Model Forum / General / Models / July 2006

Several variables come into play. The first is, does the company owning
the rights believe that there is a market that justifies the costs of
transferring the films to DVD and mass-producing them? Sad fact is that
while there is a proven market for a DVD of "Slumber Party Massacre 2,"
a 40-year old TV series that most young buyers have never heard of is a
much tougher sell.
Other factors also affect the decision. Are the original negatives in
good shape or do they require expensive restoration? And are the legal
rights held by one company or is there some dispute over ownership due
to corporate mergers, sales or bankruptcies?
One bright point on the horizon is that these older products may
eventually become available as online downloads for a fee, allowing
customers to burn their own disks. Since there is little production
expense for the studio, niche items with small customer bases could be
released digitally and still earn a profit.
Gerlad Owens