Overpriced DVD sets

[CtK]

you can buy Star Trek: TNG complete DVD set Season 1-7 for $584 from Amazon which is about $200 cheaper than buying it separately!!

 

[Gibson486]

I, errr.... I mean my ummmmm....g/f, bought the Roswell Season 3 DVD for $35. Roswell season 1 was bought for $12 and seaon 2 was $40.

 

[darkamulets]

Lost Season 1 was reasonable only 49.99

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: aplefka

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yea pricing varies. desperate housewives is 35ish at amazon. much more reasonable.

Yeah but that's because it sucks ass in comparison with its competitors. If Desparate Housewives is at $35 a pop that puts Family Guy at about $70.

I don't think Family Guy is considered a competitor of Desperate Housewives...

The Trek (and other high priced DVDs) are high priced...because they sell at those high prices.

 

[purbeast0]

i think the worse one is The Sopranos. it's 4 discs and it costs $80 or so? That's ridiculous.

 

[Tiamat]

The battle piracy with high priced DVDs. I dont get their strategy at all.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
i think the worse one is The Sopranos. it's 4 discs and it costs $80 or so? That's ridiculous.

Yeah I am still holding out on getting Sopranos season 5 because of that. Deadwood was $$ too, I think $70-80 when it came out.

I ususally end up waiting a few months and get them used on half/amazon for like $40-50

 

[Kev]

I just don't understand buying tv series. Why would you want to sit through a whole 24 episode ordeal for a 2nd straight time? I love 24, but I can't watch a whole season again after seeing it.

 

[HumblePie]

Recording shows on TV is perfectly legal. Has been for decades. Ever since people were able to record songs on cassettes of the radio or TV onto VHS. Just because the format has changed, the legality on the issue hasn't. Anything aired on TV is perfectly legal to copy and use for "personal" reasons. Now, if you copy and sell copies for profit or charge other people to see it... then it's no longer being used for personal viewing enjoyment and not legal.

As for renting and copying... I can't remember if that was legal or not but I'm going to venture out on a limb here and say, no for some and yes for others. Let me explain. The reason that copying from TV or radio is legal is because the item is now considered free public dissimination. Which means it's still copy righted but has a slightly different set of rules. ANY movie, TV show, or song that has been placed on the air is available for free public dissimination. Anyone can get it and watch it and copy it. If something has NOT been set for public dissimination, then you can't copy it unless you own the original.

Now, with TV to DVD shows... this means you CAN legally rent the DVD, copy it, and return the DVD. Why? Because a TV show has been already set to free public dissimination and no one can tell if you made that copy directly off the air waves or a rented DVD. Nor does it legally matter. If you try to do that with the latest and greatest movie that just got released on DVD from the theatres and has never been air on public programming... yah that's asking for legal trouble if you get caught.


I agree with the general sentiment around here.This crap was free when it was shown on TV and they now want to charge an arm and a leg for them for a collectible box (which is how it charged legally). bleh.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: HumblePie
Now, with TV to DVD shows... this means you CAN legally rent the DVD, copy it, and return the DVD. Why? Because a TV show has been already set to free public dissimination and no one can tell if you made that copy directly off the air waves or a rented DVD. Nor does it legally matter.

I imagine all the extras that were not broadcast on the air cause some hangups.

 

[HumblePie]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: HumblePie
Now, with TV to DVD shows... this means you CAN legally rent the DVD, copy it, and return the DVD. Why? Because a TV show has been already set to free public dissimination and no one can tell if you made that copy directly off the air waves or a rented DVD. Nor does it legally matter.

I imagine all the extras that were not broadcast on the air cause some hangups.

They can, just depends on what the extras are. Extra subtitles? No. Different audio channels? No. Director/Actor commentary? No. Deleted or Editted scenes? No. Extra shows not aired? Possibly. New songs never aired either on the show when it was being aired or the song individually never being aired on the radio? Definately. biographies of the cast and crew? No, that's public info.

I have yet to see any "extras" that make copying it illegal except in the case of perhaps an un-aired bit of pilot episodes. However, enhancing the qulity of the image and sounds doesn't constitute a breach in legality when making a copy of a freely broadcasted public item.

 

[shopbruin]

i pay a ton to buy korean dramas on dvd - 24 episode show cost me 80 bucks, and it's only one season (thank goodness). not that many special features, and those aren't subtitled anyways.

the next one i'm buying is about 80 bucks also, but that's only 16 episodes. most of them are in this range, unfortunately.

there's a super duper collection set of one series that i want to watch, but that costs 110 bucks! heck no!

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: HumblePie
I have yet to see any "extras" that make copying it illegal except in the case of perhaps an un-aired bit of pilot episodes.

Yeah, right. Just because no publisher has yet had the audacity to attempt to test this in court, does not mean anything. What is the difference between un-aired scenes from a pilot and any other content that was not broadcast?

 

[mugs]

When you consider the running time of the TV show sets vs. movies, they're actually much cheaper usually.

2 hr movie @ $15 = $7.50/hr
24 episodes of a 1 hr show = (24 * 44 min) = 17.6 hrs * $7.50 = $132.

So $132 is the point at which you're paying as much per hour of entertainment as you do for a movie.

Perhaps that's a simplistic way to look at it, but most TV show DVDs are in the range of $40-$60, so they're quite reasonable. Star Trek for $100+... maybe not so reasonable.

 

[HumblePie]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: HumblePie
I have yet to see any "extras" that make copying it illegal except in the case of perhaps an un-aired bit of pilot episodes.

Yeah, right. Just because no publisher has yet had the audacity to attempt to test this in court, does not mean anything. What is the difference between un-aired scenes from a pilot and any other content that was not broadcast?

Usually because an unairred episode was still originally licensed to BE aired, it just never made it on the air. If it was licensed to air and had it's legality changed for public broadcasting and never was aired doesn't change that it's still considered a public broadcasted program.

Think of it like this. You buy a million dollar home. At this point, it's legally yours right? Now you donate that home to charitable organization so you can get the tax write off but with the stipulation that you are the, I'm trying to remember the correct legal word for this but I can't so this is close, the direct caretaker until the day you die. This means you have all control and access of the house legally but you don't own it legally either. You run the house, can live in it, and take all responsibility for it while alive, but when you die, it's going to be run by the charity. Once you've changed the legal status of some items, there is no going back sometimes. Let me relate that analogy I used above with the home directly to a TV show.

Typically, someone, an writer, director or producer has an idea for a show. It's their ide and show at this point. They make a pilot episode for the show and try to sell it to a studio. At this point, the pilot is still considered owned by whoever thought up the show. Or in the case of an inhouse studio idea project, it's owned by the studio. The moment they decide to make an actual season or series for public broadcast, they go through the motion of writing it all out, finding the actors and props/sets and what not, and changing the legal status of the show. Usually, the pilot episode is included as part of the series because sometimes it is aired and sometimes it is not. Rarely is it not considered part of the public broadcasted series. However, that is not to say that it will always be bundled with the series either in terms of legally deciding what type of public or private intellectual item is going to be.

As I said, the extra's CAN be a legality hangup but it's not always the case. However, if you strip the extras out before making a copy and only have the shows in their enchanced quality from a DVD, you don't have to worry about that at all.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: flashbacck

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
SageTV + AutoGK = much cheaper DVD Sets.

Now, that'd be unethical. :shocked:

Besides, no special features with that option

not dvd quality either.

Although, if you can capture the show in HD, then it'll be better than DVD quality.

I think it'd only be unethical if you tried selling the DVDs.

Best part is you don't have to wait 3-5 years to get your set. Soon as that last episode airs, you are done.

And nothing unethical about it. Just reocridng on your own, burning on your own, etc. Not tlaking about selling them or anything. Plus you can get way more files on a DVD with Divx/Xvid than you get frmo the store bought ones anyway.

 

[waggy]

pfft.

i baught the first 2 seasons of Highlander on VHS! now that was expensive! now that it is on DVD we had to buy them yet again.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior

Originally posted by: flashbacck

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
SageTV + AutoGK = much cheaper DVD Sets.

Now, that'd be unethical. :shocked:

Besides, no special features with that option

not dvd quality either.

Although, if you can capture the show in HD, then it'll be better than DVD quality.

I think it'd only be unethical if you tried selling the DVDs.

Best part is you don't have to wait 3-5 years to get your set. Soon as that last episode airs, you are done.

And nothing unethical about it. Just reocridng on your own, burning on your own, etc. Not tlaking about selling them or anything. Plus you can get way more files on a DVD with Divx/Xvid than you get frmo the store bought ones anyway.

Kind of scary how Hollywood now has some people trained to think that recording your own shows for personal use is wrong. They would like us to forget all about the Betamax case.

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: mugs
When you consider the running time of the TV show sets vs. movies, they're actually much cheaper usually.

2 hr movie @ $15 = $7.50/hr
24 episodes of a 1 hr show = (24 * 44 min) = 17.6 hrs * $7.50 = $132.

So $132 is the point at which you're paying as much per hour of entertainment as you do for a movie.

Perhaps that's a simplistic way to look at it, but most TV show DVDs are in the range of $40-$60, so they're quite reasonable. Star Trek for $100+... maybe not so reasonable.

well considering most movies normally have higher production cost, and better quality (Anamorphic Widescreen from an HD transfer, Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 tracks, extras, better special fx), i don't see your point.

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: starky75
Try Band Of Brothers, The Sopranos and any other HBO set out there. I do not believe the prices for 13 episodes or less DVD sets. What is HBO thinking!

Yeah, they want $79 for 13 episodes of Six Feet Under. I'll pass HBO.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Linux23

Originally posted by: mugs
When you consider the running time of the TV show sets vs. movies, they're actually much cheaper usually.

2 hr movie @ $15 = $7.50/hr
24 episodes of a 1 hr show = (24 * 44 min) = 17.6 hrs * $7.50 = $132.

So $132 is the point at which you're paying as much per hour of entertainment as you do for a movie.

Perhaps that's a simplistic way to look at it, but most TV show DVDs are in the range of $40-$60, so they're quite reasonable. Star Trek for $100+... maybe not so reasonable.

well considering most movies normally have higher production cost, and better quality (Anamorphic Widescreen from an HD transfer, Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 tracks, extras, better special fx), i don't see your point.

The point is ST is really good and better put together than a lot of movies

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
Yes, some like star trek are very overpriced. I usually search for those on ebay or half.com and try to get them down to about 80. Thank god stargate is reasonable.

I agree, thats why we own almost all the Stargate seasons as well as 24 but download any ST or other overpriced show. I am willing to pay a reasonable price for a season but will not be gouged.

I feel the same way with software. I used to pirate everything from MS but now being in Seattle every other person works for MS so I can get copies from the MS employee store. XP pro for $30 and Office 2003 pro for $60 are reasonable in my opinion, much more so than $200 and $450.

-spike

 

[CalvinHobbes]

As for renting and copying... I can't remember if that was legal or not but I'm going to venture out on a limb here and say, no for some and yes for others.

Ummm.. no. It's illegal because you've broken/cracked the CSS encryption. That's the part that's illegal. The rest of your argument makes no difference once you can't copy the DVD.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Linux23

Originally posted by: mugs
When you consider the running time of the TV show sets vs. movies, they're actually much cheaper usually.

2 hr movie @ $15 = $7.50/hr
24 episodes of a 1 hr show = (24 * 44 min) = 17.6 hrs * $7.50 = $132.

So $132 is the point at which you're paying as much per hour of entertainment as you do for a movie.

Perhaps that's a simplistic way to look at it, but most TV show DVDs are in the range of $40-$60, so they're quite reasonable. Star Trek for $100+... maybe not so reasonable.

well considering most movies normally have higher production cost, and better quality (Anamorphic Widescreen from an HD transfer, Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 tracks, extras, better special fx), i don't see your point.

It's not a difficult point to understand... If I buy a TV season set, I get 17 hours of entertainment. If I buy a movie, I get 2 hours of entertainment. Doesn't matter how much it cost to produce, that usually doesn't factor into whether I'm entertained or not. In the case of both movies and television they've already recovered their production cost (ticket sales and ad revenues, unless the movie/show sucked in which case who's buying it?). They set the prices at whatever people are willing to pay.

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Linux23

Originally posted by: mugs
When you consider the running time of the TV show sets vs. movies, they're actually much cheaper usually.

2 hr movie @ $15 = $7.50/hr
24 episodes of a 1 hr show = (24 * 44 min) = 17.6 hrs * $7.50 = $132.

So $132 is the point at which you're paying as much per hour of entertainment as you do for a movie.

Perhaps that's a simplistic way to look at it, but most TV show DVDs are in the range of $40-$60, so they're quite reasonable. Star Trek for $100+... maybe not so reasonable.

well considering most movies normally have higher production cost, and better quality (Anamorphic Widescreen from an HD transfer, Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 tracks, extras, better special fx), i don't see your point.

It's not a difficult point to understand... If I buy a TV season set, I get 17 hours of entertainment. If I buy a movie, I get 2 hours of entertainment. Doesn't matter how much it cost to produce, that usually doesn't factor into whether I'm entertained or not. In the case of both movies and television they've already recovered their production cost (ticket sales and ad revenues, unless the movie/show sucked in which case who's buying it?). They set the prices at whatever people are willing to pay.

i understand your point, just not the logic behind your point.

but hey, whatever floats your entertainment boat.