DVD bit from the LA Times

[peter noble]

Duds find new life in a box

Calendar Live (subscription), CA - 7 hours ago
... Universal has sold more than 150,000 copies, at $119 apiece, of the 1978-80 series "Battlestar Galactica," which aired just 24 episodes on ABC. ...

[peter noble]

Er.... that appears to be $17,850,000! :eek:

[Archangel]

WOW!!!

pretty good for a 'dud'!

[amberstar]

:thumbsup: Wonder if that will get someone's attention? ;)

Great find Peter!


*Proud owner of the Epic DVD box set*

[jonahlee]

I wonder what they spent on it, and what the actual profits are, but I am sure someone is watching. Amazing how much old television is coming out on DVD now.

[peter noble]

I wonder what they spent on it, and what the actual profits are, but I am sure someone is watching. Amazing how much old television is coming out on DVD now.

It'd be nice to find out. I think that figure is only on for North American sales, when you add other territories it all adds up to a nice little earner for Universal and PROVES the original show still has legs financially.

Peter

[nccdee]

I would like to know what the international sales for the mini DVD as well. It could help bring in new viewers and introduce them to the TOS. This could spark interest with foreign tv to re-air TOS (the new series is on Sky One in UK, which is premium channe like HBO).

It could help in other areas as well, TOS books, models and such. We know TPTB look at all the sales numbers, so $17 million here and several million there, can quickly add up in profits.

Just a thought

nccdee

[BST]

Duds find new life in a box

Calendar Live (subscription), CA - 7 hours ago
... Universal has sold more than 150,000 copies, at $119 apiece, of the 1978-80 series "Battlestar Galactica," which aired just 24 episodes on ABC. ...


Er.... that appears to be $17,850,000! :eek:


Hmmm, not bad, for a "cheesy" show that had overused stock footage and funky hairstyles!

;)

Not bad at all!

:D

PS I'm proud to count myself amongst those sales numbers!! :thumbsup:

[Gemini1999]

Universal has sold more than 150,000 copies, at $119 apiece, of the 1978-80 series "Battlestar Galactica," which aired just 24 episodes on ABC. ...

Peter -

I was always curious about the sales figures - Now we have some idea. No wonder Amazon.com had to ask for more copies!

Cheers,
Bryan

[Raymar3d]

Hah!

There's your numbers, ye old skeptics!

Ken :)

Proud owner of Battlestar Galactica The Complete Epic Series

[thomas7g]

I bought mine for $80 at Frys I think..... :D

Good to see you still around Ken. :D

[KJ]

Universal has sold more than 150,000 copies, at $119 apiece, of the 1978-80 series "Battlestar Galactica," which aired just 24 episodes on ABC. ...

If that's now, and not since last October. dud my ass. Galactica's a winner hands down. Let me remind you all, "Family Guy" another classic series was cancelled. a show out doing the Simpsons canned. but now has a lease on new life due to the sales of the DVD boxsets released late last year and this year. and now will be making a comeback, come Summer/Winter of 2005.

150,000 at $119.00 a pop! Sorry Bonnie Hammer of Sci-Fi Channel, those aren't hardcores fans alone. Long as those numbers are on the rise the question will be begged. Galactica .....C-O-N-T-I-N-U-A-T-I-O-N WE WANT IT NOW!!!.

My only regret is, lazy old Universal didn't want to pay up to "SAG" for the people who helped put Richard Hatch's Second Coming trailer together. that along with Larson's Battlestar Atlantis trailer would have given us fans along with sci-fi buffs who brought the DVD set a look at the REAL revival efforts made to awaken this Sleeping Giant with a new take on this franchise direction should a new continuation, been made at all. That's what i call fair. most people have to be told about the mess of this revival effort. the DVD set could have given them the hold story from day one and handed everyone a fresh look at the vast range that, movie producers, it's own creator and former stars have come at this sleeping giant, while it slept.

From another fan and proud owner of the "Complete epic series boxset"

:cool:

[KJ]

And all that, from a U.K. fan who knows the R1 DVD was better and got it instead! Cos somebody messed up the R2 one badly and left half of the extras on the cutting room floor. and the R2 DVD has 7 discs not 6?

I wonder how the R2 sales are coming along? i haven't checked have any of you.

[CommanderTaggart]

Wonder if the miniseries will sell 150,000 copies upon release?

I'm placing my bet on NO WAY IN HELL.

[Archangel]

I have to disagree, Commander Taggert. There are a few fans of TOS (such as myself) that enjoyed the mini for what it was and will buy the DVD. As well as the fact that a lot of the people who did watch the mini weren't old enough to remember TOS as fondly as we do, if they ever saw it at all. :) Sales will do good.

Long live Starbuck, with HIS anatomy intact. :D

[BST]

Wonder if the miniseries will sell 150,000 copies upon release?

I'm placing my bet on NO WAY IN HELL.

They WILL, if.....Ted's in charge of distribution. ;)

[thomas7g]

I'm sure it will sell substantially well. Its has spaceship battles. Well done special effects. Its a new show. The name BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will advertised in countless commercials for the next year.

Selling over 150,000 will not be hard.

[Raymar3d]

My only regret is, lazy old Universal didn't want to pay up to "SAG" for the people who helped put Richard Hatch's Second Coming trailer together. that along with Larson's Battlestar Atlantis trailer would have given us fans along with sci-fi buffs who brought the DVD set a look at the REAL revival efforts made to awaken this Sleeping Giant with a new take on this franchise direction should a new continuation, been made at all. That's what i call fair. most people have to be told about the mess of this revival effort. the DVD set could have given them the hold story from day one and handed everyone a fresh look at the vast range that, movie producers, it's own creator and former stars have come at this sleeping giant, while it slept.

From another fan and proud owner of the "Complete epic series boxset"

:cool:

I wish the trailer was on it too. I hate that it's not widely distributed. Not to mention it's got my work in it, LOL!

Seriously, though, I want everyone to see it. We're all proud of the work we did, and I think it's an example of the power of what could have been.

Ken

[julix]

I wish the trailer was on it too. I hate that it's not widely distributed. Not to mention it's got my work in it, LOL!

Seriously, though, I want everyone to see it. We're all proud of the work we did, and I think it's an example of the power of what could have been.

Ken


Just wanted to say Ken...I saw the second comming trailer at a convention this year and loved it! You should be proud of the work you all did...it was glorious....
Thanks!

[shiningstar]

My only regret is, lazy old Universal didn't want to pay up to "SAG" for the people who helped put Richard Hatch's Second Coming trailer together. that along with Larson's Battlestar Atlantis trailer would have given us fans along with sci-fi buffs who brought the DVD set a look at the REAL revival efforts made to awaken this Sleeping Giant with a new take on this franchise direction should a new continuation, been made at all. That's what i call fair. most people have to be told about the mess of this revival effort. the DVD set could have given them the hold story from day one and handed everyone a fresh look at the vast range that, movie producers, it's own creator and former stars have come at this sleeping giant, while it slept.

From another fan and proud owner of the "Complete epic series boxset"

:cool:

I don't think they were LAZY .......they were CALCULATING ......they knew if
they put the Second Coming trailer on the DVD set they'd be promoting
a TRUE continueation and UNIVERSAL simply doesn't WANT IT.

They'll do anything to prevent a TRUE Desanto/Larson continueation
and if that means shooting theirselves in the foot .......so BE IT.

[shiningstar]

I wish the trailer was on it too. I hate that it's not widely distributed. Not to mention it's got my work in it, LOL!

Seriously, though, I want everyone to see it. We're all proud of the work we did, and I think it's an example of the power of what could have been.

Ken

I'd love to see it but for some reason my Server won't let me :-(

[thomas7g]

SS- Universal would have put the Second Coming on the DVD. But they wanted money from Hatch to do it if I recall right.

[BST]

SS- Universal would have put the Second Coming on the DVD. But they wanted money from Hatch to do it if I recall right.


...and, of course, since the crew worked "pro-bono", Universal would also have to compensate them. (It's those SAG rules getting in the way, again!!)

;)

[KJ]

As well as the fact that a lot of the people who did watch the mini weren't old enough to remember TOS as fondly as we do, if they ever saw it at all. Sales will do good.

Maybe, but 150.000 at $119.00 Dollars. you've gotta admit it'll take a litle longer for a remake like the sci-fi channel's to even try to outdo the TOS sales? come on realistically whether you back the remake or not, you'd have a hard time trying to convince anyone. That a cable mini series like BG:2003 is more engrained into fans of any generation at present, that would go and make them buy the BG mini series off the shelves as fast as a 25/26 year old series, which has finally been released in full for the first time in 'North America' since it's 1978/79 airdate.

I see your point and opinion, but BG still had "65 million" watching in 1978 and that still a record for television. Many of the older generation saw it as well as those who caught the mid to late 80's repeats. That market alone, will make and continue to make, a killing in the BG - DVD boxset sales. Then there is, the outside international market? Which buys up R1 releases too. (i.e. multiregion DVD players) of wanted TV shows; let alone their own regional DVD's of the same release.

When viewed in those odds, yeah the remake might do well in sales, but i don't believe it can compete with a classic TV series on those terms! no remake could, unless it out did the original somehow.


I don't think they were LAZY .......they were CALCULATING ......they knew if they put the Second Coming trailer on the DVD set they'd be promoting
a TRUE continuation and UNIVERSAL simply doesn't WANT IT.

They'll do anything to prevent a TRUE Desanto/Larson continuation
and if that means shooting theirselves in the foot .......so BE IT.

Sad and true shiningstar. Universal Studios A.K.A. Egomanicas ARE US!!!....
abuse of power at the highest. Hatch, Larson, Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto
screwed over by egomanicas jerks. wonder what would happen if Universal's Golden boy Steven Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) was asked to do a Galactica continuation, and he jumped at the chance!

SS- Universal would have put the Second Coming on the DVD. But they wanted money from Hatch to do it if I recall right.

I realise, the tons of money the film companies make. Doesn't all, go into the DVD department! But the money Universal reaping, surely must be higher than several other film studios of reputable names.

I wish the trailer was on it too. I hate that it's not widely distributed. Not to mention it's got my work in it, LOL!

Man, i hope Richard Hatch plays it at Collectormania 6 or other U.K. conventions. i know you did some Ralph McQuarrie style Cylon Centurions (with the blue eye) in some images you've put online Raymar3rd. i'd like to see the hatch trailer to see how it all, went down. That and that guy with his stylised badass Cylon suit, who also worked "Pro Bono". Doesn't he/ didn't he, have an article on BG.com some years back. (man times flown by?)

KJ

:cool:

[nccdee]

Lord KingJason, I don't think using the "65 million" numbers is a good compison to today's interests. Basically you just showed that not even 1 percent of the original viewing audience were interested in buying TOS series today. If the mini sells 150,000 copies (its viewership was at 3 million), it would have sold to 5 percents of it viewers, is it five times the success? It not a fair comparison.

It hard for us to judge because we don't know what the expectation of the return of investment was for Universal. For example, if cost them $10 million to put the DVD together and another $8 million to market, then they are still in debt (just overstating to make a point, I sure they made a very good profit). As for the mini, was Sci-Fi/Sky One able to get a return on its investment? Do they expect the DVD to do that? Numbers games can have different return and have different meaning.

You are right about the powers that be, they make the decision and it the money that does most of the talking. Let hope TOS DVD sale are heard loud enough for TPTB to listen to.

It true that once a director has shown the "talent", the world (studios) are at his feet and are more willing to cater to a director's pet project or interests. Who knows, another director will come and say "I want to do a BGS Continue"...anything is possible.

nccdee

[BST]

Good points all! :thumbsup:

There may never be a good way to compare the 2 incarnations of Galactica. The DVD sales for the mini should be good, if the mini-series made a good impression on its viewers. It is still fresh on a lot of minds since it only aired 8 months ago. That is primarily why Universal is so eager to get the DVD's to market. "Strike while the iron is hot", so to speak.

I do find a lot of validity in nccdee's analysis and would like to offer 1 additional "intangible" driver for the TOS DVD sales -- "staying power". Given that, (as we all know), TOS was a 1 season show that aired 25 years ago, I consider somewhat remarkable that the sales were 150,000. Much of that can be attributed to the "staying power" of the original show and the impression that it left on us, so many years ago.

Now if DVD technology were available 25 years ago, ....... ;)

[KJ]

Lord KingJason, I don't think using the "65 million" numbers is a good compison to today's interests. Basically you just showed that not even 1 percent of the original viewing audience were interested in buying TOS series today. If the mini sells 150,000 copies (its viewership was at 3 million), it would have sold to 5 percents of it viewers, is it five times the success? It not a fair comparison.

If the mini sells 150,000 copies. hate to be cynical about it but. When an article is written about the remake doing that well and it comes out. Then i'll believe it!

Like i said, there is also an international audience for BG. not everyone will buy the R1 version but i'm sure those who have been watching the 1978 series in their respective countries, will buy up the TOS Galactica DVD boxset.

And not all of the 65 million may have a DVD player or living in north america anymore or still be around? I agree with the we may never know thing from our point of view. but trust me if there is an anyalist checking the sales they know.

And i know this, whatever way you cut it. The TOS Galactica boxset is a sucessful venture which has reaped huge sales.

That something i'm proud of. and something i'm sure, given anybody who thought Galactica was just a old 24 episode show of dud, of yesterday. A kick in the pants.

I can think up another 20 extras that should be in the set and would make it sell even more, but it's doing fine without me.

Peace.

KJ

:salute:

[nccdee]

One of the things I like about DVDs is "extra" they put into it. I understand people were disappointed with the lack of extra material in the TOS DVD. I am thankful that some people have put up the extra online (deleted scene). I look to boards like this to see if there are "extra" that are being shared. I have download both the Foundation Image video and DeSantos Power Point Presentation of BGS. Great stuff.

One of things I like is commentary tracks on DVDs. I watch the movies once and then watch it again with commentary. I understand that there was not enough of that in the DVD. Well, hopefully, there will be a Director's...Delux...Special...Extented...Edition that will come out.

I think that cable television had great deal to do with staying power. We know have channels with there own specialties and nitches, TVland being one of my favorites. Then of course there is the internet, which has no borders and allows for fans to get together without leaving home (for those who are not lucky enough to attend a convention).

If I have not said it before, I say it now, thanks to everyone for sharing.

nccdee

[jewels]

*Opens a can of worms*....er, what if they are only talking about what sold at MSRP and not including all the places like Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, Amazon, DVD planet, etc.?

Not that I'm saying 150,000 is bad, but Amazon sold out in 6 hrs that July 2 or 3 when they initially took orders. It was in the top 100 DVD preorders for at least a solid month there, and remained in the top 100 for quite a while. Seems like that would have to mean the numbers would be higher.

I'm tired and maybe I'm thinking too hard.