Re: Digest Number 1041

At 11:15 AM 3/28/2003 +0000, you wrote:
Hi, Marc,

Come to think of it, it was the first I'd heard they were going to do one.
I'm working on getting an advertising insert for Misc!MAYHEM into the
SUEPRCAR DVDs, and A&E mentioned we could get them into the UFO mega sets
as well. I'll get a release date for you.

Kez

>Come to think of it, it was the first I'd heard they were going to do one.
>I'm working on getting an advertising insert for Misc!MAYHEM into the
>SUEPRCAR DVDs, and A&E mentioned we could get them into the UFO mega sets
>as well. I'll get a release date for you.

Thanks! A&E customer service has actually been referring to the UFO
Megaset since *before* they released set 2! As I understand it, it
will be a simple packaging of the 2 A&E sets together, just like was
done on Thunderbirds, The Prisoner, etc. I don't believe there will
be any "bonus disc" like there was for Space:1999, however the retail
price of the UFO Megaset should be less than the combined retail
price of A&E's set 1 and set 2.

Marc

Hi, Marc,

I'm told that the UFO megaset is scheduled for a fall release.

Kez

> I'm told that the UFO megaset is scheduled for a fall release.

Fall??! I was under the impression that it was going
to be much sooner than that. Oh well...

Marc

I don't get why they'd repackage UFO into a MegaSet with the original awkward
packaging they used. Will all eight discs now be in one (new) container or are
they going to separate Amarays in a new slip case?

Anthony
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Martin" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO Megaset


> > I'm told that the UFO megaset is scheduled for a fall release.
>
> Fall??! I was under the impression that it was going
> to be much sooner than that. Oh well...

> I don't get why they'd repackage UFO into a MegaSet with the
> original awkward packaging they used. Will all eight discs
> now be in one (new) container or are they going to separate
> Amarays in a new slip case?

If it's going to be released in the fall, it seems likely
that even A&E doesn't have an definitive answer yet as to
what they're planning!

I'd think they'd just shrinkwrap the existing sets together,
but I guess that might not be sufficiently different to
attract collectors...

Marc

I used to work for a record company and thus I'm sure A&E 's motive
for producing a mega set is to get rid of thier overstock on the UFO
DVD's, this is common practice. The interesting part will be how A&E
make it attractive. There are essentially two options:

i] Sell it at a discounted price - but with this you run the risk of
'T' ing off previous customers, but it dos'nt always stop companies
doing this.

ii] Change the packaging substantially and/or include something that
was'nt included on as part of the originals - again this can lead to
some discontent, but tends to be less emotive.

With CD's it is fairly easy to chuck in a 'bonus' CD - I'm not au-fait
with DVD production, or A&E track record so I don't know how easy it
is to this. The easiest option maybe is to include some additional
artwork, like a poster or something similar, I guess.

Of course they could do both of the above.

As regards the release, I would venture the release date will depend
on how overstocked they are on the DVD's, and how keen they to reduce
thier overhead. If it hits the racks quickly you can be sure they have
tons of UFO DVD's sitting in thier wharehouse.

Most 'caring' companies :-) normally releases the box set first, then
the indivdual volumes after, as Carlton did, it is certianly less
emotive that way.

>From experience I would have to say 'talk' of a mega set so shortly
>after the release of the originals, would suggest to me that sales
>have been less that projected - maybe I'm wrong and thay planned this
>way all along.

A&E seems to follow the same pattern for all their cult series --
release them in individual volumes, then release it as a Megaset for
a lower cost. So there is a group of fans who are unhappy about this
happening in the past (for Monty Python, The Prisoner, etc) who
refuse to buy individual sets from A&E any more. Instead they will
patiently wait for the UFO Megaset to come out, and then buy it.

Marc

Marc:

True - but I thought the packaging of UFO would make it harder to do a
MegaSet. Shrink wrapping those two awkward packages to make a Mega will look
odd (to me at least :)

So far, they have not "mega-setted" Avengers with Cathy Gale or Linda Thorson.
The Saint and Secret Agent haven't been done either, but I think their
individual releases have just finished - so perhaps they will be slated for a
fall release, too.

Anthony

> A&E seems to follow the same pattern for all their cult series --
> release them in individual volumes, then release it as a Megaset for
> a lower cost. So there is a group of fans who are unhappy about this
> happening in the past (for Monty Python, The Prisoner, etc) who
> refuse to buy individual sets from A&E any more. Instead they will
> patiently wait for the UFO Megaset to come out, and then buy it.