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BBC to Debut First Season of 'Torchwood' on Blu-ray
Thu May 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, BBC (all tags)
BBC has announced their latest TV-on-high-def release, bringing the sci-fi hit 'Torchwood' to Blu-ray in September.
The futuristic British drama enjoyed an instant cult audience after it first premiered last year, and its freshman year will hit Blu-ray on September 16, when BBC debuts 'Torchwood: The Complete First Season' (day-and-date with the standard DVD).
All twelve first-season episodes are spread across six BD-25 single-layer discs, presented in 1080p/VC-1 video and standard DTS 5.1 Surround audio.
Extras are quite extensive, with audio commentaries on multiple episodes, a pair of multi-part documentaries ("Torchwood Declassified," "The Team and Their Troubles"), nine additional featurettes ( "Torchwood on the Scene," "Torchwood Out of this World: Weevil, Sex Gas," "Torchwood Out of This World: Ghost Machine, Cyberwoman, Fairies," "Torchwood: Sex, Violence, Blood and Gore," "Torchwood on the Road," "Torchwood: Moments in the Making: A Wing and a Prayer, Fight Night," "The Captains Log," "Torchwood Moments in the Making: Officer and a Gentleman, Bombing the Base," "Torchwood On Time"), and multiple deleted scenes and outtakes.
Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $99.98
You'll find specs for 'Torchwood: The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 16.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for Warner's latest TV release in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Torchwood: The Complete First Season' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Torchwood: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
BBC Boxes 'Natural History Collection' for Blu-ray
Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, BBC (all tags)
BBC Video has announced a July next-gen arrival for 'The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection,' which will compile highlights of the network's top series for the first time on Blu-ray.
Culling the best episodes of such top Blu-ray hits as 'Planet Earth,' the deluxe boxed collection will arrive on high-def on July 22 as an eight-disc set.
Contents include the original BBC version of 'Planet Earth: The Complete Series' (Episodes 1-11), 'Galapagos' (Episodes 1-3). 'Ganges' (Episodes 1-3) and ''Wild China' (Episodes 1-6).
Tech specs and supplement details are identical to the existing stand-alone releases of each title, and BBC says that no additional bonus materials will be included.
Suggested list price has been set at $179.98.
You'll find the latest specs for 'The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 22.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for BBC's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss 'The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
- Galapagos (Blu-ray)
- Ganges (Blu-ray)
- Wild China (Blu-ray)
'Earth: The Biography' Coming to Blu-ray
Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BBC (all tags)
BBC Video has announced a July next-gen arrival for the five-part series 'Earth: The Biography,' which will hit Blu-ray as a two-disc set.
Following the success of the BBC's best-selling 'Planet Earth,' the company will release 'Earth: The Biography' on Blu-ray July 22, day-and-date with a DVD version.
Including five episodes from the series ("Volcano," "Atmosphere," "Ice," "Oceans," and "Rare Earth"), the 230-minute runtime is spread across two BD-25 single-layer discs, presented in 1080 video and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio.
There are no announced supplemental features.
BBC Video has set a suggested list price of $39.98 for the Blu-ray.
You'll find specs for 'Earth: The Biography' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 22.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for BBC's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Earth: The Biography' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Earth: The Biography (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
BBC Sets Debut TV Blu-ray Release with 'Robin Hood'
Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, BBC (all tags)
Marking their first TV-on-high-def release, BBC Video has set a late-July Blu-ray arrival for 'Robin Hood: Season One.'
A huge hit in its native Britain, 'Robin Hood' stars Jonas Armstrong as the altruistic merry man, and has been widely praised for its high production values and blend of action, romance, and drama.
Now preparing for its third season on the BBC, 'Season One' will debut domestically on Blu-ray July 29, marking the first serialized TV series the company has released on Blu-ray. (A standard DVD version of the show was released in June 2007.)
Featuring all 13 first-season episodes spread across four BD-50 dual-layer discs, tech specs boast 1080p video and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio.
BBC has not yet announced extras for the Blu-ray, but as the standard DVD edition included multiple featurettes and other supplements, the high-def version will likely remain consistent. We'll keep you posted.
Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $99.98.
You'll find the latest specs for 'Robin Hood: Season one' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 29.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for BBC's TV-on-high-def debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Robin Hood: Season one' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Robin Hood: Season One (Blu-ray)
BBC Brings 'Wild China' to Blu-ray
Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, BBC (all tags)
BBC Video has announced that it will bring the six-part documentary 'Wild China' to Blu-ray in early July.
As reported by our friends over at TV Shows on DVD, the joint production between BBC Natural History and China Central Television will hit Blu-ray on July 1, day-and-date with the standard DVD. (Note that although BBC remains format-agnostic, they have not currently announced an HD DVD version of 'Wild China.')
The Blu-ray will spread the complete six-part series (which includes the episodes "The Great Rice Bowl," "The Forests of Shangri-La," "Tibet," "Beyond the Great Wall," "Land of the Dragon" and "Crowded Coasts") across two BD-50 dual-layer discs.
Tech specs announced thus far include 1080p video and subtitle options in English and Chinese (Traditional Mandarin). There was no word on audio formats as of press time, but we'll keep you posted.
Extras include the "Hunting Dragon" making-of featurette.
Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.98.
You'll find the latest specs for 'Wild China' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 1.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for BBC's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Wild China' Blu-ray release.
- Related links:
- 'Wild China' 6-Part BBC Documentary for DVD and Blu-ray Disc [TV Shows on DVD]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Wild China (Blu-ray)
BBC to Explore 'Ganges' on Blu-ray
Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:12 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, BBC (all tags)
BBC Video has announced it will bring the documentary 'Ganges' to Blu-ray this July.
Filmed entirely in high-definition, 'Ganges' tells the story of the world's most extraordinary river, revealing how the Ganges has shaped the wildlife, culture and beliefs of India. BBC has set a street date for the Blu-ray of July 1, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD.
'Ganges' marks BBC Video's first title announcement since Toshiba pulled the plug on the HD DVD format earlier this week. Although BBC reiterated it's format-neutral stance just a few weeks back, at press time the distributor had not announced an HD DVD version of the title. (We're currently awaiting word from BBC on their future format plans, so stay tuned.)
Tech specs for the Blu-ray will see the 104-minute program presented on a BD-25 single-layer disc in 1080p/VC-1 video (1.78:1), and English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo.
Extras shared between both the Blu-ray and the standard DVD include a collection of deleted scenes.
Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.98.
You'll find specs for 'Ganges' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, indexed under July 1.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for BBCs latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Ganges' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Ganges (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- BBC to Continue Dual-Format Support (Jan 16, 2008)
BBC to Continue Dual-Format Support
Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Industry Trends, BBC, Warner (all tags)
Warner's switch to Blu-ray exclusivity will not sway its distribution partner BBC Home Video from its dual-format stance.
That's word from from a company spokesperson, who late yesterday told TVShowsonDVD.com that the BBC will continue its format-agnostic strategy for the time being, and that they "will evaluate the marketplace before committing to one format."
The company cited the stellar sales of its 'Planet Earth' box set (whose HD DVD version has outsold the Blu-ray) as added reasoning behind the decision, as well as an upcoming line-up of multiple (but as yet unannounced) high-def titles it has planned for both formats in 2008.
The BBC's decision to stay put come in the wake of moves made last week by Warner subsidiaries New Line and HBO to shift to Blu-ray exclusivity. The BBC is now the only Warner-distributed company to remain format neutral.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Studios Distributing Through Warner to Make Up Their Own High-Def Minds [TV Shows on DVD]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- HBO Confirms Switch to Blu-ray Exclusivity (Jan 09, 2008)
- New Line Details Transition to Blu-ray (Jan 08, 2008)
'Planet Earth' Goes All-American in New HD DVD, Blu-ray Release
Mon Jul 16, 2007 at 11:58 AM ETTags: Discovery Channel, BBC, Disc Announcements (all tags)
Can't get enough 'Planet Earth' on High-Def? Now there's a new edition of the groundbreaking series bound for Blu-ray and HD DVD.
The series first hit both next-gen formats back in April from the BBC, featuring the original narration by legendary nature documentarian David Attenborough. That edition went on to break High-Def sales records, generating more revenue than any other HD DVD/Blu-ray release to date.
Now a second version of 'Planet Earth' is hitting both HD DVD and Blu-ray -- the version that was presented in the series' US television run, which replaced Attenborough's narration with the decidedly less British actress/conservationist Sigourney Weaver.
This new version is being released by The Discovery Channel (which aired 'Planet Earth' in the US), although it would seem that the cable network's distribution rights to the series are limited to direct sales.
As such, the channel recently listed three separate box set editions of its version of the series at Discovery Channel Store. While the standard DVD version ($69.95) is already available, the next gen editions ($99.95 each) show an an estimated ship date of July 30, 2007.
The Discovery Channel has also been advertising a separate website (pedvd.com) that's selling the first three episodes of 'Planet Earth' on a single disc at $14.95 on both next-gen formats. It wasn't immediately clear whether additional episodes will be available as standalone discs at some point in the future.
There's no word yet on specs or supplemental features for newly configured next-gen editions of the series. Here's hoping that the various featurettes and the bonus doc that were unceremoniously dropped from the BBC high-def editions get their due this time around. (Discovery has included them in its companion standard-def edition, but they appeared on the standard-def BBC edition as well, so that's no great indicator.)
We've added new listings for 'Planet Earth (US Version)' to our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our HD DVD Release Schedule under July 31.
We've also set up dedicated threads for this latest version of the disc in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Planet Earth (US Version)' Blu-ray release or the 'Planet Earth (US Version)' HD DVD release.
(Thanks to Peter S. for the tip!)
- Related links:
- 'Planet Earth (US Version)' Box Set [
Discovery Store Online]
- 'Planet Earth (US Version)' First Disc Promo [pedvd.com]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (HD DVD)
- Planet Earth (US Version) (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth (US Version) (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- 'Planet Earth' Generates Record HD DVD, Blu-ray Sales Revenue (Jun 07, 2007)
BBC Sets October Debut for 'Galapagos' on HD DVD, Blu-ray
Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 07:55 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BBC (all tags)
BBC Video has officially announced that it will bring the documentary 'Galapagos' to Blu-ray and HD DVD this fall.
Arriving in stores on October 2, 'Galapagos' blends spectacular cinematography (shot entirely in high-definition) and never-before-seen satellite imagery to explore the Galapagos Islands, one of our planet's fascinating microcosms of life and landscapes.
'Galapagos' marks BBC's first high-def documentary release since 'Planet Earth,' which it released earlier this year on Blu-ray and HD DVD to unprecedented sales success. 'Planet Earth' has rapidly become not only both the best-selling documentary and box set title on both next-gen formats, but also the top revenue-generating high-def disc release to date.
No technical specs nor supplemental details have yet been released, but we'll keep you posted.
BBC has set a $28.99 list price for the next-gen versions of 'Galapagos.'
We've added new listings for the title to both our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our HD DVD Release Schedule under October 2, where it joins 'A Room with a View,' which BBC announced for high-def release just yesterday.
We've also set up dedicated threads for BBC's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Galapagos' Blu-ray release and the 'Galapagos' HD DVD release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Galapagos (Blu-ray)
- Galapagos (HD DVD)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (HD DVD)
- A Room with a View (Blu-ray)
- A Room with a View (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- 'Planet Earth' Generates Record HD DVD, Blu-ray Sales Revenue (Jun 07, 2007)
- BBC Readies 'Room with a View' for Blu-ray, HD DVD (Jul 02, 2007)
BBC Readies 'Room with a View' for Blu-ray, HD DVD
Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 10:22 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BBC (all tags)
BBC Video has announced it will bring the acclaimed modern classic 'A Room with a View' to Blu-ray and HD DVD this fall.
Arriving in stores on October 2, 'Room with a View' was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture (and eventually took home three, including Best Adapted Screenplay). It also marked the first production from the famed Merchant-Ivory team to achieve major success in the United States.
Though BBC has not yet announced technical specs, the release will come come to high-def bearing the "Special Edition" banner, and is scheduled to include an audio commentary with the filmmakers, three retrospective featurettes and a still gallery.
List price has been set at $29.95 for either version.
'Room with a View' marks BBC's first high-def release following the extraordinary success of 'Planet Earth' earlier this year. Defying all expectations, 'Planet Earth' has rapidly become not only both the best-selling documentary and box set title on both next-gen formats, but also the top revenue-generating high-def disc release to date.
We've added the latest specs for 'Room with a View' to our preview pages for both releases, which you'll find linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and ourHD DVD Release Schedule, under October 2. Watch for final tech details in the coming days.
We've also set up dedicated threads for BBC's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'A Room with a View' Blu-ray release and the 'A Room with a View' HD DVD release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- A Room with a View (Blu-ray)
- A Room with a View (HD DVD)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
- Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- BBC Video Plans 'Galapagos' and ' Room with a View' for Blu-ray, HD DVD (Jun 08, 2007)
- 'Planet Earth' Generates Record HD DVD, Blu-ray Sales Revenue (Jun 07, 2007)
MORE BLU-RAY NEWS TAGGED "BBC":
- BBC Video Plans 'Galapagos' and ' Room with a View' for Blu-ray, HD DVD Jun 08, 2007
- BBC Jumps Into Blu-ray, HD DVD With 'Planet Earth' Jan 12, 2007
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