Network DVD

[Rayon Vert]

So I put in the Criterion DVD - and, yup, I prefer the DVD. Gary talks about black levels being improved on the blu-ray, but overall it still actually feels like a downgrade.

If I try to see the positive in this, it's that Network DVD's end means this blu-ray will be OOP.

(And, based on this one review, I'm inclined to trust Gary's screencaps more than his eyes.)

[JSC]

I watched this projected and it really isn't worse than the Criterion dvd. It's not stellar, but
the original dvd wasn't exactly pristine either.

[PillowRock]

I just saw this and I'm bummed for the already mentioned thing about nobody else covering their niche. Also glad that I somewhat inexplicably made two orders from them a couple months apart earlier this year.

Any particular volumes of the Ealing Rarities or 1930s collections that are recommended?

A couple years or so ago (before things were really re-open) I blind bought one of their old TV series that I (like a lot of Americans, I suspect) had never heard of - and ended up finding it pretty fun: Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). It's a late '60s partner PIs series where one one partner is killed halfway through the first episode and spends the whole series as a ghost that only the other partner can see.

[colinr0380]

The latest Issue of Sight & Sound (September 2023; Volume 33, Issue 7, Page 92) notes the end of Network in its Archive TV column and mentions something that may have contributed to the end of Network which only Calvin had noted at the time, which is that:

And in November of last year Tim Beddows, who had founded the company and run it for 25 years, died unexpectedly.

[jlnight]

When they went into voluntary liquidation they apparently owed £3.1m to various creditors, the largest of which was HMRC. That's what sank them.

[colinr0380]

Yeah, that would probably do it too.

[Stefan Andersson]

Neil Sinyard has published five booklet texts for unreleased Network titles, among them Man Friday, Bloody Kids and The Phantom Light:
http://neilsinyard.britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk/

[DeprongMori]

The Phantom Light has been released by Network. At least in DVD. Not sure whether it includes the essay.

[TechnicolorAcid]

The Phantom Light has been released by Network. At least in DVD. Not sure whether it includes the essay.

1. It’s possible it was referring to a possible Blu-Ray release that got scrapped.
2. The DVD according to Amazon UK only carries an image gallery.

[Stefan Andersson]

Update:

"Not only is Spirit Entertainment re-releasing leftover Network stock (including Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Stingray, Space:1999 and Super Space Theater Blu-Ray sets, among other ITC/Supermarionation stuff)), but a company called Old Gold Media has been doing the same over the past few months. Nobody on the various UK-based forums I frequent seems to know for sure if Old Gold Media is issuing newly-replicated discs using Network's masters or is simply repackaging previous stock from Network's leftover inventory, and the company has so far not released anything new (i.e. never-before-released) on their own, but the positive thing is some stuff that had previously been hard to find for decent prices since Network went out of business has now returned to Amazon UK. Here are some of the titles re-released by Old Gold Media (courtesy of this thread at Roobarb's Forum):

The World at War (DVD / BD)
The Kenny Everett Video Show
Birds of a Feather - The Complete Collection
The Mayor of Casterbridge (2003)
Father Dear Father - The Complete Series
Count Arthur Strong - Series 1-3
Jack the Ripper (BD / DVD)
George and Mildred - The Complete Series
Love Thy Neighbour - The Complete Series (inc film)
Get Some in - The Complete Series
Callan - The Monochrome Years
Bless This House - The Complete Series (inc film)
Minder - The Complete Collection
Quatermass (DVD and Blu-Ray)
Rumpole of the Bailey - The Complete Series
Never the Twain - The Complete Series
Callan - The Colour Years
Cold Comfort Farm
The Benny Hill Annuals 1970-1979
After Henry - The Complete Series
Armchair Thriller - The Complete (Thames) Series
Lovejoy: The Complete Collection
Birds of a Feather: The Complete ITV Series 1-3
The Eric Sykes Collection
Edward and Mrs Simpson: The Complete Series
Goodnight Sweetheart: The Complete Collection
Executive Stress: The Complete Series
For the Love of Ada: The Complete Series
Chance In A Million - Complete Series
Hazell - Complete Series
Fresh/French Fields - Complete Series
Man About The House - The Complete Collection
Men Behaving Badly - The Complete Series
Pie in the Sky - The Complete Series
The Agatha Christie Hour
Robin's Nest - The Complete Series
Reilly: Ace Of Spies
The Benny Hill Annuals 1980-1989
The Tomorrow People - The Complete Series
Van Der Valk - The Complete Series
Up The Elephant And Round The Castle - The Complete Series
Andy Capp: The Complete Series
Danger UXB : Special Edition
The Fear
The Feathered Serpent: The Complete Series
Lorna Doone
Nightingales
Out: The Complete Series
Shadows of Fear: The Complete Series
The Thames Shakespeare Collecton
Trollied: The Complete Series
The Tyrant King
Armchair Theatre - Volume 1
Whodunnit - The Complete Series
Law & Disorder - The Complete Series
Shirley Bassey - A Special Lady
The Norman Conquests"

Source:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/commun ... 525/page-8
(July 6 post)