Fans of
The Cosby Show have been wanting DVDs of this 80's Thursday night staple since TV-on-DVD got to be popular. Unfortunately, the only offerings made available so far were a few expensive best-of discs purchasable only by subscription to Columbia House..."not sold in stores." Rights-holder Carsey-Werner-Mandabach hadn't made ANY of their vast library of television properties available in stores in the USA so far.
Now, things are looking up for the Cos'. As we
mentioned yesterday, Fox Home Entertainment has licensed two other CWM titles for DVD distribution:
That '70s Show (scheduled to hit late October/early November), and short-run animated series
God, The Devil, and Bob (planned for early 2005).
Variety has
this report on the subject (selected portions shown; please click the preceding link for the entire article):
Carsey-Werner-Mandabach finally is making a splash in the DVD market, pacting with Fox Home Entertainment to begin releasing its series on DVD -- starting with hit laffer "That '70s Show."
Pact calls for Fox to distribute only "That '70s Show" and CWM's short-lived animated "God, the Devil and Bob." If those releases go well, however, CWM has told Fox the studio is first in line to release two other big titles in CWM's library: "The Cosby Show" and "Roseanne."
CWM co-prexy/chief operating officer Dirk van de Bunt said the company talked to several studios about releasing CWM titles on DVD. Fox "gave a very effective marketing proposal, and we thought they were the way to go," he said.
...CWM's only experience in DVD sales has been through an international release of "3rd Rock From the Sun" and a deal with Columbia House, which packaged a series of three-episode "best-of" DVDs for "The Cosby Show."
That's good news for
The Cosby Show fans, because the success of
That '70s Show on DVD seems to be a sure bet. The more that one sells, the more chance there is for
The Cosby Show to make it out. Stay tuned, and we'll let you know more as the situation develops! For now, don't forget that
Bill Cosby...Himself (the inspiration for
The Cosby Show) hit stores the other day, courtesy of Fox, and can be had for around $10. Be sure to get it immediately...it's a laugh-riot!
