No clearance, no sale
Wondering why you don't see Miami Vice on DVD? How about WKRP in Cincinnati?
"Look at the music clearance rights," says Peter Staddon, the Fox Home Entertainment senior vice president who oversees DVD development. Fox video holds DVD rights to WKRP's radio station comedy, but "when that show was created (in 1978), they didn't think about the need to clear (song rights) for home video, because home video didn't exist, let alone DVD. It becomes very prohibitive in terms of putting that out."
How prohibitive? Maybe a million dollars prohibitive. Per season. So it isn't greedy stars or producers standing in the way of many TV classics coming to DVD. It's the cost of popular songs on the soundtrack. When series like Vice and KRP began using hit music 25 years ago to create cool atmosphere, they also created a hornet's nest of down-the-line issues -- now coming back to sting this nascent TV-DVD boom.
"The studios try to get the most recognizable songs they can for the initial airing," says Shawn Ryan, creator of The Shield for FX cable, "and they take no care financially to preserve the ability to have those songs be with the shows in the future." Though Ryan uses as many as 15 music cues weekly in his gritty cop drama, both of Fox video's Shield season sets have included music as aired because Ryan is a DVD devotee. "We took the approach from the beginning to use cutting-edge music, unknown music, six-months-ahead-of-the-curve music," which was inexpensive or easy to acquire "in perpetuity." Not to mention fresh.
Classic hits are a different matter. And older shows are paying the price. Literally. When cult fave Freaks and Geeks came out on DVD recently -- all 18 episodes of NBC's quirky 1999 take on 1980 high school life -- it carried a list price of $70, or $10 higher than most season sets. But it includes all its original songs, about a half-dozen per episode, mostly period faves.
Freaks fans should count themselves lucky. Many studios won't go through the hassle of clearing a hundred songs. In fact, this show's production studio, DreamWorks, didn't. The eclectic independent label Shout Factory, launched two years ago by former-Rhino executives, approached DreamWorks for DVD rights to a show whose official Web site listed tens of thousands of fans who'd buy such a release.
"With the music and how it was used, it was inherent in the integrity of the product to make deals to license the music as it originally appeared," says Shout chief operating officer Bob Emmer, who waded through the licensing morass. To clear DVD music rights for just one episode, he says, "you may be dealing with 10 different approvals and 10 different negotiations for just the master side" of the original recordings. "Then, you switch over to the publishing side" for the songs' composers. It's not only time-consuming, but "on something very music-intensive, it could run close to, if not over, a million dollars."
Music clearance for Shout's June 8 first-season release of the SCTV sketch series took "close to a year," Emmer says. The nine-episode set will list at $100. "You can't just go pull out the music and substitute, because it was so embedded in the fabric of the sketch itself."
Substituting is, to fans' dismay, quite possible in other series. Originally aired songs were replaced by alternative choices in DVDs of Dawson's Creek, Felicity and Roswell, whose executive producer not only oversaw the changes but extolled them on a DVD insert. Profiler's first-season set omitted an episode because of clearance issues with The Police song Every Breath You Take.
So maybe it isn't true we'll never see some song-filled shows on DVD. "I love to hear 'never see it' because that's where we step in," says Emmer, whose Shout label bills itself as being "for the discerning pop culture geek." He admits, "WKRP or That '70s Show would be a monumental task. But that's what we excel in."
Here come 'The Jetsons,' 'Jonny Quest'
Forty-two years after The Jetsons jetted onto TV screens, the durable '60s animated series is now on DVD.
So is the Saturday-morning boomer favorite Jonny Quest. The Jetsons' Stone Age cousins, The Flintstones, TV's first prime-time animated series, came out in March.
Animation has always been popular on DVD, and just as the studios have mined their classic live-action TV archives for favorite series to package for hungry DVD collectors, now they are looking for animated shorts, TV series and other cartoon classics to sell.
Next week, four more in the Walt Disney Treasures series will be released, including Mickey Mouse In Living Color Vol. II, The Chronological Donald, Walt Disney on the Front Lines and Walt Disney's Tomorrowland ($32.99 each)
Last year, the number of cartoon DVD collections released rose to 34 from 21 in 2002, says Ralph Tribbey, editor of the DVD Release Report. And so far this year, with 14 already released, cartoon collections are ahead of last year's release rate.
With classic cartoons, "there are at least two generations of cartoon fans who can't find any of this on the air anymore," says movie historian Leonard Maltin, who serves as a host on the four new Disney releases. "And while (the studios) may have traditionally thought of these as kids' entertainment, there is now a big following among adults and young adults."
More classics on the way:
•DC Comics Classic Collection, arriving July 6, includes the four-disc Batman: The Animated Series — Volume One ($49.98) and Challenge of the Super Friends: The First Season ($29.98), featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and others from 1978.
•Spider-Man: The '67 Collection (Buena Vista Home Entertainment, June 29, $60), a six-disc collection of 52 episodes.
Look for more DVD titles from the Hanna-Barbera library, which includes Huckleberry Hound, Tom & Jerry, Josie and the Pussycats and Yogi Bear. "Parents grew up with these great evergreen properties, and the story lines still resonate today," says Warner's Mike Saksa. "They are introducing their children to them because it's such high-quality entertainment and not as edgy as much of what is on TV these days."
The success of newer animated series has paved the way for the return of the classics. The Simpsons' fourth-season collection is due on DVD June 15 ($49.98). And Comedy Central's South Park and Fox's Futurama and Family Guy have sold millions (but below The Simpsons' level). Sales of Family Guy even led Fox to decide to resurrect the series next year after canceling it two years ago.
"We know that TV on DVD is highly collectible, and there's no reason to believe that these cartoon TV releases won't find sweet spots, too," says Video Store magazine's Judith McCourt.
Even Disney underestimated the success of classic animation. The studio released only 150,000 copies of its first Treasures collections, which included Mickey Mouse In Living Color (cartoons from 1935-38), and all sold out. This time around, as many as 500,000 copies will be made of some of the collections.
"We knew we would get the collectors, but we didn't realize we would get as many families buying them," says the studio's Lori MacPherson. "The great thing about DVD is it has got people interested in owning programs they would not have considered before."
Here Are The All-Time Best Selling DVD and Videos
Animated Movies
Finding Nemo - 21.5
Monsters, Inc. - 12.0
Shrek - 11.5
Ice Age - 9.4
Lion King: Special Edition - 8.9
Lilo & Stitch - 7.5
The Lion King 1 1/2 - 5.7
Brother Bear - 5.4
Beauty and the Beast - 4.7
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 3.5
Television
The Simpsons - 6.0
Family Guy - 2.7
South Park - 2.6
New Tunage!
Here are the new CD releases for Tuesday, May 11th, 2004.
Harmony - Gordon Lightfoot
Come Again - Thornley
Cupid? - Stabilo
Elk Lake Serenade - Hayden
Love is Hell - Ryan Adams
A.S. Magazine: Lessons Not Well Learnt - Armored Saint
The Palace at 4:00 AM (Part 1) - Ed, Jay and Birch Bennett
Legends of the South - Eightball & MJG
Radio JXL: A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin - Junkie XL
Through the Ashes of Empires - Machine Head
Let it Grow - The Meligrove Band
Now this is Fighting - Parkas
Southside Double-Wide - Sevendust
Come Sail Away: The Styx Anthology - Styx
E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals - The Matches
Crevecoeur - Daniel Darc
Das Not Compute - Division of Laura Lee
Fourth Dimensional Rocketships Going Up - The Gift of Gab
In the Life - Open Road
Twenty Bucks and Two Black Eyes - U.S. Roughnecks
Twentysomething - Jamie Cullum
Shrek 2 Soundtrack - Various Artists
Troy Soundtrack - Various Artists
Friends gives NBC big goodbye ratings hug, drawing 52.5 million viewers
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Friends was a friend to the end for NBC, with the sitcom's final episode boosting the network to its best weekly showing in two years.
Thursday's Friends finale, which drew an average 52.5 million viewers, was the top-rated entertainment show on any network since the Seinfeld finale six years ago. Friends ranks as the fourth most-watched series finale in TV history, behind CBS' M-A-S-H (106 million), and NBC's Cheers (80.4 million) and Seinfeld (76.3 million).
NBC had more to crow about, according to Nielsen Media Research figures. Besides the top-rated sitcom, NBC aired the most-watched drama series (ER) and TV movie (part two of the earthquake drama 10.5).
That programming firepower gave NBC its best two-year showing among total viewers and matched its highest non-Olympic weekly rating in more than four years among viewers 18 to 49.
NBC's Nightly News, however, was edged out of the No. 1 spot, averaging 8.7 million viewers (6.2 rating, 14 share), to 8.9 million viewers for ABC World News Tonight (6.3 rating, 13 share). CBS Evening News was third with 6.7 million viewers (4.9 rating, 11 share). NBC's newscast has been No. 1 for 60 of the last 63 weeks.
CBS had bragging rights in the reality realm. CBS' Survivor All-Stars finale and reunion show each pulled in audiences of about 24 million to finish at No. 5 and 6 for the week.
NBC averaged 14.9 million viewers in prime time for the week (5.4 rating, 15 share), besting CBS' 13.2 million (4.8 rating, 13 share). NBC won handily among viewers aged 18-to-49, the demographic group it focuses on.
A ratings point represents 1,084,000 households, or one per cent of the country's estimated 108.4 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
For the week of May 3-9, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: Friends, NBC, 52.5 million; Friends Clipshow, NBC, 36.9 million; ER, NBC, 28.4 million; Survivor All-Stars Finale, CBS, 24.8 million; Survivor All-Stars Reunion, CBS, 23.9 million; American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 22.8 million; American Idol (Wednesday) Fox, 21.2 million; CSI, CBS, 20.4 million viewers; NBC Movie of the Week: 10.5 (Monday) NBC, 19.9 million; Survivor: All-Stars, CBS, 19.2 million.
Pearl Jam Helps Bid Adieu to 'Friends'
NEW YORK (Billboard) - The music heard as Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel was about to board a plane to Paris in last week's final episode of "Friends" might have sounded familiar, but its usage was an unfamiliar situation for the artist in question.
In fact, the snippet of Pearl Jam's "Yellow Ledbetter" used in the scene marked the first time the veteran Seattle rock act had ever licensed its songs for a television show.
According to a group spokesperson, it was simply a matter of the show's producers asking permission, which Pearl Jam granted. Although never included on an album until last year's rarities collection "Lost Dogs," "Yellow Ledbetter" has taken on a life of its own since its release as a B-side in 1992. The cut wound up appearing on seven Billboard charts in the mid-'90s, despite never being worked to radio.
Pearl Jam is preparing to end its break from the road and the studio, following an extensive 2003 tour in support of its latest studio album, "Riot Act." The group is discussing how it may get involved with voter registration efforts as the U.S. presidential election approaches, including possible live appearances.
'Frasier' to Bid Final 'Goodnight Seattle'
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bringing down the curtain on yet another long-running sitcom favorite, Kelsey Grammer bids a final "Goodnight, Seattle" on Thursday as he concludes a record-tying 20-year TV role as the elitist but lovable "Frasier."
The Emmy-winning show, which debuted in 1993 as a spinoff of the veteran NBC hit "Cheers," will end its 11-year run with an hourlong episode that promises all the trappings of a big-event TV finale -- a birth, a wedding and, maybe, true love.
Still, the impending "Frasier" farewell has received considerably less promotion and media attention than the super-hyped send-off of NBC stablemate "Friends," which concluded its 10 seasons in prime time last Thursday as U.S. television's top-rated comedy.
That "Frasier" was overshadowed by "Friends" in its final hours is in keeping with the relative histories of the two shows. Although long a steady ratings performer and critical favorite, "Frasier" has never enjoyed quite as much mass popularity as "Friends."
Grammer acknowledged recently he was disappointed that NBC had not promoted the "Frasier" finale with more gusto, but he added: "I think we're being honored suitably in terms of how much audience we've brought to the show."
From the start, the show often played as a sophisticated comedy of manners with Grammer starring in the title role as the snobbish Dr. Frasier Crane, a neurotic Seattle psychiatrist who dispenses advice to radio listeners as host of his own call-in show.
He shared a luxurious high-rise apartment with his down-to-Earth father, Martin (John Mahoney), a retired police officer who was disabled in the line of duty.
David Hyde-Pierce co-starred as Frasier's fussy, younger brother, Niles, who for years pined after, and finally married their father's physical therapist, Daphne (played by British actress Jane Leeves). Rounding out the supporting cast was Frasier's workplace foil, Roz (Peri Gilpin).
CELEBRATED RUN
Few television spinoffs have enjoyed as much success as "Frasier." The show earned Emmy Awards as television's best comedy for five straight years -- the only series to accomplish such a feat -- and garnered a record 31 Emmys overall.
"Frasier" also matches the 11-year prime-time run of "Cheers," where Grammer's character was introduced in 1984.
As "Frasier" departs, Grammer will tie the record for the longest-running role portrayed by a single actor in prime time, set in 1975 when "Gunsmoke" ended its two decades on CBS with James Arness playing Marshal Matt Dillon.
While current viewership for "Frasier" pales in comparison to its ratings heyday, critics generally see the show as going out on a creative high note.
In the final, 264th episode, the Niles-Daphne romance is expected to come full circle with the birth of their first child, while a wedding is in the works for Martin and his new love, Ronee (Wendie Malick). Meanwhile, Roz celebrates a big promotion at work.
But the finale's big cliffhanger will be the outcome of what could be Frasier's chance to finally find true love with the latest woman in his life, Charlotte (Oscar nominee Laura Linney), whom he has fallen for as she is about to move back home to Chicago.
Keeping mum about the show's conclusion, Grammer has said only that the main characters will end the series on a "hopeful and optimistic" note.
Grammer is less upbeat about the future of good, old-fashioned sitcoms, saying, "I'm not sure sophisticated comedy has a real place on television anymore."
Asked what advice Dr. Crane would give to "Frasier" fans going through withdrawal, Grammer joked, "Well, we're on in syndication."