139 replies to this topic

[Napoleon Solo]

http://www.tvshowson...cfm?NewsID=5482

[Blofeld's Cat]

The lawyers are the only ones that'll win out here and the fans may have to wait ages to see their favourite UNCLE on DVD.

[Napoleon Solo]

The lawyers are the only ones that'll win out here and the fans may have to wait ages to see their favourite UNCLE on DVD.

This is why bootlegs get made. And then the studios cry about it. Bootlegs get made because there's a demand for the product. Bootlegs of UNCLE episode scores circuled *for years* until there was finally an authorized release by Film Score Monthly in 2002 (with volumes 2 and 3 coming out in 2003 and 2004).

[Blofeld's Cat]

Thank God for FSM!

[Napoleon Solo]

Thank God for FSM!

Those three volumes were very well done. Jon Burlingame had been trying to get a soundtrack released for more than a decade. FSM finally made it possible.

http://www.hmss.com/otherspies/Uncle/

[Bryce (003)]

Too bad - legalities like this can drag out for years.



I think the issue is that fine line of rights between screen rights (to make a feature film adaptation) and whether or not it's tied to all aspects of the material.

Thus, many shows that have all been mentioned as being made into features haven't gone to DVD with a few notable exceptions due to the show/rights all being "under one roof".

Hence, all kinds of shows (especially anything produced initially in the 60's) have yet to find themselves on DVD - Batman, Bonanza, Get Smart, UNCLE, Mannix, Hawaii Five-O, Wild Wild West - which all have been promising big screen treatments (save the Bat and what was "called" Wild Wild West) are entagled in such petty disagreements of owning the rights vs. having the right to release these.

On the plus side - I got my confirmation of my pre-order for season 4 of Magnum P.I.

Clearly THRUSH is behind this latest delay...Don't doubt they're still out there...Think of all the business they picked up from SPECTRE's client list.

[TheSaint]

Hence, all kinds of shows (especially anything produced initially in the 60's) have yet to find themselves on DVD - Batman, Bonanza, Get Smart, UNCLE, Mannix, Hawaii Five-O, Wild Wild West - which all have been promising big screen treatments (save the Bat and what was "called" Wild Wild West) are entagled in such petty disagreements of owning the rights vs. having the right to release these.

Hawaii Five-O and Wild, Wild West are on the horizon.

I'm not surprised that U.N.C.L.E. has been taken off the schedule. It seemed weird that it was being released by Anchor Bay and not Warner Video.

The hold-up on Batman, and The Green Hornet, is due to some kind of dispute between Bill Dozier's estate & Fox. There's talk that, when Batman does see the light of day on DVD, it won't be on Fox Video.

As for Get Smart, I suspect they are waiting to tie-in the release with the upcoming movie remake.

[Bryce (003)]

Well put Mr. Templar.

[IndyB007]

I belive it is time for a colorful metaphor.

[DLibrasnow]

I'm not surprised that U.N.C.L.E. has been taken off the schedule. It seemed weird that it was being released by Anchor Bay and not Warner Video.

Warner was also the studio responsible for the initial delay in BUFFY season sets because they claimed that they owned certain rights to the show since it aired on the WB.

No surpsirse then that FOX told them to stick it up their you-know-what and moved the show to UPN for the last two seasons.

[Napoleon Solo]

The Five-O ownership rights were determined in court several years ago. Rose Freeman, the widow of series creator Leonard Freeman, was deemed the owner. Through a producer named George Litto, she's been trying to get a movie version of Five-O produced ever since.

[Turn]

UPDATE

These are back on according to The Digital Bits
http://www.thedigita...21.html#itwaits

[delfloria]

Sounds like they are reporting on old information.

[License To Kill]

is that site true?

[delfloria]

Warner Bros home video just made a statement that THEY do own the rights to the series and that it will NOT be released in 2006. Also regarding the online sites that have the first season up for preorder, Warners has stated that is a mistake and that the series is not being released at this time.

[killkenny kid]

Warner Bros home video just made a statement that THEY do own the rights to the series and that it will NOT be released in 2006. Also regarding the online sites that have the first season up for preorder, Warners has stated that is a mistake and that the series is not being released at this time.

Well, that sucks.

[IndyB007]

Warner Bros home video just made a statement that THEY do own the rights to the series and that it will NOT be released in 2006. Also regarding the online sites that have the first season up for preorder, Warners has stated that is a mistake and that the series is not being released at this time.

It IS time for a colorful metaphor.

[Napoleon Solo]

Warner Bros home video just made a statement that THEY do own the rights to the series and that it will NOT be released in 2006. Also regarding the online sites that have the first season up for preorder, Warners has stated that is a mistake and that the series is not being released at this time.

The whole affair was extremely regrettable.

[TheSaint]

Warner Bros home video just made a statement that THEY do own the rights to the series and that it will NOT be released in 2006. Also regarding the online sites that have the first season up for preorder, Warners has stated that is a mistake and that the series is not being released at this time.

They also said that they were considering a 2007 release so, all is not lost.

[Turn]

Isn't it strange that some really awful shows (Joey, Dragnet 2003, Punky Brewster, The Flying Nun) are getting DVD releases while classics like UNCLE and Batman are stuck in the hell of who owns rights?

[TheSaint]

Isn't it strange that some really awful shows (Joey, Dragnet 2003, Punky Brewster, The Flying Nun) are getting DVD releases while classics like UNCLE and Batman are stuck in the hell of who owns rights?

Actually, that's not the reason why Batman has not seen the light of day on dvd. I e-mailed Scott Hettrick, editor of Video Business, about Batman. Here's what he told me...

"I can tell you that the reps for the family estate of creator/owner Mr. William Dozier is holding up the release of the 1960s Batman TV series on DVD, from what I understand. Rumor has it that they have some longstanding dislike/distrust of Fox and may look to find someone else to release the series on DVD, but are in no hurry. There is apparently a similar situation with The Green Hornet series."

There you have it.

[FLEMINGFAN]

Actually, that's not the reason why Batman has not seen the light of day on dvd. I e-mailed Scott Hettrick, editor of Video Business, about Batman. Here's what he told me...

"I can tell you that the reps for the family estate of creator/owner Mr. William Dozier is holding up the release of the 1960s Batman TV series on DVD, from what I understand. Rumor has it that they have some longstanding dislike/distrust of Fox and may look to find someone else to release the series on DVD, but are in no hurry. There is apparently a similar situation with The Green Hornet series."

There you have it.

Thanks for the info!

[delfloria]

The Ember Entertainment group just posted this on their web site:

From the Folks at Ember Entertainment Group...

We are the only one's in possesion of the signed documents regarding the right to Distribute The Man and Girl From Uncle.

The Fans lost heart when they tuned into a Video Forum last night (Tuesday, June 6th). They were not speaking to lawyers and the video guys don't know who owns what.

If anymore rumors persist we will post the Ownership Documents on our website. We care about New programming and DVD's getting to the fans.... One fan in particular, these releases must not go past 2006 or Our Number One Fan may go to Del Floria's in the sky. We continue to work so that he may enjoy it with us.

Being the David in the world of Studio Goliath, it is a tightrope walk. We have good balance and many friends. It is ok, we will get there. We care......Summer of 2006.

We wish to remain friends with everyone and have a win /win, and that is what we are working on. Let us hope that THRUSH will allow your pre-orders to stand. We persevere to fruition against all odds. We have been here before and we will prevail.

J.A. Keller
CFO

[TheSaint]

Thanks for posting that, Delfloria, as I got an alert from tvshowsondvd.com about it, and Ember had removed that message. I was hoping to get a chance to read it.

What I'd like to know is, and maybe U.N.C.L.E. expert Delfloria can enlighten us, how did Ember get the rights? From what I understand, Turner Co. got the rights to UNCLE when they bought some/all MGM properties. Time Warner merges with Turner so, that's how I assumed Warner had the rights to UNCLE.

[Turn]

Isn't it strange that some really awful shows (Joey, Dragnet 2003, Punky Brewster, The Flying Nun) are getting DVD releases while classics like UNCLE and Batman are stuck in the hell of who owns rights?

Actually, that's not the reason why Batman has not seen the light of day on dvd. I e-mailed Scott Hettrick, editor of Video Business, about Batman. Here's what he told me...

"I can tell you that the reps for the family estate of creator/owner Mr. William Dozier is holding up the release of the 1960s Batman TV series on DVD, from what I understand. Rumor has it that they have some longstanding dislike/distrust of Fox and may look to find someone else to release the series on DVD, but are in no hurry. There is apparently a similar situation with The Green Hornet series."

There you have it.

What you've basically done is make my point for me, it's who owns the rights that's holding these up. Wouldn't you think the Dozier estate would be hot to make money off of these when the demand for classic shows on DVD is at a fever pitch? I guess they must have made enough money from the syndication rights.

[delfloria]

Napoleon Solo, what's your take on the rights situation at the moment?

[TheSaint]

I've begun reading the July PLAYBOY, and they have a "review" of the upcoming UNCLE S1 set. Did they just write what they know of the series, or did they actually get a review copy of this set?

[delfloria]

My guess is that they are reviewing it from knowlege of the series and not the DVDs. Because of the lead time in printing the mag they would be behind the curve regarding the most recent events involving the rights issue.

[TheSaint]

I'm surprised that neither our own Napoleon Solo nor Delfloria have posted this news...TVShowsondvd

Seems all is not lost.

[Turn]

Sweet.

I know what may be on my Christmas list already.

Now if they could just get the '60s Batman series on DVD.