Word has slipped out that Warner Brothers is going to be looking VERY closely at the sales of the upcoming
Looney Tunes DVDs, to determine the fate of future releases.
As you probably know, on 10/28 Warner is releasing a 4-disc deluxe-treatment set called
The Looney Tunes Golden Collection, but at the same time is releasing a 2-disc barebones-treatment item called
The Looney Tunes Premiere Collection.
The thrust of it is that the decision-makers at Warners are not convinced that either of these will sell at all, strange as that may sound. If they do pursue future sets, they are not sure whether it should be the more deluxe versions, or to go for the more mass-market approach instead.
The word is that it is "vital" for
The Golden Collection to sell well from legitimate front-line retailers (not used DVD shops or flea markets, for instance, but definate first-sale stores) in order for Warner to pursue the 2nd and 3rd waves with the same level of care. All future release plans are on hold, pending results of the 1st wave.
If sales results show that lesser product like
The Premiere Collection sells better, than that is the pattern of future releases. If neither sell, then Warner may stop investing in the restoration of these classic cartoons. Me, I'll be going for the
Gold!
Our thanks to Jaime Weinman for contributing to this story.
