Why are the 26 seasons of Dr Who not available on DVD?

[WrongWay]

With all the crap TV series comming out on DVD nowdays; I have to wonder why a 26 season DVD sets of a cult classic like Dr. Who has not already hit the shelves?

Here in America we are getting Series that did not even last for a single season before being cancelled released on DVD. Hell, I bet NBC is getting ready to release Manimal any day now if they have not already done so.

So why isn't someone seeing the Dollar signs in starting to release the seasons of the Dr. Who series. It looks like they did release a couple of DR. Who movies and special episodes.

There have got to be Dr who fans all over the world chomping at the bit to get all 26 seasons on DVD. I myself was just looking for a SciFi TV series to tie up a portion of my NetFlix account.

[Eaglesfan27]

Great question. I'd be buying them immediately if they came out on DVD. One of my favorite shows of all time when I was a teenager, and still a favorite of mine now.

[cubboyroy1826]

Been asking this one for a long time. They release stuff that nobody watched for free and expect someone to pay for them on DVD. There used to be quite a few Dr Who episodes on Video and i know there are a few episodes on DVD but nothing that would allow you to watch a whole season. Kinda makes you wonder.

[Franklinnoble]

I'm still waiting for Airwolf on DVD.

[WrongWay]

I'm still waiting for Airwolf on DVD.
You mean you are still waiting for the US/North American version. The complete box set is available oversees.

But, you better know something about DVDs and regional coding before ordering?

[kcchief19]

Wait a minute ... back up. When is "Manimal" coming out on DVD?

[sterlingice]

Wait a minute ... back up. When is "Manimal" coming out on DVD?
Yeah, this is the best thing I took out of the thread. Where can I get Manimal? http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

SI

[andy m]

if you know where to look you can download dr who episodes using bitorrent.

[Abe Sargent]

The BBC's policy on Doctor Who is to release two episodes (which are of movie length) every three to four months. This way, they get a chance to computerize really bad model effects, add a lot of extras, record commentary tracks, remaster old film, and whatnot. I have them all on DVD, and they are really high quality DVDs. I know a lot of fans would rather pay for these high quality DVDs than a bunch of low quality ones all at once.

-Anxiety

[JonInMiddleGA]

In addition to Anxiety's answer, there's also the matter of 100 or so "missing episodes", early b&w eps that were destroyed in the early 70s.

[Franklinnoble]

I think I'm gonna have to turn in my geek card. I've never seen a single episode of "Dr. Who"

[tanglewood]

dum dum de dum, dum dum de dum, durm durm de durm, durm durm de durm, dum dum de dum, dum dum de dum

woooo-eeeeee-oooooooo, dooo, doo de doooooo

wooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oooo doo de doooooo....

That is all.

[WrongWay]

I know a lot of fans would rather pay for these high quality DVDs than a bunch of low quality ones all at once.

-Anxiety
Back the train up partner. The thing that is great about DVD box sets is that you get to watch the series in the order it aired. Yes there are Dr Who dvds out there, but it seems like they are just randomly releasing the highest rated ones or maybe just the award shows.

I want to start with Season 1 episode 1, then season 1 eposide 2 followed by 1-3, and 1-4......so on. Isn't that the purpose of a TV series box set. The Dr. Who dvd collections are all themed based. So, the episodes will come from many different years, be out of sequential order and even have a movie included. I guess the only good thing is that it looks like they try to at least only feature 1 doctor per DVD box set.

[Abe Sargent]

Back the train up partner. The thing that is great about DVD box sets is that you get to watch the series in the order it aired. Yes there are Dr Who dvds out there, but it seems like they are just randomly releasing the highest rated ones or maybe just the award shows.

I want to start with Season 1 episode 1, then season 1 eposide 2 followed by 1-3, and 1-4......so on. Isn't that the purpose of a TV series box set. The Dr. Who dvd collections are all themed based. So, the episodes will come from many different years, be out of sequential order and even have a movie included. I guess the only good thing is that it looks like they try to at least only feature 1 doctor per DVD box set.


You can't do that because there are so many missing episodes from the first and second doctor years.

-Anxiety

[WrongWay]

You can't do that because there are so many missing episodes from the first and second doctor years.

-Anxiety
And after that?

You know the saying about throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Just because you are missing a few episodes from the early years doesn't mean you have to scrap the entire 26 season DVD project!

Bonanza didn't, I love lucy didn't, and The honeymooners didn't. It seems like I am all the time watching "a lost episode" from those 3 series on TV.

[robbgmaier]

sterilize!.....sterilize!......STERILIIIIZZZZEEEEE!!!!!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Based on the official BBC page
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/drwho/2004/08/10/13658.shtml
and a couple of other fan pages, it looks like some/most/part of 1963-74 are missing, over 100 episodes of over 600 episodes are missing.

That's a pretty big chunk of the total run.

[flere-imsaho]

It continues to amaze me that they lost so many episodes.... :(

[DolphinFan1]

sterilize!.....sterilize!......STERILIIIIZZZZEEEEE!!!!!

I AM NOMAD! I AM NOMAD! MUST STERILIZE!

[sterlingice]

On tvtome, it looks like they are making a new incarnation with 13 episodes under a mysterious "Season 27" heading.

SI