Why are the DVDs so expensive?

[milo bloom]

Like, why remaster episodes in HD but release them in standard format DVD's?

Because HD players are no longer being made - Blu-Ray won that particular format - but there was still fan demand that the new CGI footage for Seasons Two and Three be released in a format they could play on their regular DVD players. Season One came out as a HD/DVD combo. Now there's no need for combo.

TOS was remastered to keep the syndicators happy about the coming of HD televisions, and still having TOS that would play well on the new technology. 60s TOS FX weren't deemed acceptable for broadcast in HD. Releasing the CGIed episodes on DVD was a bonus.

Just had to jump in here real quick, you're right about the pricing tiers and all that, but there's a bit of a terminology hiccup here. The episodes were remastered in HD meaning High-definition, at least 1080 lines of resolution (vs DVD's max 480 lines). HD DVD and Blu-Ray are each unique formats, both capable of displaying high definition material. I believe the original question was more along the lines of why Paramount isn't taking advantage of BluRay to release TOS-Remastered on to truly show off the new higher definition FX. I myself am waiting for a BluRay release of the remastered eps as I already have the original versions on standard DVD (all 40 of the 2 ep discs at that).

 

[blockaderunner]

Why? Because idiot fans will buy any piece of crap with the Star Trek name slapped on it and then go to message boards and bitch how much they had to pay for it. Meanwhile, the shareholders at Paramount/Viacom are laughing their asses off beacuse they have a couple more grand to spend on cocaine and Russian hookers.b I don't see why this topic got three pages.

 

[Therin of Andor]

there's a bit of a terminology hiccup here. The episodes were remastered in HD meaning High-definition, at least 1080 lines of resolution (vs DVD's max 480 lines). HD DVD and Blu-Ray are each unique formats, both capable of displaying high definition material. I believe the original question was more along the lines of why Paramount isn't taking advantage of BluRay to release TOS-Remastered on to truly show off the new higher definition FX.

I'm fully aware of that. The BluRay versions are yet to be announced but meanwhile Paramount Home Video wanted to be able to let fans who'd bought the DVD/HD combo of TOS Season One to get Seasons Two and Three in something akin to a matched set. Hence: regular DVD releases of the newly CGIed episodes.

Then, after that wave of marketing dies done, will come BluRay. I heard that HD versions of the movies are slated to coincide with JJ's ST XI. BluRay TOS will probably be announced for a similar time, since Kirk, Spock and McCoy will be on everyone's radar with the new film.

 

[Damask]

I just want a Blu-Ray disc with an entire season on it. Doesn't have to be unscaled or anything. Just loads of episodes on one disc.

 

[SPCTRE]

In the UK now the re-releases in cheaper packing can be had for £16 a season if one shops around.

Less in fact. I'm completing my Voyager set gradually and I ordered S4 on Play yesterday - £13. Same on Amazon but with slower shipping.

Yep, it's great.

I ordered TNG Season 1-7 at Amazon.co.uk a couple of days ago for £13.43 each, that's £94.01 for all of TNG.

With the British pound at a record low against the euro (it's virtually 1:1 now), that's quite a bargain - considering one season of TNG is roughly €40 in Germany.

 

[FordSVT]

It seems to depend where you buy them from. I've been getting them from eBayUK for anything from between £15 - £20, some pre-owned, some still newly packaged.

And in the mean time the BBC attempts to charge Canadians $139 for a single season of Doctor Who?

 

[CommodoreKong]

there's a bit of a terminology hiccup here. The episodes were remastered in HD meaning High-definition, at least 1080 lines of resolution (vs DVD's max 480 lines). HD DVD and Blu-Ray are each unique formats, both capable of displaying high definition material. I believe the original question was more along the lines of why Paramount isn't taking advantage of BluRay to release TOS-Remastered on to truly show off the new higher definition FX.

I'm fully aware of that. The BluRay versions are yet to be announced but meanwhile Paramount Home Video wanted to be able to let fans who'd bought the DVD/HD combo of TOS Season One to get Seasons Two and Three in something akin to a matched set. Hence: regular DVD releases of the newly CGIed episodes.

Then, after that wave of marketing dies done, will come BluRay. I heard that HD versions of the movies are slated to coincide with JJ's ST XI. BluRay TOS will probably be announced for a similar time, since Kirk, Spock and McCoy will be on everyone's radar with the new film.

Well to be fair from what I've read the Blu Ray production lines were at 100% capacity the last few months, so even if they wanted to release the remastered TOS in Blu Ray for the holiday season they wouldn't of been able to.

 

[milo bloom]

I'm fully aware of that. The BluRay versions are yet to be announced but meanwhile Paramount Home Video wanted to be able to let fans who'd bought the DVD/HD combo of TOS Season One to get Seasons Two and Three in something akin to a matched set. Hence: regular DVD releases of the newly CGIed episodes.

Then, after that wave of marketing dies done, will come BluRay. I heard that HD versions of the movies are slated to coincide with JJ's ST XI. BluRay TOS will probably be announced for a similar time, since Kirk, Spock and McCoy will be on everyone's radar with the new film.

Sorry about that, just wanted to make sure it was clear that the HD versions weren't format specific to HD DVD.

Yeah, I have no doubts Paramount will not let an opportunity pass by to sell us the same product over and over again, they'll show up on Blu Ray sooner or later.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Yeah, I have no doubts Paramount will not let an opportunity pass by to sell us the same product over and over again, they'll show up on Blu Ray sooner or later.

Imagine if they'd said, "There's no future in in this new DVD thing, so VHS will be our final release of all Star Trek forever. No! Make it Betamax!"