Pet Peeve: Shorter 2007-08 TV Season has no apparent effect on DVD prices

[IntenseFan]

Maybe I am totally naive, but I was expecting that the shortened TV season this year would cause the studios to proportionately (or at least partially) reduce the price-points of their DVD boxed sets for the 2007-08 season.

So far I am utterly wrong.

See the press release regarding the recommended retail price for Lost Season 4. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Lost-Season-4/9460

$79.99 for 14 episodes on DVD? Ouch. $109.99 for the Blu-Ray? Double Ouch.

Looks like it's the same thing for Season 4 of Grey's Anatomy, albeit that you get 16 episodes, although that is a far cry from the normal 22. http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_...h-Season.shtml

Having a quick look on Amazon.ca reveals a similar theme for other series shortened by the strike such as Prison Break Season 3 (13 episodes) http://www.amazon.ca/Prison-Break-Se...2614519&sr=8-1

This all causes me to question why we as viewers, who had to suffer through a prolonged writer's strike (and likely an impending actor's strike starting in July) should be all that keen to purchase protracted seasons for the same price as a full season of 20-24 episodes would have garnered last year. Why should we pay full price for a product that is, at least in terms of quantity, inferior to last year's (and many years previous)?

In my view this is a bit unfair. There appears to be at least some who agree with me out there in the internet community. See: http://www.e-gear.com/story/story.bs...var=story&9509 and see also the comments on this page after the article: http://www.docarzt.com/lost-news/los...tails-reve.php

On the optimistic side, it doesn't look like Heroes Season 2 (11 espisodes) has a price point yet (at least none is listed on Amazon.com). So there might be a discount coming our way for that series.

Additionally, retailer retain the option of selling for less, which they might be pressured to do if the complaints about this issue are widespread enough. I am pessimistic on that account, however.

For my part, I suspect I will be exercising the one option that every consumer has in a free market, and refusing to buy at those prices. I suspect Blockbuster might be charging me a bit more this fall for rentals, at least until the price comes down.

How about the rest of you? I know it won't bother some people to pay full price for a protacted season when they really want or need to see it. But I suspect that some others are as releuctant as myself.

Comments?

[Dion]

Costco sells them at a cheaper price. And if you wait long enough they end up in the discount bin at Wallyworld.

[MelBridgeman]

I Just don't bother buying them

[IntenseFan]

I think that's where I'm at. I do suspect that a lot of people will buy them, however.

[CMPunk]

The thing I hate is when they break up a season into parts. I wanted to catch up on Entouroge(ya crappy spelling), but I don't wanna have to pay $30 for half a season

[IntenseFan]

I hear you on the season splitting thing. It is indeed annoying.

I used to think that splitting seasons was a total HBO thing - i.e. Sopranos, Entourage, Sex and the City, etc.

But BSG did it in Season 2 and will likely do it again in Season 4. I am sure CowPerson is indignant in his angst with respect to this.

[Old Yeller]

I know the Office is charging the same price... for their whole 8 or 10 or whatever it was episodes.

To offset they're promising a lot of "cool extras"... probably they have a few more people doing commentary on each episode. Big deal...

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by IntenseFan

I think that's where I'm at. I do suspect that a lot of people will buy them, however.

Well if people continue buying than prices will stick.
But has a consumer you have some other options.
PVR, illegal downloading or VCR.
Or just wait, for the sopranos for example, A&E would have marathons on Sundays or Holidays, so i would just either record or watch. Also shaw on demand offered Season 6 of the sopranos for like, i beleive it was 10 bucks a couple of years ago...it wasnt that much
You can also get someone to buy it for you, like for a christmas gift, or birthday or anniversary or something like that.

[worth]

The only show i'm concerned about on DVD is Battlestar galactica. When they split season 2 into two 10 episode halves, the dvd's were $40 each I believe for half the season.

I think I paid $40 or $50 for all of season 3 so I paid twice as much for season 2 which is odd.

I would do it again though, and would even pay another $40 for the first half of season 4 since their splitting up the final season. Argh, i wish we could just watch the whole season, not delay the inevitable.

In any event, if you've got the previous seasons dvd's you're probably going to buy the next season of dvd's, so they'll charge the same price even though the season is shorter.