Studios seek new DVD strategies for interrupted seasons

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 11/16/2007

NOV. 16 | Less than two weeks after Hollywood screenwriters went on strike, studios are already making contingency plans for next summer and fall’s TV DVD releases as picketing writers shut down production of many current shows. Options being considered include truncated season releases and titles featuring few or no extras.

One way or another, however, TV DVD releases are expected to continue their normal late summer-early fall release pattern for continuing series, as the category represents crucial revenue for home video divisions and provides valuable promotion for the series’ new seasons.

Members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike Nov. 5.

“We are in the process of figuring out our options right now,” said one studio source. “I don’t think it would be a surprise to see us release truncated seasons. It would still [represent] a full season but just shorter than what was originally planned.”

Due to the strike, which also is taking producer-writers such as The Office’s B.J. Novak off the set, The Office is likely to end fresh episodes after this week.

Other popular series that have done well on DVD, such as Desperate Housewives, Heroes and Grey’s Anatomy are expected to air their last new episodes in early December. 20th Century Fox is indefinitely delaying the latest seventh season launch of 24 in order for its highly serialized story lines not to be disrupted by striking crew.

Many retailers agree with studios that releasing something on DVD is better than nothing. There is a precedent in clipped series releases, such as HBO Video’s The Sopranos and Sex and the City, the final seasons of which were released in two parts on DVD, mirroring their split-season cable runs. The strike might cause a similar situation, with many series airing new episodes after a long break.

“Complete sets will always sell better, but truncated editions are a quick fix,” Virgin Megastores senior category manager Chris Anstey said. “Many TV shows could easily stand to have its seasons broken out into two parts, particularly network shows that [normally] have over 20 episodes. It’s not the perfect scenario, particularly with serialized shows that work better as complete series sets, but it’s a short-term remedy in keeping sales strong if the strike persists.”

DVD producers are scrambling to finish cast and crew interviews for bonus features with talent before work completely stops on series sets.

Another studio source wondered whether DVD producers can finish bonus features at all during this time. Talent might be hesitant to do much Hollywood work at all, so as to avoid offending writers on strike. On Nov. 13, hundreds of TV celebrities, including cast members of Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy, joined the picket lines during a WGA-organized event dubbed “Picket With the Stars.”

“Generally, we do most of the interviews toward the end of the season,” said one DVD producer, who was in the middle of three current-season disc sets when the strike was called. “It’s better when they can comment on the whole season. But we are scurrying now to get as many interviews as possible.”

One of the producer’s three projects is in jeopardy of having few bonus features, if any. The hiring studio waited until well into the show’s current season to greenlight its DVD release, wanting to make sure its previous season on disc sold well enough to warrant a subsequent title.

“We’ve already missed the opportunity to get a lot of good stuff [while they were filming],” the DVD producer explained. “I’m just afraid that if the strike goes long into the new year, it will cause irreparable damage.”

Some home video executives and retailers believe there could be a silver lining in the strike if viewers satisfy their hunger for new on-air TV episodes by instead sampling DVD releases of series they’ve never seen.

“There could be an entertainment void to some extent,” Best Buy spokesman Brian Lucas said. “It’s a good question. There is no 24; maybe that will be a chance for someone to get into Lost [on DVD]. There is a chance that will happen.”