Dr Who (New Series) - What Is The DVD & Blu-ray Release Plan?

Rasczak · 07-06-2009, 4:37 PM

Hi guys,

Trying to work out what to do with the Dr Who disc releases. Seasons 1 to 4 were easy, they were shot in SD so picking up the DVD boxsets was the obvious choice. However the new specials are being shot in HD and the first, Planet Of The Dead, is being released on Blu-ray. Therefore a few questions if I may:

1) Was the 2008 Christmas Special (The Next Doctor) filmed in HD? (Believe the answer is no)

2) Is the DVD release decent? (AFAIK previous single disc releases didn't have DD 5.1 sound)

3) Are there any (known/rumoured) plans for a BD 'specials' boxset? Or is it just worth going for the individual releases (which look fairly well specified).

Thanks in advance!

brian s · 08-06-2009, 12:29 PM

I'd like to know what the plan is as well. As you suspect The Next Doctor was shot in SD. If it were to be included in any Blu-Ray boxset it would have to be as a SD extra. The DVD and Blu-Ray of Planet Of The Dead both appear to have the Dr Who Confidential episode included so there may not be any boxsets. I haven't seen The Next Doctor DVD so I can't comment on it other than it doesn't have 5.1 sound.

All the best
Bri

Rasczak · 08-06-2009, 5:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian s

The Next Doctor DVD ... doesn't have 5.1 sound.

That's annoying - I bet the only way to get the best version is to buy a 'Specials Boxset' with the four 2009 TV movies and the 2008 Xmas Special. I also bet the only Blu-ray verisons are the individual releases! Might just hold back any purchases for now and see what happens.

brian s · 08-06-2009, 5:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasczak

That's annoying - I bet the only way to get the best version is to buy a 'Specials Boxset' with the four 2009 TV movies and the 2008 Xmas Special. I also bet the only Blu-ray verisons are the individual releases! Might just hold back any purchases for now and see what happens.

Common sense tells me to hang backbut I'm gagging for Who on Blu-Ray. Any boxsets won't be out till at least next year so I'll most likely buy the Planet Of The Dead Blu-Ray at the end of the month. I don't kn0w if you're interested but series two of Torchwood is out this month on Blu-Ray.

Regards
Bri

Rasczak · 08-06-2009, 6:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian s

I don't know if you're interested but series two of Torchwood is out this month on Blu-Ray.

Never really got into Torchwood. I like adult Sci-Fi and I like family Sci-Fi. But Torchwood seems to get a strange mix - family Sci-Fi with swear words and sexual dialogue (all said with a Welsh accent!).

That said my opinion is tainted by the first few episodes of season one so it might be alot better than that!

brian s · 08-06-2009, 9:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasczak

Never really got into Torchwood. I like adult Sci-Fi and I like family Sci-Fi. But Torchwood seems to get a strange mix - family Sci-Fi with swear words and sexual dialogue (all said with a Welsh accent!).

That said my opinion is tainted by the first few episodes of season one so it might be alot better than that!

You've pretty much said what I thought about the first series but it improved very much in the second. I got to see the first series again and I enjoyed it much more second time round.

Best wishes
Bri

brian s · 12-06-2009, 9:18 PM

According to this the Blu-Ray is to be stereo only. So it maybe there will be a boxset later on.

Blu-ray.com - Doctor Who - Planet of the Dead Blu-ray

Bri

Rasczak · 24-10-2009, 5:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasczak

Are there any (known/rumoured) plans for a BD 'specials' boxset? Or is it just worth going for the individual releases (which look fairly well specified).

Sorry to resurrect an old thread - and to quote myself - but, for those interested, there does now seem to be a Doctor Who: The Complete Specials Box Set (Blu-ray) scheduled for release in Jan 10.

No idea yet if this includes The Next Doctor which, as discussed above, was not shot in HD.

EDIT: According to Zetaminor the package will include The Next Doctor. If correct - and Zetaminor are normally very good IMHO - this makes things alot clearer with regards to DVD/BD purchases! At last!

brian s · 31-10-2009, 10:24 AM

The BBC will release The Waters of Mars and the two-part finale on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 both as individual releases and also as part of a 5 disc specials collection including The Next Doctor and Planet of the Dead.

PoochJD · 31-10-2009, 1:23 PM

Hi,

Just as an addendum, the next Dr Who story will be turning up on BBC1 in just over 2 weeks on Sunday 15th November 2009! (Source: BBCi Entertainment section) Will almost certainly air at the same time/date on BBC-HD too.

Pooch

brian s · 25-11-2009, 12:36 PM

According to Play the Blu-Ray Specials boxset will also include The Next Doctor.

Play.com (UK) : Doctor Who: The Complete Specials Box Set (Dr Who) (Blu-ray) : Blu-ray - Free Delivery

So it must be a SD extra.

Bri

Rasczak · 06-12-2009, 5:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian s

According to Play the Blu-Ray Specials boxset will also include The Next Doctor.

Play.com (UK) : Doctor Who: The Complete Specials Box Set (Dr Who) (Blu-ray) : Blu-ray - Free Delivery

So it must be a SD extra.

Now confirmed by BBC America (but likely to exactly the same for the UK release) - The Next Doctor included in the 'Specials' boxset will be an upscaled version on Blu-ray. Not unexpected of course as it wasn't shot in HD - but I am glad they have chosen this option rather than just including the DVD version. Also very glad they are including it in the HD boxset as it keeps things 'neat' for those of us buying the boxsets.

Source:
Doctor Who DVD news: Update about and press release for The Complete Specials on DVD and Blu-ray | TVShowsOnDVD.com

brian s · 07-12-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasczak

Now confirmed by BBC America (but likely to exactly the same for the UK release) - The Next Doctor included in the 'Specials' boxset will be an upscaled version on Blu-ray. Not unexpected

I didn't expect it. I got quite a surprise when Krish posted this in the Dr Who 2009 thread. As I said I expected it to be a SD extra.

Cheers
Bri

Indiana Jones · 16-01-2010, 2:33 PM

Thought I would bump this thread back up seeing as the Special Boxset was released last week.

So anyone else get it and if so what did they think of the upscale of The Next Doctor?

alagermound · 17-01-2010, 5:19 PM

can anyone who bought it also confirm the framerate as i wanted to get this and torchwood children of earth on blu, but sduspect they may have frame rate coverted them to 1080i 60, from 1080i 50 as as they did with red dwarf back to earth which is dissapointing.

basically so they can just have one release to cover all territories instead of 2 seprerate ones allooweing us to get it in its intended fram rate !!!

Indiana Jones · 17-01-2010, 6:28 PM

How can I tell if they are 1080i60hz? as my TV just reports them as 1080i

200p · 17-01-2010, 8:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

How can I tell if they are 1080i60hz? as my TV just reports them as 1080i

Assuming your TV(s) don't say and your player(s) don't and the box doesn't say, if your player displays the time code (eg. h:mm:ss) (my Panasonic DMP-BD80 does on the player itself) then you could pause the video and frame advance till the seconds change, then frame advance again until it gets to the next second, counting the number of times you have hit frame advance.

My Samsung TV says whether it's receiving 50hz or 60hz and my Panasonic DMP-BD80 says the format etc. Also, when I press frame advance on an interlaced title it actually advances in fields not frames so it might be the same with your Panasonic player.

Indiana Jones · 17-01-2010, 11:47 PM

Just tried The Waters of Mars and I had to press advance 60 times until it reached the next second.

200p · 18-01-2010, 9:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

Just tried The Waters of Mars and I had to press advance 60 times until it reached the next second.

Thanks. So it looks like they've converted it from 1080/50i to 1080/60i

alagermound · 18-01-2010, 9:54 AM

great!! i either get the low res dvd and correct frame rate or the hi res blu and the wrong frame rate, w@n$ers

Indiana Jones · 18-01-2010, 1:05 PM

So far I have watched The Next Doctor and Planet of the Dead and even though they have mucked around with them I still thought they looked fantastic, I would definitely take these over SD-DVDs anytime.

brian s · 13-02-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

So far I have watched The Next Doctor and Planet of the Dead and even though they have mucked around with them I still thought they looked fantastic, I would definitely take these over SD-DVDs anytime.

I've had a few problems with mine. All the discs I played had very bad judder on my Tevion until I switched off the 24 fps option then they had slight judder. It was the same with my PS3 with the 24 fps switched off. Then I played another one some nights later and forgot to switch off the 24 fps and it played fine. I checked the other discs I had problems with and they also played fine.

I haven't played Planet Of The Dead disc from this set yet as I already have the original single disc release. I assume it'll be the same and that's played no problems so far.

Bri