BBC Regulations(ish) Question

sbi5ar · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:04

I Hope this stays in GD as it is more of a discussion I am after...

The 3rd season is only two episodes in, however the series 3 box set was released yesterday. I thought this was very weird and it got me thinking why they did this and immediately I thought they have done this so people will buy it for xmas......

Having browsed a few websites I have seen people talking about it being on the verge of breaking/if not breaking BBC regulations....

We pay a license fee (WE SHALL NOT DEBATE WHETHER THIS IS RIGHT OR WRONG HERE

) so surely it should be aired for all to see first?

What are your thoughts on this

NOTE - It just so happens I have noticed this for the Gavin & Stacey, but if you feel better, imagine it was just some other program

Abraham · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:10

it's nothing to do with bbc regulations, but entirely to do with the licencing agreement the bbc have with the production company and rights holders, obviously it's agreed that dvd sales can commence before the series has finished airing, although that does seem odd, maybe the beeb couldn't fit it in as early in the season as the producers wanted and so it's caught up on the dvd release rather than the other way around.

antijoke · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:10

What difference does it make? Those that live and die for G&S can buy it, those that aren't too bothered can watch it on the Beeb.

Jez · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:23

I am more in amazement that G&S has been released as a boxed set. Just...wtf. Its utter, utter rubbish.

Thick people i guess

antijoke · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:24

Jez said:
I am more in amazement that G&S has been released as a boxed set. Just...wtf. Its utter, utter rubbish.

Thick people i guess

Agreed. Total dross.

Jez · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:25

Not as if it is the only crap aimed at idiots on TV though to be fair.

Burnsy2023 · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:29

I'm glad the BBC hasn't wasted money getting it on TV before the DVDs were released. I really don't see what the fuss is about.

Werewolf · 8 Dec 2009 at 14:36

Aye I can't see what the fuss is about.

The TV run hasn't been delayed for the box set, it's being shown on the TV at around the time the DVD's are released, and the BBC (and production company) have not made any claims about it being DVD only*.

As Abraham says it'll probably be down to the contract between the BBC and the independent production company that makes the series.
If the TV run was later than normal, and the DVD release date had been set based on an earlier TV date there would be nothing the BBC could do about the DVD release,and even if they knew the TV series would be on near Christmas, unless the contract between them specifically stated that the DVD release had to be after the TV run (it probably says not before the start of the run), then nothing to do.

It's a fuss about nothing, all it does is give the production company a chance to get it sold for Christmas, and the fans a chance to get the DVD's earlier than they would otherwise, or cheaper faster (if it's being released now, the chances are it'll be cheap much sooner than if the DVD release wasn't for another few months).

*Unlike IIRC a few years back Corrination Street had several "christmas special" videos released, sold under "never to be seen on TV", that were shown on ITV about a year later.