Why Now?

[energy]

I wonder how mega companys think. Did Sony decide to release Benson now because of the new interest and new fans generated by Benson recently being on TV Land? Or was the release set to come out at this time anyway?

If it has something to do with just recently being on TV Land, that presents a whole new strategy for getting shows we like released on DVD. Simply make an all out effort to get the show back on television in reruns.

[robyrob]

hard to say - Sony's plans seem to be pretty quixotic at best...

although it seems that they like to release the first seasons of shows just to see how they sell, then abandon them if they aren't super-mega-hits.

[BensonFan]

From what I read, Benson actually didn't do that poorly on TV Land; it was more that it wasn't quite hitting "prime time numbers" when placed in a prime time slot (TVTheLink said it fell "just below" prime time numbers, whatever that actually means)...but they jerked it around so much after taking it out of prime time that a lot of people just weren't keeping up with the new time slots. Most of us who are longtime fans of the show have been requesting it on DVD for years and it got us nowhere until now, so I have to think its recent exposure on TV Land attracted enough new viewers who requested the show on DVD otherwise I don't think we'd see Season 1 at all. That's just my opinion.

[GSU2004]

hard to say - Sony's plans seem to be pretty quixotic at best...

although it seems that they like to release the first seasons of shows just to see how they sell, then abandon them if they aren't super-mega-hits.

We have to purchase these sets even if we don't like the early seasons to get more seasons. The big problem with Sony is that they do not market the DVDs at all. At least Urbanworks when they owned A Different World and The Cosby Show, they purchased ads in magazines, billboards and ads on public transit to promote their DVDs. Many people do not even know their shows are out until years later with the lack of marketing.

[GSU2004]

From what I read, Benson actually didn't do that poorly on TV Land; it was more that it wasn't quite hitting "prime time numbers" when placed in a prime time slot (TVTheLink said it fell "just below" prime time numbers, whatever that actually means)...but they jerked it around so much after taking it out of prime time that a lot of people just weren't keeping up with the new time slots. Most of us who are longtime fans of the show have been requesting it on DVD for years and it got us nowhere until now, so I have to think its recent exposure on TV Land attracted enough new viewers who requested the show on DVD otherwise I don't think we'd see Season 1 at all. That's just my opinion.

I also remember reading on these boards last summer that Benson's syndicator tried to re-release the show back into syndication but very little networks picked it up. TVLand is very tough when it comes to their numbers, if the show does not perform well, off to midday or late night. With popular shows, they do overkill. Is everyone ready for the nightly marathons this summer?

[BensonFan]

I also remember reading on these boards last summer that Benson's syndicator tried to re-release the show back into syndication but very little networks picked it up. TVLand is very tough when it comes to their numbers, if the show does not perform well, off to midday or late night. With popular shows, they do overkill. Is everyone ready for the nightly marathons this summer?

Since they have no patience, they have no variety. I guarantee you they'd show Andy Griffith 24 hrs a day if they thought ratings would be better. It's ridiculous what that station does.

As far as nightly marathons, I know I won't be watching!

[BensonFan]

We have to purchase these sets even if we don't like the early seasons to get more seasons. The big problem with Sony is that they do not market the DVDs at all. At least Urbanworks when they owned A Different World and The Cosby Show, they purchased ads in magazines, billboards and ads on public transit to promote their DVDs. Many people do not even know their shows are out until years later with the lack of marketing.

With all the money Sony has, that's really asinine. If they took out just one decent-sized ad in a major entertainment publication it would probably make a HUGE difference.

I am hoping at the very least it appears in the Best Buy Sunday sales paper (weekly ad) on July 22nd. A ton of people I know get their DVDs at Best Buy when they are first released because they tend to offer a really good sales price. But I agree these DVDs need to be marketed a little.

[GSU2004]

With all the money Sony has, that's really asinine. If they took out just one decent-sized ad in a major entertainment publication it would probably make a HUGE difference.

I am hoping at the very least it appears in the Best Buy Sunday sales paper (weekly ad) on July 22nd. A ton of people I know get their DVDs at Best Buy when they are first released because they tend to offer a really good sales price. But I agree these DVDs need to be marketed a little.

Agreed! Hopefully, people will buy. The biggest problem we have is that people wait until their favorite season comes out or duplicate the DVD from somebody else. Companies respond to the numbers sold but to get the numbers, you got to advertise.

[GSU2004]

Since they have no patience, they have no variety. I guarantee you they'd show Andy Griffith 24 hrs a day if they thought ratings would be better. It's ridiculous what that station does.

As far as nightly marathons, I know I won't be watching!

The station is horrible; I fell out with them when they tossed Benson and 227to Sunday mornings to die.