The Official Network Thread

[cherbert]

Since I work in the insolvency industry don't be surprised if a Network 2.0 pops up under a completely different name. The Directors may raise funds to purchase any assets or licenses from the Liquidator and re-launch a new company. There is a chance this was all done on purpose to wipe out their debt and start a fresh.

Even if that isn't the case or it doesn't happen - It is the Liquidators responsibility to work in the best interests of creditors and get back as much money as they can by selling the assets to another interested party. Depends on the licensing contracts with the IP owners I guess and whether they hold up to another party buying them.

I'm surprised Administration wasn't an option. If it were in Administration the website would have stayed up. Maybe the website was pulled as a knee-jerk way to stop any further sales until they can figure out what to do.

[drush9999]

^ Hope that's the case, but wish they'd change their strategy to have more big hitters to keep them afloat, so they can still release the more obscure stuff.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by cherbert

Since I work in the insolvency industry don't be surprised if a Network 2.0 pops up under a completely different name. The Directors may raise funds to purchase any assets or licenses from the Liquidator and re-launch a new company. There is a chance this was all done on purpose to wipe out their debt and start a fresh.

Even if that isn't the case or it doesn't happen - It is the Liquidators responsibility to work in the best interests of creditors and get back as much money as they can by selling the assets to another interested party. Depends on the licensing contracts with the IP owners I guess and whether they hold up to another party buying them.

I'm surprised Administration wasn't an option. If it were in Administration the website would have stayed up. Maybe the website was pulled as a knee-jerk way to stop any further sales until they can figure out what to do.

Didn't help with the founder (similar to Twilight Time) dying first.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by cherbert

Since I work in the insolvency industry don't be surprised if a Network 2.0 pops up under a completely different name. The Directors may raise funds to purchase any assets or licenses from the Liquidator and re-launch a new company. There is a chance this was all done on purpose to wipe out their debt and start a fresh.

Even if that isn't the case or it doesn't happen - It is the Liquidators responsibility to work in the best interests of creditors and get back as much money as they can by selling the assets to another interested party. Depends on the licensing contracts with the IP owners I guess and whether they hold up to another party buying them.

I'm surprised Administration wasn't an option. If it were in Administration the website would have stayed up. Maybe the website was pulled as a knee-jerk way to stop any further sales until they can figure out what to do.

Will their warehouse stock eventually get sold to customers, even at heavily discounted prices?

[HoldenCarver]

Highly unlikely the warehouse stock will get sold directly to customers. As an asset, the liquidators will seek to get the best value for it by selling it on as a job lot or lots to a trade buyer or buyers. Even if the trade buyer(s) get a discount to ensure a quick sale, they've no incentive to pass that discount on to customers.

[grahams76]

Originally Posted by HoldenCarver

Highly unlikely the warehouse stock will get sold directly to customers. As an asset, the liquidators will seek to get the best value for it by selling it on as a job lot or lots to a trade buyer or buyers. Even if the trade buyer(s) get a discount to ensure a quick sale, they've no incentive to pass that discount on to customers.

Is this likely to be linked to the death of the Network founder last November?

[Big-D]

Just read the bad news regarding Network. I'm gutted for the staff who are facing redundancy and also to those who have supported the label over the years.

I've collected many of their titles which have nostalgic value from my childhood. I had recently purchased the complete Professionals box set and I was highly impressed by the restoration work they did (in fact one of my favourite releases).

Here's hoping the Phoenix will rise from the flames as they really cared about the titles they released and their supplementary materials were excellent, including the PDF stuff like scripts, photo galleries and call sheets etc.

[dr727]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Didn't help with the founder (similar to Twilight Time) dying first.

True, although quite different with Network releasing multiple energetic and exciting updates about continuing with Tim's plans and going for another decade+.

Meanwhile, with Nick Redman's passing, TT made the decision to liquidate [and sell the remaining assets, brand, etc to their oldest partner, SAE]. This was a decision made by the remaining stakeholders who primarily deferred to Julie Kirgo (essayist, commentariat, and Nick's wife). She understandably felt that it died with him--and he was ill for 2 years prior to his passing, so it's likely that his wishes also factored in.

When launched in 2011, Twilight Time pioneered the concept of bringing rare and distinctive films of all genres to the marketplace in 3,000-unit Limited Editions, exclusively available at two website destinations: Screen Archives Entertainment and later Twilight Time Movies. This allowed devoted movie fans to obtain physical copies of highly desired titles which did not command shelf space at local brick and mortar stores. Nick aptly named the venture Twilight Time, because eventually the concept of film as physical goods would have a ‘sell-by date’ possibly sooner rather than later. Nick once said, “At the onset we never envisaged we would be around for nearly a decade before it was time for the sun to set on the company.”

Slightly tangential, but if Nick could only see the sold eBay prices for OOP TT titles in 2023! And the ever-evolving Boutique Blu-Ray landscape that TT helped to pioneer!

[MillyD]

Originally Posted by cherbert

I'm surprised Administration wasn't an option. If it were in Administration the website would have stayed up. Maybe the website was pulled as a knee-jerk way to stop any further sales until they can figure out what to do.

What I thought was network's store on amazon, timewarp is still selling items, mostly the older dvd's.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by MillyD

What I thought was network's store on amazon, timewarp is still selling items, mostly the older dvd's.

Got a link to said store?

[MillyD]

Hope this works
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?i=merchan...2oTxPKisfUTZuc

[GreatUncleBaal]

Originally Posted by DaniRyder23

I saw someone mention a few pages back that Zoom started up after purchasing a bunch of stock in a fire sale - is it possible that we may see a new label pop up after purchasing a bunch of Network's transfers? I suppose nothing's impossible...I would like to see someone step in to pick up where Network left off, it just all comes down to who's buying the assets and why, I guess

Yeah, Zoom picked up several clearances from a few things that were up,
I also believe when Zavvi relaunched online, after the management buy out,
that they puchased a lot of stock in the same way.

[DaniRyder23]

Originally Posted by MillyD

What I thought was network's store on amazon, timewarp is still selling items, mostly the older dvd's.

Oh that's who I've been buying a lot of mine from over the last few days, I didn't know that was them! It might be that the Amazon store sticks around to sell the remaining stock then...?

Originally Posted by GreatUncleBaal

Yeah, Zoom picked up several clearances from a few things that were up,
I also believe when Zavvi relaunched online, after the management buy out,
that they puchased a lot of stock in the same way.

I'd always assumed that Zavvi was a rebranded Virgin Megastore, since they popped up shortly after the Megastores closed down - many of the high street stores became Zavvi as well I think (did Zavvi have high street stores, or am I imagining that?). Was that not the case then?

[thebrid]

Originally Posted by DaniRyder23

did Zavvi have high street stores, or am I imagining that?

You are definitely not imagining it! They took over the old Virgin Megastores in 2007 and closed down in 2009.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by MillyD

Hope this works
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?i=merchan...2oTxPKisfUTZuc

Thanks.

[dublinbluray108]

I knew Virgin Megastore/Zavvi had some stores in Ireland as well. Two locations of note were in Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin & Athlone Town Centre in Westmeath.

[DaniRyder23]

Originally Posted by thebrid

You are definitely not imagining it! They took over the old Virgin Megastores in 2007 and closed down in 2009.

Originally Posted by dublinbluray108

I knew Virgin Megastore/Zavvi had some stores in Ireland as well. Two locations of note were in Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin & Athlone Town Centre in Westmeath.

I had completely forgotten about them until today tbh! No wonder, if it's been 14 years - I could've sworn I bought a shirt from the Virgin Megastores closing down sale in 2011-2012 though, I guess that must've been a whole 'nother chain that's since escaped my memory...

In an effort to keep this thread somewhat on topic, is it possible that the Amazon Timewarp store is a fair indication of what's actually left in the warehouse stock?

[finishominis]

Maybe THG will pick them up, then

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by cherbert

Since I work in the insolvency industry don't be surprised if a Network 2.0 pops up under a completely different name. The Directors may raise funds to purchase any assets or licenses from the Liquidator and re-launch a new company. There is a chance this was all done on purpose to wipe out their debt and start a fresh.

Even if that isn't the case or it doesn't happen - It is the Liquidators responsibility to work in the best interests of creditors and get back as much money as they can by selling the assets to another interested party. Depends on the licensing contracts with the IP owners I guess and whether they hold up to another party buying them.

I'm surprised Administration wasn't an option. If it were in Administration the website would have stayed up. Maybe the website was pulled as a knee-jerk way to stop any further sales until they can figure out what to do.

I certainly hope Network reappears somehow. Being a fan of classic TV, right down to having a 40+ yr old 'wooden' TV in my lounge, I have rather a lot of thier releases, and they're my favourite company as a result. I can't imagine anyone else putting out things like Pauline's Quirkes, Eurotrash, Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club or Give us a Clue. There must be at least £700 worth of titles they have out that I'd still like to get, most of which would never see the day from anyone else.

[Lord-Oakbeard]

I was hoping The Champions would get a blu-ray release.