Transferring tv shows to dvd - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Mikado · 02-02-2004, 09:18 PM

Is this really expensive? I've heard people say it is and others say that it isn't. And I've heard that it's gotten cheaper to do. Anyone know how much it costs to transfer a tv series to dvd? It seems like they're mass producing them now. Just curious.

Riddick · 02-03-2004, 12:15 AM

good question!

I'd like to add a question, Which has better quality the broadcast beta tape or the DVD?

Sword of Whedon · 02-03-2004, 12:43 AM

Often with the filtering the DVD actually ends up looking better than the master tape of older shows. On newer material with good digital masters, most compressionists I've talked to say something like "the difference is so small, it doesn't even matter". I know Adrian Paul has master tapes of the entire Highlander Series and he said that he's trading up. Since most everything is mastered in HD these days, obviously that looks better than the DVD.

A bare-bones DVD of a 2 hour movie costs in the neighborhood of $6-8000 to author. So assuming that there are no extras or special authoring tricks involved, you're talking around $10,000 a disc, times 6 discs, that's $60,000. Plus package design and manufacturing, royalties to actors/producers/directors/music(this can be a HUGE amount. Why do you think the Star Trek and X-Files sets are so expensive?), shipping and advertising, even if you've got some kind of bulk rate going, you're talking $100,000 or more

02-02-2004, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mikado Actor Join Date: Jan 2004	Transferring tv shows to dvd Is this really expensive? I've heard people say it is and others say that it isn't. And I've heard that it's gotten cheaper to do. Anyone know how much it costs to transfer a tv series to dvd? It seems like they're mass producing them now. Just curious.

02-03-2004, 12:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Riddick Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: DS9 occasionally beams down to Long Island New York	good question! I'd like to add a question, Which has better quality the broadcast beta tape or the DVD? __________________ Finally found something worse than me . . .huh?

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02-03-2004, 12:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sword of Whedon Actor Join Date: Jan 2004	Often with the filtering the DVD actually ends up looking better than the master tape of older shows. On newer material with good digital masters, most compressionists I've talked to say something like "the difference is so small, it doesn't even matter". I know Adrian Paul has master tapes of the entire Highlander Series and he said that he's trading up. Since most everything is mastered in HD these days, obviously that looks better than the DVD. A bare-bones DVD of a 2 hour movie costs in the neighborhood of $6-8000 to author. So assuming that there are no extras or special authoring tricks involved, you're talking around $10,000 a disc, times 6 discs, that's $60,000. Plus package design and manufacturing, royalties to actors/producers/directors/music(this can be a HUGE amount. Why do you think the Star Trek and X-Files sets are so expensive?), shipping and advertising, even if you've got some kind of bulk rate going, you're talking $100,000 or more