aztecs dvd wins

Monday, 3 February 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The online journal DVD Times recently posted the results of its 2002 Awards list for excellence in DVD releases. The Doctor Who DVD release of The Aztecs was given the title "Best Picture Restoration", while Tomb of the Cybermen won second prize in the "Best DVD" category. Congratulations to those responsible!

FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Blu-ray/DVD

talons of weng chiang dvd

Friday, 31 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Worldwide's Tradelink (the release service the BBC uses to issue information to vendors) has finally posted some news about the forthcoming release of The Talons of Weng-Chiang on DVD, with a stated release date of April 28. The information from BBC Worldwide is as follows (with thanks to Chuck Foster of the DWAS):

The inimitable Doctor Who and his assistant Leela are confronted by sinister and seemingly inexplicable occurrences in this gripping thriller set in the shadowy depths of nineteenth century London.
With the help of Professor Litefoot, the Doctor investigates the gruesome murder of a cabbie and the mysterious disappearances of young girls. Whilst being chased by giant rats and forced to pit his wits against an evil doll and a merciless illusionist, he comes face to face with his most deadly enemy to date: Magnus Greel - a fifty-first century war criminal posing as Weng Chiang, an ancient Chinese god.
Can the Doctor thwart his dastardly plans before Leela becomes his next victim….

Two-disc set which includes the following special features: Commentary; Whose Doctor Who, a 1977 documentary from BBC2's 'The Lively Arts' strand, looking back at the history of the programme and its psychological impact on the viewers, particularly children, introduced by Melvyn Bragg; Blue Peter Theatre; Behind the Scenes; Philip Hinchcliffe Interview; plus trails and continuity, 1 Easter Egg, photo gallery and production subtitles.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

quick dvd update

Friday, 24 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The still-unconfirmed-by-BBC DVD release of The Talons of Weng Chiang will likely be out on April 28, says a representative of Technicolor, the UK distributor of BBC Worldwide products (according to Ben Keywood of the Galaxy 4 shop). Meanwhile, further to the report of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) extras on the disc: "the extra listed as 'Blue Peter Theatre' should be a compilation of the segments from Blue Peter," says reader Jim Sangster, "where viewers were shown how to build their own Doctor Who puppet theatre... in the style of those old victorian ones where the 'puppets' (cardboard cutouts) were on a horizontal stick and they entered from the wings of a large box-theatre. At the time, the Radio Times published the black and white photos of the Doctor and Leela for kids to cut out, mount on thin card and stick to a straw or piece of thin dowling. They also (I think) included cut-outs of the sets the kids could make for their theatre." Again, BBC Worldwide has not yet officially announced this release. (As an aside... Ben from the Galaxy 4 shop also let us know that release of the Blake's 7 Series 1 DVD set -- again, still apparently unconfirmed by the BBC -- was delayed again, until June 2.) (Thanks to Ben Keywood, Jim Sangster)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

talons extras!

Monday, 20 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Though we emphasize that The Talons of Weng-Chiang is still unconfirmed for release on DVD in April (or May) by BBC Video -- even though retailers have received some notice -- the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has released details about this theoretical DVD's extras on its website, including the hour-long documentary "Whose Doctor Who" and an additional hour of other material. (This information does classify the release, like "Seeds of Death," as a two-disc set.)

DOCTOR WHO - THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG DVD EXTRAS 1

00:58:42:01 | WHOSE DOCTOR WHO
00:25:57:15 | BLUE PETER THEATRE
00:23:58:22 | BEHIND THE SCENES
00:11:28:08 | PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE INTERVIEW

DOCTOR WHO - THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG DVD EXTRAS 2

00:02:22:10 | TRAILS AND CONTINUITY
00:00:39:10 | EASTER EGG NO. 1

Meanwhile, there are rumors circulating that there will be only four Doctor Who DVDs released in 2004 in the UK. This is incorrect; it is based on information taken out of context in a post on the Outpost Gallifrey Forum from a member of the Restoration Team, but was merely speculative on the consequences of further drop-off of DVD sales. At no time has information been issued from the BBC or otherwise that a decision has been made to reduce Doctor Who DVD output.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

planet of giants & underworld

Sunday, 19 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Worldwide Americas has issued press releases for the forthcoming Planet of Giantsand Underworld VHS releases on May 6 in North America, including cover illustrations (click on the thumbnail for a larger version). Outpost Gallifrey previously confirmed these May releases last month. The details are as follows:

PLANET OF GIANTS
Warner Home Video #E1740

In an attempt to return Ian and Barbara to the twentieth century, the Doctor tries an unorthodox new technique. It causes the TARDIS doors to open in mid-flight, which sets alarms ringing inside the craft. The time travelers arrive on Earth only to discover that they have been drastically reduced in size. They are now tiny people in a world of giant objects. The TARDIS has materialized between the cracks in a garden patio. The garden is teeming with giant worms, ants and cats - all deadly hazards for the miniature time travelers. Worse still, the TARDIS crew learns that this garden is the testing site for a deadly insecticide, DN6. Developed to eliminate all insect life, the chemical may be equally effective against miniscule time travelers. Starring Jacqueline Hill, William Hartnell, William Russell, Carole Ann Ford. Street date: May 6.

UNDERWORLD
Warner Home Video #E1741

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Time Lords of Gallifrey began exploring space and time with their new TARDIS technology. The first alien race they encountered were the Minyans, who treated the Time Lords as gods. In return, the Time Lords gave medical and scientific aid. As the Minyans became more advanced, they renounced their former gods. The war that followed destroyed the planet Minyos and set the Time Lords on the path of non-interference with the affairs of the universe. Before Minyos was totally destroyed, a single ship - the P7E - escaped. It carried the future of the Minyan species, locked into its onboard race banks. But the P7E disappeared into deep space centuries ago. Now the last of the Minyans have embarked on a quest to recover their lost race banks. Their quest is destined to bring the Minyans once again into contact with the Time Lords - one Time Lord in particular. Starring Tom Baker, Louise Jameson. Street date: May 6.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

further video & audio update?

Saturday, 18 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The Galaxy 4 shop in the UK is reporting that the schedule for 2003 of Doctor Who audio soundtrack releases from the BBC Radio Collection is as follows: "The Power of the Daleks" in May, "The Evil of the Daleks" in August and "Marco Polo" in November. Outpost Gallifrey received a report this week that artist Max Ellis has been commissioned for these three covers. None of this has been officially confirmed by BBC sources, though we believe the report is factual. Meanwhile, the newest issue of TV Zone magazine is reporting a mid-year (May 2003) release of the story Invasion of the Dinosaurs on VHS; obviously this is also not yet confirmed, but likely considering that there are so few stories yet to be released. (Thanks to Lissa Levesque, Div, Keith Randall)

FILTER: - Audio - Blu-ray/DVD

two seeds are better than one

Friday, 10 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Steve Roberts of the BBC's Doctor Who Restoration Team confirmed today that the forthcoming release of The Seeds of Death - the first six-part story released on DVD in the UK - will be a two-disc set. We'd heard this before but were waiting for official confirmation. (Thanks to Steve Roberts

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

dvd & video updates

Sunday, 8 December 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

In the UK, the DVD release of The Three Doctors, originally moved from January 2003 to November 2003, is now currently scheduled for a July 2003 release according to the Restoration Team. Meanwhile, Resurrection Of The Daleks starring Peter Davison will be available on DVD in Australia on February 3, 2003. Finally, in the US, two new VHS releases have been confirmed from BBC Worldwide for release on May 13, 2003: Planet of Giants with William Hartnell, and Underworld with Tom Baker. There will also be a further video release in the US in September, with the two-month gaps filled in by DVD releases. (Thanks to Steve Roberts, Sean Brady, Rodney Hrvatin)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

earthshock: 2003

Sunday, 29 September 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

At the Tenth Planet signing in the UK on September 29, Janet Fielding (Tegan), in a rare Doctor Who-related appearance, confirmed that she would soon be in-studio recording the commentary for Earthshock, which she said would be released on DVD some time during 2003. Fielding also mentioned that, according to her information, the hopes were to have Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton and Matthew Waterhouse all present for the commentary. (Thanks to Jon Frame, Zygon Curry)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

three doctors & seeds of death

Thursday, 26 September 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

A late addition to the forthcoming DVD release of The Three Doctors is a recently located high-quality audio copy of the BBC News obituary of William Hartnell, the first Doctor, loaned to the Doctor Who Restoration Team by fan Ronald McDevitt. The RT is currently locating photo stills of Hartnell to be used alongside the extra, which will likely be featured as an easter egg on the disc. Meanwhile, the Restoration Team has also updated their site with a new article about the cleanup and restoration work done on the forthcoming DVD release of The Seeds of Death starring Patrick Troughton; visit the Restoration Team site, click "DVD Releases" and "The Seeds of Death". (Thanks to Steve Roberts & the Restoration Team)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Previous 10 Stories

aztecs dvd wins

talons of weng chiang dvd

quick dvd update

talons extras!

planet of giants & underworld

further video & audio update?

two seeds are better than one

dvd & video updates

earthshock: 2003

three doctors & seeds of death

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