The Merchandise GuideVideo
Compiled by Martin Willey
The Merchandise Guide
ITC/ POLYGRAMUK 1992-1996, £10.99 each (1996: £11.99 each) A series of tapes, each containing two episodes. Part of a large release schedule of "classic" ITC fantasy and adventure television series including "Sapphire And Steel", "Supercar", "Fireball XL5", "The Protectors" and "The Champions", all previewed on these tapes. 10,000 copies of each tape were produced and sold exceptionally well. Sleeve design was bright and attractive, featuring photographs of the leads against a dramatic space-scape. The back covers featured descriptions of the episodes and credits. The notes on the back were headlined "From The Creator Of Thunderbirds, Supercar and Fireball XL5". For the first series the back covers displayed a single small photo (occasionally from the enclosed episodes) and a larger shot of an Eagle flying by domes from "The Bringers Of Wonder". For the second series, the back covers featured four small photos from the episodes and a larger shot of the waste area 2 from "Breakaway". Purists might be irritated by the mixing of Year Two shots with Year One episodes and vice versa, and frequency that photos were shown reversed left for right. On the first few volumes the picture quality was rather grainy due to the use of 16mm prints. The rather strange episode order (for the first series virtually the reverse of the production order) was the "official ITC order" (although this order had never appeared before). The rights to the episodes compiled into the Channel 5/Polygram movies was not available until 1995, so those 8 episodes were not included (however, in 1995 Polygram acquired ITC Ltd). Most were released two volumes at a time, at three month intervals. The last four tapes were delayed: originally due in February and May 1994, they were released individually from March onwards, with the volume 20 being delayed until February 1995. The last 4 volumes were released by Polygram (not ITC) with a slightly different sleeve design (the main photo was in a crystal). |
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UK 4th October 1993; £89.99
All ten first series volumes in a 25 x 23 x 13 cm rosewood case with embossed logo on ends and a diamond design "Special Collectors Edition".
Copyright Martin Willey
