Never Mind The Quality Feel The Width

[gileshill]

Network will release this series in a box set at the end of this month but they only say they will include series 3 to 6 and the Christmas special. www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=1159

Two other episodes survive from series 1 and 2 including an episode found on original tape at Thames by Kaleidoscope. I thought the ABC to Thames changeover programmes had been all sorted out now, which is why we've seen Callan and Mystery and Imagination? Why can't we see these two episodes of "Never Mind..." I wonder? Maybe we need to email Network and ask them to release a bonus disc with the two episodes later on.

[Mark Smith]

Jun 7, 2010 5:09:33 GMT gileshill said:

I thought the ABC to Thames changeover programmes had been all sorted out now, which is why we've seen Callan and Mystery and Imagination?

Unfortunately, there's been no such 'sorting out'.

Both series mentioned, especially Callan, took literally years of hard pressed negotiations to permit commercial clearance.

The situation continues to exist, in that each title a company wishes to release onto DVD still has to go through the usual contractual negotiations, and some prove to be far more problematic and time consuming than others.

It's false to assume that just because the b&w Callan episodes have been released, the way forward for other such 'difficult' titles has somehow been made much easier. That really isn't the case.

All Callan has done is prove that it's possible for something to be released that many thought would never see the commercial light of day.

[gileshill]

Fair enough but they've resolved the crossover issues for the Christmas episode of this series and I don't see why the other two ABC produced episodes would be in a radically different situation (the 16mm ep is ABC only, but the tape is a rebadge like the Christmas ep).

The other four crossover series have already been seen to so there's no worry there now: Callan and Mystery and Imagination are all already out, ABC Armchair Theatres are being released by both Network and Optimum and the remaining ABC Public Eyes are coming out later in the year (see Network's Facebook page). It's just these two eps that have slipped through.

[Mark Smith]

Jun 7, 2010 5:09:33 GMT gileshill said:

I wonder? Maybe we need to email Network and ask them to release a bonus disc with the two episodes later on.

I don't know about a bonus disc, but your suggestion about you contacting Network directly in relation to the question would probably be the only way to ensure an answer.

Let us know what they have to say.

[gileshill]

I will post any follow up but it was the lack of response after several weeks that led me to ask here in the first place. It'll be a shame to miss out on some glorious b&w vt.

[Mark Smith]

Jun 15, 2010 2:15:14 GMT gileshill said:

It'll be a shame to miss out on some glorious b&w vt.

Absolutely.

Remember though, that the chaps at Network do know their stuff, and are quite aware of the Kaleidoscope-discovered material, but possibly found it difficult/impossible to clear for this particular DVD release.

Any follow-up you might get from them though will, of course, be welcome.

[cperry]

Hi Mark

My understanding of the ABC episodes was that a deal had been reached on the ABC episode held by Canal+ to be available to Network, though that situation was fluid and may have changed.

The other ABC episode is held by Fremantlemedia and was shown by Thames after the franchise reshuffle just like the 1968 Christmas special, so I'm unsure why that episode would not be on the set?

c

[Mark Smith]

Thanks for further clarifying things Chris.

Giles does have a fair point, so it will be interesting to see what Network come back with on this forthcoming title.