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Post by LanceM on Mar 8, 2006 18:46:48 GMT
Hello Again,
I seem to remember rumors or someone mentioning a rather interresting item of note. It was that in the past the BBC used to sell episodes from thier television archive to private individuals for home screening, however this service was extremely costly. If this is true, then is it possible that the BBC or BBC Enterprises still has some records of such private program sales ? I was just wondering if someone could shed some light on this subject for me. Any help or comments are welcome.
Thanks, Lance.
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Post by Duncan Biscuit on Mar 8, 2006 19:31:30 GMT
The BBC didn't do private programme sales. The only ones to achieve it was Ian Levine who had to jump through hoops to get the BBC's agreement and the DWAS who worked through the production office and had to gain their own clearances.
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Post by Ian Beard on Mar 8, 2006 21:19:51 GMT
That's incorrect: for a price, and, usually, written permission from any concerned party, (actors, main production staff), BBC Enterprises would happily sell a recording of a programme to anyone who had the funds for their own personal use.
In the early '80s, a dupe of a 16mm, half-hour film print would cost you £300.
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Post by LanceM on Mar 8, 2006 21:39:19 GMT
So, it is possible that someone could of purchased a 16mm episode from the BBC privately. Did the BBC ever sell any programes privately to people in other nations ? Like Australia for example ? And, if so did they keep records of such sales ?
Lance.
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Post by Ian Beard on Mar 8, 2006 22:54:43 GMT
Possible...
...but extremely unlikely!
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Post by B Thomas on Mar 9, 2006 0:20:27 GMT
Syntax error alert:
"...could of..."
I wish schools teaching English (language and/or lit.) would be more vigilant in correcting this kind of thing. I even hear youngsters pronouncing it this way on a regular basis...
"Could've" is a contraction of "Could have". "Could of" makes no grammatical sense at all...
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Brian D Not Logged In
Guest
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Post by Brian D Not Logged In on Mar 9, 2006 0:28:47 GMT
Syntax error alert: "...could of..." Though of course strictly speaking this is a grammatical error, not an error of syntax........ Yours, A Pedant
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Post by B Thomas on Mar 9, 2006 0:39:31 GMT
Good onya mate... That was an in-joke for anyone using computers in the early 80s. "Syntax error" was a common sight to see when mis-typing commands... And there's nothing wrong with being pedantic...
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Post by Richard Bignell on Mar 9, 2006 2:22:41 GMT
That's incorrect: for a price, and, usually, written permission from any concerned party, (actors, main production staff), BBC Enterprises would happily sell a recording of a programme to anyone who had the funds for their own personal use. In the early '80s, a dupe of a 16mm, half-hour film print would cost you £300. I've certainly never heard of Enterprises selling 16mm prints to private sellers. I know that since the 1980s, the F&VT Library at Windmill Road have supplied (for a price) VHS dupes of programmes, but only to people who are *directly* involved with that particular production. Never just to an interested third party who wants a copy of a programme. Richard
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Post by Ian Beard on Mar 9, 2006 8:12:14 GMT
I've still got a BBC Enterprises letter, circa 1983, quoting me that price and those conditions somewhere amongst my papers.
Over the years, there have been at least a couple of items about members of the puplic wanting to buy programmes from the BBC on FEEDBACK too. It could , (can?), be done, but at a price and with a lot of effort.
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Post by Ian Beard on Mar 9, 2006 8:13:51 GMT
It could , (can?), be done, but at a price and with a lot of effort. And I doubt it happened very often either!
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Post by GH on Mar 9, 2006 10:51:12 GMT
It would be nice if something turned up this way, but I have a gut feeling its not terribly likely. More likely to recover stuff that got nabbed from 'skips' etc....
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Post by LanceM on Mar 9, 2006 21:09:35 GMT
Don't you think that it would look kind of obvious, a chap walking out of a room with a large circular bulge under his jacket ? I mean, you would think that someone would notice that sort of thing. But if Mr. Watson was able to exit the facility that easily with two film prints, then it could be possible since the security was lacking. That someone else could have grabbed a few more prints from another old room ?Or what about those phantom film prints of Abominable in NZ ( I know that was throughly discussed in my thread but it is still interresting, and relevant here )? Does anyone believe that they exist somewhere in NZ, the prints exist in private hands? How do you go about checking that theory, just start calling all the employees who would of worked in that department ? I think not, that would cost a fortune in phone charges, and would be quite rude too.
Lance.
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Post by James Phillips on Mar 9, 2006 23:15:28 GMT
How do you go about checking that theory, just start calling all the employees who would of worked in that department ? I think not, that would cost a fortune in phone charges, and would be quite rude too. Yes, I can hear that phone call now: "Oh hello. You don't know me from Adam, but I'm just wondering whether you stole from your former employer." [pause] "Sorry, what off..?"
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Post by Ronnie McDevitt on Mar 9, 2006 23:17:38 GMT
Dear Sir, According to our records you purchased a print of a black and white Dr Who episode twenty five years ago for the agreed price of £300. We would now like this back to take a copy although due to legal and copyright regulations the Corporation are unable to offer you any financial recompense. Please contact us to agree a suitable arrangement for surender of the material. Look forward to hearing from you.
Don't hold your breath!
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