Television Series DVDs

[bicker]

Television series DVDs are now running around $40 per 22 episode season -- that's less than $2 per episode, and you get to watch it as many times as you wish, without commercial interruption.

Is it time to start considering moving to this new model of enjoying television programs?

For me, the only thing keeping me from doing so the fact that the DVDs come out after the program has appeared on television.

 

[NMAmy]

DH and I tend to watch the DVD's instead of watching the show on TV. You get to go from one episode to the next without waiting a week (or more) and no commercials.

We LOVED watching Lost this way and we'll wait till the dvd comes out instead of watching it this season on tv. I bought DH the dvd set of one season of 24 for Christmas, too. This way, you don't miss anything. We're not big tv watchers normally so it works out better for us.

Now, Gilmore Girls, I insist on watching every week (even the reruns) AND buying the dvd's. It's my little obsession.

 

[bicker]

It's a tough choice, for me, I suppose -- the wait is tough, and not being "spoiled" by hearing about the series while it is being broadcast is becoming far more difficult (especially visiting the CB!)

The numbers just don't work out, the way things are now though, at least not in an operational manner. I mean, we cannot "not pay" for just parts of our cable service, except for HBO and SHO. For those two neworks.... we watch about six 13-episode series each year, between the two (Deadwood, The Wire, Street Time, L Word, Rome, Six Feet Under, Carnivale, Sleeper Cell, Weed, Huff, and Dead Like Me, over the past 18 months). So we could have had those series on DVD for, let's say, $250. Instead, we paid $180 to watch them just once (and burn them onto DVD, with minor pixelization problems attributable to Comcast's inconsistent quality). It's just not worth the extra money, at this point, for the slightly better quality, given that we have to wait until long after the series was broadcast. (Plus, we lose out on HBO and SHO for movies, that way.) The money side of this just doesn't work out.

 

[Missy1961]

I agree, it is a great way to watch TV. But I do still like to watch current episodes--I need to be able to talk about the shows, after all!

My favorite thing about TV shows on DVD is watching an old favorite. One of my all time favorite shows, Sports Night, was only on for 2 seasons. So it isn't seen on reruns. But I got the DVDs and was able to watch the 2 seasons again. That was a great cast & great writing!

 

[Sleepy]

We don't have many options for English speaking tv, so needless to say, TV shows on DVD are a hot item in the local base exchange. We have quite a collection now, but the problem is each season of the shows are coming out quicker and quicker and it can become very expensive to keep up.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It works out for me with a couple series that no longer play on TV, so it's priceless, IMO. Sports Night is one of those series.

 

[LeCras]

I quite like having to wait a week for the next episode - guess I'm a bit of a freak...

Charlotte

 

[cardaway]

It works out for me with a couple series that no longer play on TV, so it's priceless, IMO. Sports Night is one of those series.

Ditto on Sports Night.

The amount per season is dropping every month as well. Before the end of next year they all might be around $30, $20 if you're willing to wait a few months.

Many series have yet to make it on DVD, many never will, at least with all the original music. A series like Cold Case, with all those old songs playing through the episode, will likey never make in on DVD. Music rights is one of the many hurdles these shows must go through to make it on DVD.

 

[Aidensmom]

I quite like having to wait a week for the next episode - guess I'm a bit of a freak...

Charlotte

I do too. I guess my life is so boring it gives me something to look forward to.

 

[Just2554]

I love TV on DVD, I've got quite a few sets and am hoping to get more for Christmas.

I do watch all the new episodes as they're on every week, but I like the reruns too, which is why I enjoy the DVDs. It gives me something to watch during the day and late at night especially when there's nothing else on.

Actually, I just ordered the first season of Nip/Tuck. It was only $19.97 on Amazon if anyone is interested!

 

[jennyl772003]

I don't know that the future is DVD, I really see it going more to a internet based system, where you can download episodes as you want them, and then from that point you can burn them to DVD, or keep them on your harddrive, or even watch and delete them.

Especially with the popularity of hand held media players, I think we will be seeing more (legal) downloadable content (you can already illegally download most TV shows).

 

[Free4Life11]

For me, half the fun is getting to discuss shows right after they air! Lost would be a lot more boring if I didn't get to log online right after it aired and discuss it! I only watch shows on broadcast and a few on cable. I don't have premium channels and don't care for the programs on them. I only own Lost on DVD. There are very few shows I'd actually want to watch over and over.

I don't think TV on DVD is the future. Like I said, half the fun is discussing the show right after it airs. I think they will co-exist though.

 

[minniecarousel]

Many series have yet to make it on DVD, many never will, at least with all the original music. A series like Cold Case, with all those old songs playing through the episode, will likey never make in on DVD. Music rights is one of the many hurdles these shows must go through to make it on DVD.

This is why my favorite show may never make it on DVD. Chris Isaak had a show on Showtime for 3 or 4 seasons, but he had a musical guest on every episode! I hear that's the reason it will never be released on DVD.

 

[GoldenGate]

Since I don't have HBO or cable at all and I wanted to watch the Sopranos, I joined Netflix and ordered all the episodes on DVD. It was great to watch all the episodes in a short amount of time rather than waiting for each episode.

I don't feel the need to have cable when I can order most cable programs worth watching on DVD.

 

[can'twait]

Since I don't have HBO or cable at all and I wanted to watch the Sopranos, I joined Netflix and ordered all the episodes on DVD. It was great to watch all the episodes in a short amount of time rather than waiting for each episode.

I don't feel the need to have cable when I can order most cable programs worth watching on DVD.

I got Netflix for my DH for Christmas for the same reason. I want to watch Deadwood but only once, and I don't want to pay for it. If I get it from Netflix for $9.99 and it takes me a month to watch all the shows, I still come out ahead!

 

[SideshowBob]

Have watched both "24" and "The Soporanos" by buying this way... a big fan of, as can do at your own pace.

 

[Free4Life11]

Many series have yet to make it on DVD, many never will, at least with all the original music. A series like Cold Case, with all those old songs playing through the episode, will likey never make in on DVD. Music rights is one of the many hurdles these shows must go through to make it on DVD.

Yep it's a shame. I want to buy "Roswell" because I LOVED the show, but I heard that the music is all different.

And I just saw the other day that "Earth 2" is on DVD....I remember watching that about 10 years ago! I loved it but it only lasted one season.