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JULY 25, 2006 at 3:46 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Warner Bros. has confirmed to HPANA that it plans to pull all of the first four Harry Potter DVDs off store shelves by early 2007, with no announced plans for their return.
Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban will become unavailable after December 29, 2006. Goblet of Fire will follow suit on February 9, 2007.
First reported by Home Media Retailing Magazine
, the move may indicate WB's interest in stoking sales this non-Potter holiday season, or preparing for newer editions of the films on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray technology.
Called a "moratorium," the practice is commonplace in the home video industry. The most notable instigator is Disney, which often locks away movies in their "vault" to stimulate sales and publicity.
Thanks to Matthew for the tip.
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Head Girl
Points: 479
jenjen220 says:
Good thing i already have all of them!
Posted Jul 26, 2006 at 11:23 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
GeeMessy says:
oh no no no, I better buy my copies of them right away before they shelf them. I do not like. Crazy new technolgy!!!! Stot inventing!!!
Posted Jul 26, 2006 at 11:46 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1499
Belle of the Ball says:
That is an interesting sales scheme. Say that you're taking all DVDs off shelves next year to make up in sales because there's no release this year. Very interesting. I suppose quite a few people will go out and buy them even if they have them now; just in case something happens to the copies they have.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 12:32 AM EST
The Keeper of Time
Points: 2604
krisie says:
What the...! I don't understand why they would do that. I think if people want to buy HP on DVD then they should still sell them.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 1:16 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1091
Starlight_Guide says:
Cunning marketing ploy. Guess they'll be bringing out a box set of the 1st 4 before OOTP is released then.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 4:10 AM EST
The Fifth Marauder
Points: 2771
Curious Werewolf says:
OK THIS IS BLIMIN' STUPID!!! AAAAH! They can't do this, if someone neeeds a replacement then what the heck are the going to do? And not everyone can afford HD-DVD players and HD-DVDs - I know I couldn't at the moment and it will probably be a while before the prices become reasonable!
But when they say they are taking them off the shelves...does that include Amazon, or any other site where you can buy DVDs? And are they going to release OotP on HD-DVD only? I hope they don't...I mean, they still released the HP films on VHS when almost everyone had DVD players and hardly anyone watched videos anymore, right? So if quite a few people don't have HD-DVD players because of the high price and everything and most people still watch normal DVDs...you'd think they'd release any new HP films on DVD as well as HD-DVD. It wouldn't be fair if they didn't, and they'd make less money if it was only on HD and piracy would go up and everything would just go t*ts up basically! Kaput! End of the world!!! Well...maybe not that bad, hehe!
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 6:35 AM EST
Witch
Points: 754
Griselda Marchbanks says:
I think that it could be a good move for the very far far future. HP fans who have the copies and guard them with their life could be sitting on a significant fortune. Imagine all the other people who ruin or lose their copies and can't get anymore. You'd be one of only a very few people in the world to have them. Imagine the possibilities.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 7:24 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
Well, that's show bisss, You stop for those who don't have to corner the market and open doors for new items to sale. Nothing New!
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 9:08 AM EST
Queen of the Yarn Ball
Points: 3829
red&gold says:
Not surprised... it isn't like there is a person out there who doesn't have it anyway!!! :) and the new people who get into Potter later on will have it avail to them when they do re-release it... I am sure there will be a special collectors edition when all seven movies are out.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 9:42 AM EST
Witch
Points: 881
Just Dance says:
What!?! That makes absoloutly NO sense ! I mean.. why would they do that ? ... hmm.. well i guess they have their reasons.. but i still think its a bad idea...
<3 Nicole
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:02 AM EST
Student
Points: 293
Mad-Eye Dumbledore says:
Actually What they are doing is pretty smart... if they self the dvd until the 7th one comes out they will be able to sell then all at once in a super dvd and charge 175 dollars bucks for it even thought all the movies togather are worth about 120 dollars.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:08 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1218
hermygrangergirl says:
This story kind of worries me..... Will the Warner Bros vault forever swallow these precious movies? Or will this removal-from-shelves only be temporary? Let us hope the case is the latter, which honestly seems more likely.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:31 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 84
MexicanWizard says:
that is so UNCOOL! Good thing I have them all. Although I will purchase them again just to have spare copies that will last over decades when I'm watching them at 63 years of age.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:53 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 449
Emma#1fan says:
No! i have all of them, but for those of you who don't, you better get them while you can, they'll be gone by next year.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 11:56 AM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
I already have all of the DVDs, but why would WB do that? It doesn't make any sense to me. Harry Potter gets new fans everyday, so why stop selling the DVDs? I think that this is a bad mistake, on their part.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 12:58 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 442
dalishka says:
Waooo.... Maybe they are going to do so it is more modern.. I mean tchnology is evolving sooo much.. But it is a shame they have to be lock out of business... I hope they come back quickly and even more better than they were....
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 1:53 PM EST
Haldir's Horcrux
Points: 6269
Corvis says:
I hope they eventually come out with a boxed set or something after that, so you can buy all seven at the same time, sort of like the Lord of the Rings deal. Although, I still have to get a copy of PoA back..
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 3:54 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 570
minister of muggles says:
This is rediculous. They're just leaking it out there to sell more DVDs.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 4:26 PM EST
Squib
Points: 159
harryfan890 says:
They can't do that what about future fans fans that are just babies they won't be ablie to buy them now.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 5:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
The 4th Champion says:
Why are they going to do that?? Luckily, I already have all of the dvds.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 5:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 622
Hermison says:
I hope that if the WB does that they must sell the new HD-DVD of all the movies. Maybe they are going to do this in order to have stock for the future when all the movies are out.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 6:26 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1841
Remmy4193 says:
Ohh so they are doing what Disney did too...ohh I don't really like that, but I can see how it can be good for business.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 7:03 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 800
Dr EraseR says:
Why would anyone do something that mean ???!!! What would I do if something happens to my copies ??!!! I have a baby sister god damn it
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 7:27 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 90
Hogwartsdork says:
This is stupid; so very stupid. I guess now I will have to stock up on the widescreen editions for when the standard television sets become an obsolete technology. At least they will be marked down in price and widescreen is all you can get if you go shopping for the first three films. And that is awfuly dumb to take GoF off the shelves before it even hits one year on store shelves.
I knew something was wrong when they weren't manufacturing 2-disc versions in either Widscreen or Standard for 'Goblet'. I mean who doesn't like deleted scenes and extras and a standard screen for our standard screens?
I apologize if half of this didn't make any sense but you can get the gist of it I hope.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 8:18 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1448
Wulfric_Brian says:
Ah, no! You can't lock away Harry Potter! What if I lose one of my DVDs, then what do I do? The tapes re fine, but I need special features! HD-DVD or Blu-Ray technology would be kind of cool, but if they do that they better do it soon.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 8:51 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1600
jenn007a says:
Well i guess that it is a good thing that i already have all the movies! I bet they will release them again when the next movie comes out.
Posted Jul 27, 2006 at 10:15 PM EST
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