The article mentions they have a few new releases planned and that they will be in both Blu-ray and HD DVD. I have the Galapagos one (just incredible). This is good News indeed for me at least. 24P transferred from film to SD DVD and uprezzed still looks very good to me. The difference between traditional movies in SD and HD doesn't jump out at me, but in stuff actually shot in HD video: let's just say there is no comparison. The difference is just incredible.

And I'm sure neither HD set sold anywhere near the number of regular DVDs, lol.

I'm still holding out on this purchase, despite really wanting it. The total lack of any of the bonus material present on the SD set was a real blunder, I think. I stayed out of the DVD game for quite a while for the same reason... nearly every studio started out by releasing things that were terribly transferred, and devoid of bonus content.

At least this time around (for this release, anyway), the transfer is astounding.. but why did they leave out the bonus material? Even if it were just thrown on there in SD, that probably would've satisfied me... but if I'm going to pay $20 more for this thing than the DVD set costs, I definately don't want to be missing out on material that the (supposedly) lesser format would give me, lol..

Bad move, BBC... I'll wait for the re-release.

Well, another interesting note that I just thought of... the BBC is not exactly an American Corporation and therefore it stands to reason (don't know for sure though) that their numbers are based on worldwide sales figures as opposed to AMERICAN sales figures.

Blink, the USA(Canada included) market is the "$$$market" for BBC material, with Blue Planet being a super hit! Without a doubt, Blue Planet rules!

Well first it's called PLANET EARTH not blue planet which clearly shows that you don't have it and therefore you have no idea what you are missing.

But more to the point are are as usual MISSING the point. I have often wondered just how accurate the Nielson numbers are and how they compare to the REAL numbers (worldwide). The Nielson numbers (according to others) does not even include Walmart who are not too interested in releasing their sales numbers to outsiders on regular occasions.

This *MAY* be an indication? (Just a question and a thought)

Blink, I actually have the Planet Earth, can up a couple of 15s 1080 clips to prove the point. I called it Blue Planet because my daughter's 6th grade science class promotes the series as save the planet, save the oceans material to watch. I like the deep water and the polar caps the best, all the series are good.

"But more to the point are are as usual MISSING the point." assume you mean me. Blink, I was not criticizing you, but commenting on the distribution market.

"compare to the REAL numbers (worldwide)." This is an old debate, the problem there is real sales in Asian, India, South America markets are usually dwarfed by pirated sales. Plus only a few countries have high enough personal disposable income for the HD and media. Since data collection is only as good as the technique and chain of "transfer"....etc.....

This one is Blue Planet.

Last October, the BBC announced that it would be reducing the size of it's corporation due to financial difficulties. On BBC World Service they mentioned that the department that produces programmes like Planet Earth may be one of the things eliminated or reduced.

John

Craftech, yes, that's official title and done by the camera crew of Planet Earth, a fair intro but does not compare to Planet Earth. But the local school and PTO has chosen Planet Earth as the "media" to promote the "Blue Planet" -- save the Earth theme for the kids.