With the interesting news that the BBC are releasing a complete “Nu Who” box set in Region 1 (USA and Canada), this release could offer a diamond opportunity revisit some of those releases. Especially earlier titles that the BBC released on Blu-ray.
When the BBC chose to ‘remaster’ Series 1-4 on Blu-ray in 2013, they were designed for the Region 1 market. The new copies that were made were poorly done, resulting in the episodes running at a lower frame rate, which slows down the episodes. Other mistakes were also made like the misspelling of Phil Collinson’s name on the Rose credits. These discs were then used in the UK as well. We didn’t need the change in frame rate and have to put up with the slowed down episodes. Whilst the picture quality is better, the DVD’s still have some quite big benefits over the Blu-rays.
Early 5.1 mixes that were created for the box sets are controversial in the sound mix. Audio levels were adjusted meaning dialogue in places became unclear. There are also a few changes from the broadcast version on episodes such as The Unicorn and the Wasp and The Next Doctor.
The as broadcast stereo mix were exclusive to the vanilla releases (the individual releases without any extras). The technology has improved though and the later series (Series 6 onwards) do not have these issues.
Series 5 also has problems. The original UK release in 2010 bizarrely edited out the next time trailers and have an overly colourful animated BBC logo in place of the standard one. For the Steelbook release in 2010, the BBC opted to use the US discs which thankfully has the trailers intact and corrects a sound fault on Vincent and the Doctor, but suffers from ‘slow down’ again.
Improved releases of Series 1-5 is something I have wanted for some time. I’m massive fan of Doctor Who on physical media and I adore what they have with the original series via the DVD range, moving on to The Collection. That’s why it frustrates me a little that Nu-who can’t even put together a good copy of the transmitted episode.
It’s no wonder why I got a little excited when BBC Shop in the USA announced the “Complete New Who Years Blu-ray Collectors Set”, which offers “Newly Remastered Seasons 1-4”.
When I shared this news on Twitter a few fans correctly pointed out that the 2013 version of this set with Series 1-7 also advertised Series 1-4 as “newly remastered”. Could this just be something that an intern has cut and pasted from the old synopsis? Possibly? But this release does have at least one newly pressed disc as the set contains “Exclusive Bonus Content with Russel (yes they spelt him wrong tut) T. Davies & David Tennant”.
Disney’s involvement in Doctor Who may have prompted the BBC to go back to the old episodes and make sure they are technically up to a good standard. We don’t know
There is a scarce lack of information in the synopsis. As usual they leave me with more questions than answers. We don’t know if anything like this is coming to the UK or if this is just a cheap repackage for the US market.
If it does come out in the UK in some capacity, new, correctly presented Series 1-5 episodes is a huge deal breaker for me. I’ve dipped multiple times on the series already with Vanilia’s as a kid, the box sets, then Blu-rays and then Steelbooks. Whilst it’s expensive, I’ll happily dip again if it’s a decent step up than before.
I also think new extras are essential in convincing others to double dip again. With the episodes freely on iPlayer in the UK now, VAM should become even more important. Whilst I’m intrigued by new RTD and David Tennant content, at the top of my wishlist are access to all the mini episodes. There are several that have never been released before on disc. Attack of the Graske, TARDISodes, Tonight’s the Night, Death is the Only Answer, the Lockdown content and more! These arguably canonical pieces of fiction are only accessible as dodgy illegal YouTube copies. Including these would convince loads to double dip without spending money creating new material. The transmitted version of Born Again with the cloister bell would also be very welcome.
There’s also content that has appeared on other new series releases that are omitted from the box sets that could be included. I have a fuller list here, but there’s the 2010 proms, documentaries, mini episodes, TV programmes, 5.1 mixes and very wrongly Audio Description options that weren’t included. There is also material that has appeared on foreign releases that has never been issued in the UK. The biggest of these are the Series 8 Deleted Scenes and the full 90 minutes edition of the 2010 proms.
Also 4K editions of Twice Upon Time, Resolution and The Power of the Doctor would also welcome. It’s a shame the last two have never been available physically in the highest quality.
When in 2019 the BBC issued the 2009 specials in a Steelbook, it came with a new bonus disc with The Infinite Quest, Dreamland, The Sarah Jane Adventures – The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith. All of which had never been released in HD physically before which was fantastic. Plus there was another new David Tennant interview. No wonder it was the quickest Steelbook to sell out! This content makes a difference.
Incorporating all of this material would only boost interest and sales. And there may be more material sitting in some archive that would whet fans appetites. If budgets need to be cut to afford this, I’m sure the majority of fans are more than happy to lose the quite creepy Titan figure set.
It’s early days yet and we don’t know exactly what is going on, but I just hope BBC Studios don’t mess up this opportunity to do something special. Something that will give us a better time capsule of the era and look respectable alongside the classic series releases.
If anyone at the BBC reads this and want advice, feel free to contact me. I’m only happy to help.
