of getting US blu's eventually. Otherwise I doubt they'll see US releases even when Fincher's version comes out, which will certainly get a blu release.

No, it hasn't aired in the US.

[mikeairmax23]

Originally Posted by samdaman94

It's disgusting that shows like this often get ignored yet the abysmal Mrs Brown's Boys continues to get Blu-ray releases.

Totally agree.... sadly there are more morons out there that like that Mrs Brown garbage than intelligent people who watch excellence like Utopia...

[Kuros]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Screw this, I'm not going to bother arguing with you, I presented some pessimism I felt was logical, but apparently it pissed some people off, and for that I apologise.

I'm going to leave now, before this develops into an argument.

You've absolutely nothing to apologise for. If anyone should be apologising, it should be me, for my ****ish post.

I should have attempted to engage with you, instead of laying into you like I did.

So I'd like to offer you a belated apology, which I hope you can accept.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by Kuros

You've absolutely nothing to apologise for. If anyone should be apologising, it should be me, for my ****ish post.

I should have attempted to engage with you, instead of laying into you like I did.

So I'd like to offer you a belated apology, which I hope you can accept.

It's fine

Hopefully Channel 4 will change their minds and go back and do one at a later date (like Acorn did with Broadchurch), S1 is still selling reasonably well, and it has generated a fair amount of press, so if that increases interest in S2 you may still get a release...

I wouldn't necessarily expect a US release, and even if there is one, the frame rate is likely to be altered, a European or Australian release would be better, but it doesn't look like anywhere is planning one.

[NoFro]

Just watched episode 3. This series has been really great so far. Episode 3 was just another reminder of how this second series would really benefit from a Blu Ray release.

Give us the second series you shits!

[Ozu Teapot]

"Where is the Season 2 Blu-ray?"

[Jack Priest]

They're releasing the soundtrack on ****ing VINYL, but they won't release series 2 on Blu-ray!! WTF

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by Jack Priest

They're releasing the soundtrack on ****ing VINYL, but they won't release series 2 on Blu-ray!! WTF

Vinyl is a cult item, people will buy it because it's special and makes them feel superior. Blu-ray doesn't have that appeal...

[NoFro]

Originally Posted by Jack Priest

They're releasing the soundtrack on ****ing VINYL, but they won't release series 2 on Blu-ray!! WTF

Hahaha that is a royal pisstake.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Vinyl is a cult item, people will buy it because it's special and makes them feel superior. Blu-ray doesn't have that appeal...

Yeah, blu-ray actually has commercial appeal and the majority of fans of the TV show are probably more interested in the Blu-Ray release than the DVD. If they're only bothered about appealing to the cult market, why not release it in a Sainsbury's exclusive laserdisc edition.

[BluraySe7en]

It's just an example of the format all round, the industry have never had the balls to say that is it with DVD we are throwing everything behind Blu ray.

Stop making the blasted players and start phasing out the discs, BR players are dirt cheap and the discs can be picked really reasonably. I can't believe that both formats still exist like they do, their was a sense that the tide was turning but when the likes of C4 do this we are just going backwards.

I've heard a number of times the industry is disappointed with BR sales well they've only got themselves to blame.

Though then we get special edition BR box sets coming out with a huge fanfare like the recent Twin Peaks box set. I don't get it.

Rant over!

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by BluraySe7en

It's just an example of the format all round, the industry have never had the balls to say that is it with DVD we are throwing everything behind Blu ray.

Stop making the blasted players and start phasing out the discs, BR players are dirt cheap and the discs can be picked really reasonably. I can't believe that both formats still exist like they do, their was a sense that the tide was turning but when the likes of C4 do this we are just going backwards.

I've heard a number of times the industry is disappointed with BR sales well they've only got themselves to blame.

Though then we get special edition BR box sets coming out with a huge fanfare like the recent Twin Peaks box set. I don't get it.

Rant over!

Paramount have got behind blu-ray for these special editions, and they've kept the prices high throughout to ensure they won't lose money on them, I brought Star Trek - The Original Series for £45 the other day, which as far as I can tell is the lowest list price it's ever been (£155 off the RRP, meaning it was likely to be close to £200 on release).

The trouble is are customers willing to put up with high prices for these sets?

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Paramount have got behind blu-ray for these special editions, and they've kept the prices high throughout to ensure they won't lose money on them, I brought Star Trek - The Original Series for £45 the other day, which as far as I can tell is the lowest list price it's ever been (£155 off the RRP, meaning it was likely to be close to £200 on release).

The trouble is are customers willing to put up with high prices for these sets?

You have captured the quandry that especially the TV companies have with releasing their shows on BD. They want a premium price to make up for the chip as chips DVD prices and the lower revenue they make from the subscription streaming (Netflix etc) compared to DVDs golden age in the late 1990s / early 2000s when they could sell large volumes of new release TV shows on DVD at £30 to £50 a season (people now expect that price for a whole shows run so 7+ seasons).

There are two things they forget
- Economic climate is very different to 10 years ago where the mass public need to save money so are happy with a cheap DVD boxset or watching via Netflix, Virgin, Sky etc on demand
- There is a market for BD but it needs to be a premium product at a fair price eg look at the effort studios like Arrow, Eureka and BFI but into their BD with loads of newly commissioned extras at around £13 a go.
What people will not pay for is when a TV company releases a series / season of TV and expects £30+ with no extras and minimal cost to them as show already exists in HD.

It seems in the UK studios are happy to say we are prepared to forgo BD sales as enough people will buy DVD instead and the "real BD fans" will import from elsewhere so we still get our money.

Also for UK TV I am sure I have read there are licensing cost and residual issues for the actors fees. So sell a BD of a BBC, ITV or C4 show in the UK and the actors get a cut. Release in Spain, Germany or US and they get hardly anything or nothing so much lower fees for the local distributor so making a BD release more economic.

I do feel however the public broadcasters BBC and C4 should be much more proactive with BD even if it is only breaks even for them. They still sell to the BD sterotype that product only sells to "boys with toys" so with the BBC you get BDs of Top Gear and Doctor Who but not the costume dramas as their older audience are happy with cheap DVDs.