List of BBC DVD releases

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BBC DVD, a division of BBC Worldwide, began releasing [Doctor Who]] (and later Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures) from 1999 until the present.

Overview

Origins

Doctor Who wwas chosen as one of six DVDs released to represent the BBC as a 'test' of the DVD market by BBC Worldwide. (The other titles were The Black Adder, Noddy in Toyland, The Planets, Persuasion, and Volume I of The Best of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.)

The chosen title for this 'test' was The Five Doctors, which was picked due to an already existing in a Special Edition format from the BBC Video release of 1995, which allowed it it to take 'better advantage' of the DVD format with the use of 5.1 Surround Sound.

1999

2000

Notes

After The Five Doctors, which was something of a false start, the range eventually kicked off properly (with a different cover art template) a year later with The Robots of Death.

2001

2002

Notes

Pyramids of Mars was originally to be the Tom Baker title released in the second slot, but issues to do with contract negotiations led to it being postponed and The Ark in Space substituted instead. The original plan after the release of The Five Doctors was to release one title from each Doctor of the then eight Doctors, but as the range progressed this was not quite achieved as The Ark in Space and Carnival of Monsters were then slipped into the schedule to prevent two black and white stories being released back to back.

2003

Notes

For the 40th Anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC DVD wanted to release one title from each Doctor.

2004

Notes

Pyramids of Mars was released after being voted most wanted DVD release in a 2003 Doctor Who Magazine poll and the Lost in Time set came about due to the recovery of the previously missing episode "Day of Armageddon" from The Daleks' Master Plan which happened in the January of 2004.

2005

Notes

From Revelation of the Daleks and onwards the DVDs featured the logo of 2entertain, a DVD release company formed by the BBC and Woolworths.

2006

Notes

The Sontaran Experiment in October 2006 marked the start of an increase in the number of releases, with titles being assigned as either a 'Super Value Edition' (like The Sontaran Experiment, which meant a reduced extras package, or 'Special Editions' like the two disc releases of the past.

2007

Notes

The Series Three DVD boxset was, in an exclusive release at Amazon.co.uk, made available with the choice of two additional covers beyond that of the standard cover. The Remembrance of the Daleks disc, as part of the Davros DVD box set, marked the first example of the range re-visiting a previous release (the new disc correcting mistakes with effects and the multi-angle feature, and upgrading the Photo Gallery feature, as well as adding new documentaries).

2008


Notes

The release of The Five Doctors is the second re-release of the series, making the original 1983 version of the story available on DVD for the first time.

2009

Future

Commentaries have been recorded (or partially recorded with certain actors) for Terror of the Autons, The Dæmons, The Time Monster, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Planet of the Spiders, Revenge of the Cybermen, The Seeds of Doom, The Deadly Assassin, Image of the Fendahl, Mawdryn Undead, Terminus, Enlightenment, Planet of Fire, Delta and the Bannermen, and The Happiness Patrol. This does not indicate imminent releases however.

Further to this, a new commentary for The Robots of Death has apparently been recorded, suggesting a re-release of this DVD title.

Comments have been made to the effect that 2entertain (who are currently in charge of the DVD releases) wish to see seasons completed (speculated to be in order that season box sets can be issued). To that effect, Revenge of the Cybermen (Season 12), Meglos (Season 18) and Kinda (Season 19) are seen as likely releases in the not too distant future due to being the final titles required to complete their respective seasons. The Ambassadors of Death (Season 7) would also fall into this category but may not happen for some time due to the quality of the colour.

External Links

Fan Vid About the Classic Series DVD Releases