Site News - Warner discusses future TV-on-DVD releases

Video Business Magazine has posted an article today by Daniel Frankel, which had some interesting things to say about the future of TV-on-DVD releases from Warner Brothers. The entire article can be read at this link (free registration required to view it), but here are the salient points:

Warner spells things out at Global Retail Summit Challenges, opportunities, strategies outlined as video, TV, theatrical converge by Daniel Frankel 10/17/2003 OCT. 17 | Cocktail parties on the set of The West Wing and with the cast of The Matrix Reloaded at the famed Morton's restaurant. A presentation from NBA Hall of Fame center Bill Walton. A speech from Warner Bros. Television president Peter Roth. These were just a few of the experiences shared by more than 200 retail officials at the Oct. 8-9 conference conducted by Warner Home Video at the company's Burbank, Calif., headquarters. ...(Warner's company executive VP of worldwide marketing Mark) Horak noted that (Warner Home Video) received ample support for the conference from other units of the media conglomerate, notably the TV side of the business. Highlighted by presentations from Kevin Bright, executive producer for Friends; John Wells, executive producer of The West Wing and E.R.; and TV division topper Roth, Warner outlined a new more aggressive strategy for TV on DVD titles whereby programming will be released closer to its network airdate. "They're going to start releasing DVD versions of the prior season just as the new season comes out," said Best Buy senior VP of entertainment Gary Arnold. "They're trying to tie DVD into consumer excitement for the new TV season." Warner also indicated that two new hit series--the youth drama The O.C., which it produces for the Fox network, and prime-time soap Nip/Tuck, which it produces for cable's FX--will soon come to DVD as well. No released dates were offered.