Why doesn't VH-1 do DVDs?
One thing that really confounds me as a marketing major, a TV industry professional and lifelong critic of other people's work is why
VH-1, despite all it's phenomenal success and acclaim, especialy over the last 4 years, doesn't get more into merchandising its shows and series by making them available on DVD.
Comedy Central really had revolutionized the practice of cashing in on its shows by selling past seasons of its biggest hits, like "Chapelle's Show", "South Park", and "Reno 911". And with VH1 currently dominating the market for niche-and-nostalgia series (i.e., "I Love the 80s", "I Love the 70s", "The Fabulous Life Of...", et al.) one would think this would make for a perfect sales opportunity. Hell, if I were a VH-1 marketer, I'd be foaming at the mouth to be able to take on this project.
One might think that Brian Grazer, the TV genius who produced the first season of "South Park" and then moved to an executive role at VH1, would be in favor of such a strategy. Not having the privilege of knowing or talking to Brian, I wouldn't know. Both networks recycle their programming more than a hobo does underwear, and in Comedy Central's case, it still garners millions of viewers tuning in every night....to watch stuff they've seen a thousand times before AND own on DVD.
Maybe it's in the works, maybe the third-parties that produce the series and shows on VH1 would demand too much in royalties, maybe there's something else afoot, I admittedly don't know. Would be nice though.