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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 12:34:24 GMT
I've been having some thoughts recently (yes, some are a little morbid, but I am interested in what other people think).
1. Do you think Big Finish eventually releasing their products as download-only is inevitable? If so, how long would that take? I believe I read somewhere (although I may be wrong, memory is a funny thing) that the majority of their sales are still CDs, so logic follows that it wouldn't be for a while, but surely there must come a point where the only people buying CDs are people like me who are obsessive over having a physical copy. And yes these are the kind of issues that keep me awake at night...
2. What will happen when there is no one from a particular era alive/willing to do Big Finish audios? I understand the desire to not recast characters, especially when the actors have only recently died, but would Big Finish start recasting on large scales, perhaps at a point having audios with none of the original cast, or would these not be seen as worth it and they would leave that particular Doctor/era alone and focus more on creating audios for the ones that are alive?
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Post by jasonward on Sept 18, 2016 12:38:45 GMT
Sales will shift to download only, and roles will be recast, both are inevitable.
The sales one will develop in response to consumer behaviour, my expectation is more than 5 years, less than 20.
If BF want to stay in business they have no choice but to either recast or just drop all the biggest sellers they have. Of course there will be a gap between events that force the recasting and the recasting itself, but it will happen.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2016 12:40:12 GMT
1) Downloads only might happen one day, for sure... but what would Big Finish have to sell at conventions then? So I'm sure they'd try and have some sort of physical product to sell.
2) I don't like to think of TV era Doctors (and stars from other TV series) passing away, but it is inevitable of course. Hopefully BF have new series audios to keep them going, and as far as Doctor Who is concerned, the TV show is still going strong. So plenty of scope for future Doctor Who audios.
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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 12:54:31 GMT
Sales will shift to download only, and roles will be recast, both are inevitable. The sales one will develop in response to consumer behaviour, my expectation is more than 5 years, less than 20. If BF want to stay in business they have no choice but to either recast or just drop all the biggest sellers they have. Of course there will be a gap between events that force the recasting and the recasting itself, but it will happen. Yeah, I do lean more towards thinking both are inevitable. I would say becoming download-only will definitely happen and it is a matter when, not if, but I'm not 100% sure when it comes to recasts... I realise that realistically they can't just ignore particular eras, but would audios that have been entirely recast be as popular? I suppose the closest at the moment is the Third Doctor Adventures (although I know they do have Katy Manning and Richard Frankin) and they seem to be selling well enough to be able to make more, so perhaps it will be the way forwards.
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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 13:01:51 GMT
1) Downloads only might happen one day, for sure... but what would Big Finish have to sell at conventions then? So I'm sure they'd try and have some sort of physical product to sell. 2) I don't like to think of TV era Doctors (and stars from other TV series) passing away, but it is inevitable of course. Hopefully BF have new series audios to keep them going, and as far as Doctor Who is concerned, the TV show is still going strong. So plenty of scope for future Doctor Who audios. 1) That's an interesting point about conventions... Big Finish have been known to have convention exclusives though, haven't they? I suppose they could have their biggest recent releases made into a limited CD edition specifically for conventions. 2) Yeah, that's fair enough - it's not nice to think about, it's just something I have been thinking about recently for some reason. I do think it is possible that there will eventually be a shift to only new series audios when the inevitable happens, but I wonder if that is sustainable. At the moment, they are unable to do too many specifically new series audios, but I suppose we are talking a long time down the line in which the main actors in question may be less in demand.
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mbt66
Chancellery Guard
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Post by mbt66 on Sept 18, 2016 13:02:52 GMT
Both will happen, but I think that Big Finish and I both have plenty of years of CDs left in us!
As for what they could sell at Conventions when they do go download only I would imagine they could sell postcards that would have the story poster on one side and the details on the reverse together with a scratch off code to get the download - like a gift voucher card.
If they can currently release vinyl copies perhaps in years to come they will release special CD versions of their best download only stories...if there is still a market, Big Finish would be foolish not to service it.
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Post by jasonward on Sept 18, 2016 13:06:25 GMT
Yeah, I do lean more towards thinking both are inevitable. I would say becoming download-only will definitely happen and it is a matter when, not if, but I'm not 100% sure when it comes to recasts... I realise that realistically they can't just ignore particular eras, but would audios that have been entirely recast be as popular? I suppose the closest at the moment is the Third Doctor Adventures (although I know they do have Katy Manning and Richard Frankin) and they seem to be selling well enough to be able to make more, so perhaps it will be the way forwards. I don't understand how it's possible to hold the view that roles may not be recast, unless your limiting yourself to a certain length of time. In 200 years time there will either be no more new Who audios OR recasting will happen, one of those statements is true. So, now we just want to speculate on the time between now and 200 years time, that that happens, but it will for 100% certain happen.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2016 13:12:01 GMT
They won't get rid of CDs, but they will have to recast all of the actors eventually.
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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 13:20:08 GMT
Yeah, I do lean more towards thinking both are inevitable. I would say becoming download-only will definitely happen and it is a matter when, not if, but I'm not 100% sure when it comes to recasts... I realise that realistically they can't just ignore particular eras, but would audios that have been entirely recast be as popular? I suppose the closest at the moment is the Third Doctor Adventures (although I know they do have Katy Manning and Richard Frankin) and they seem to be selling well enough to be able to make more, so perhaps it will be the way forwards. I don't understand how it's possible to hold the view that roles may not be recast, unless your limiting yourself to a certain length of time. In 200 years time there will either be no more new Who audios OR recasting will happen, one of those statements is true. So, now we just want to speculate on the time between now and 200 years time, that that happens, but it will for 100% certain happen. I can't really see audios being made that far in the future, but if there is I agree that will have to be recasts.
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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 13:20:38 GMT
They won't get rid of CDs, but they will have to recast all of the actors eventually. Why don't you think they would get rid of CDs?
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Post by mark687 on Sept 18, 2016 13:29:31 GMT
1, I think going DL only on everything would mark the beginning of the end of end for BF. Yes you lose manufacture and postage costs, but would selling only £20 a time DLs cover Production costs?
2. I don't really know, I suppose the next 3DA is the test for this, re-casting would be next logical move, or going more narrated like the CCs, though that may lose customers who like full cast stuff.
I suppose long term we just have to hope Mr Tennant gets to the point where he prefers repeating his well known TV role in a sound studio in London, rather then repeating his well known roles in Shakespeare plays in the USA and BF are daring enough to perhaps create their own companion. When Matt Smith finishes finding himself as an actor he may do BF. Actually the more I think about the subject, its more likely the terms of the licence will be altered and Mr Capaldi will come in sooner rather then later.
Failing that expend Torchwood somehow.
Regards
mark687
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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 13:37:07 GMT
2. I don't really know, I suppose the next 3DA is the test for this re-casting would be next logical move, or going more narrated like CCs, though that may lose customers who like full cast stuff. It is true that there is a fine line between being able to create particular audios that people want but not putting people off with recasting. I'm wondering if there will eventually be a shift back to books being the primary source of Doctor Who EU material, or I suppose comics could become that... are the Titan comics popular? I don't really follow them so I don't know.
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Post by mark687 on Sept 18, 2016 13:45:04 GMT
2. I don't really know, I suppose the next 3DA is the test for this re-casting would be next logical move, or going more narrated like CCs, though that may lose customers who like full cast stuff. It is true that there is a fine line between being able to create particular audios that people want but not putting people off with recasting. I'm wondering if there will eventually be a shift back to books being the primary source of Doctor Who EU material, or I suppose comics could become that... are the Titan comics popular? I don't really follow them so I don't know. Can't comment to that as the only Comic I follow is the DWM strip.
Regards
mark687
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Post by pawntake on Sept 18, 2016 13:55:31 GMT
Big Finish will be around for a good few years yet!!!But nothing lasts forever!!
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Post by eldersensorite on Sept 18, 2016 13:58:37 GMT
Big Finish will be around for a good few years yet!!!But nothing lasts forever!! True - most of this discussion is very long term.
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
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Post by ljwilson on Sept 18, 2016 14:00:34 GMT
Big Finish are more popular than ever right now, so why worry about it? As the previous poster said, nothing lasts forever, and the passage of time will see CDs become obsolete.
They will then make a comeback as cool retro items, like vinyl in the present. Ive recently bought a new turntable so i should know.
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aztec
Chancellery Guard
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Post by aztec on Sept 18, 2016 14:11:51 GMT
I've been having some thoughts recently (yes, some are a little morbid, but I am interested in what other people think). 1. Do you think Big Finish eventually releasing their products as download-only is inevitable? If so, how long would that take? I believe I read somewhere (although I may be wrong, memory is a funny thing) that the majority of their sales are still CDs, so logic follows that it wouldn't be for a while, but surely there must come a point where the only people buying CDs are people like me who are obsessive over having a physical copy. And yes these are the kind of issues that keep me awake at night... 2. What will happen when there is no one from a particular era alive/willing to do Big Finish audios? I understand the desire to not recast characters, especially when the actors have only recently died, but would Big Finish start recasting on large scales, perhaps at a point having audios with none of the original cast, or would these not be seen as worth it and they would leave that particular Doctor/era alone and focus more on creating audios for the ones that are alive? 1. Yes I think this is inevitable but not for a very long time, as BF expands and attracts more and more younger listeners supporting physical media will become less of a priority and less cost effective, CD's are arguably quite outdated, so I wonder if BF would consider upgrading to a more recent equivalent? More than a few online fans I've tried to recommend BF to have been put off by the price, cutting the support of physical media might reduce production costs and lower prices. I buy both CD's (I buy a physical copy of every 8th Doctor story plus whatever else interests me) and Downloads (depends on budget/sale offers whether I go for downloads or CD's on other ranges) ideally I'd love to own a physical copy of every story, but it's very unlikely to happen for the long foreseeable future (for finacial and space reasons) and when I could eventually afford to buy every story it's likely CD's will no longer be supported... 2. I take recasts on a character by character basis, i.e if the new actor does a good job at capturing the previous actors voice and/or mannerisms then I am open to it (though I would prefer BF to avoid recasting if possible and work around things CC style), I haven't heard many of the 1-3DR audios so recasts haven't really been an issue for me so far, but all these ranges still have at least one or two of the key original actors involved when we reach the stage when complete recasts are necessary I'm not entirely sure I'd be able to accept a 100% recasted cast (though as this will hopefully be many years away we should all have more time to get used to the idea) a large past of BF's appeal is the cosy nostalgia of listening to stories with the original cast... ...When it reaches this point BF could perhaps explore regaining a license to publish prose fiction for Dr Who.
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aztec
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Post by aztec on Sept 18, 2016 14:15:35 GMT
1, I think going DL only on everything would mark the beginning of the end of end for BF. Yes you lose manufacture and postage costs, but would selling only £20 a time DLs cover Production costs? 2. I don't really know, I suppose the next 3DA is the test for this, re-casting would be next logical move, or going more narrated like the CCs, though that may lose customers who like full cast stuff. I suppose long term we just have to hope Mr Tennant gets to the point where he prefers repeating his well known TV role in a sound studio in London, rather then repeating his well known roles in Shakespeare plays in the USA and BF are daring enough to perhaps create their own companion. When Matt Smith finishes finding himself as an actor he may do BF. Actually the more I think about the subject, its more likely the terms of the licence will be altered and Mr Capaldi will come in sooner rather then later. Failing that expend Torchwood somehow. Regards mark687 As much as I don't want Capaldi to leave the TV series any time soon, I'm already looking forward to the day when BF announces their license has been expanded to cover the 12 Dr...one of the things I really appreciate about Moffat's era is the numerous explicit or implied gaps he inserts in/between stories for BF to explore, both 11 and 12 could easily lots and lots of new companions we have yet to be introduced to...
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Post by dalekbuster523finish on Sept 18, 2016 14:22:48 GMT
1. I hope not. I prefer physical products because nothing beats actually being able to see your stuff displayed and touch the CD IMO.
2. I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen for a long time. Even when the classic series Doctors are sadly long-gone, they'll still have at least the tenth and eleventh Doctors to play with. I imagine Matt Smith will have signed on by then. Christopher Eccleston would depend on whether or not Big Finish can use his regret at not playing the character longer to get him onboard. Peter Capaldi unfortunately will probably be gone seeing as he is the oldest of the new series Doctors and a similar age to the classic series ones. As for companions: Sophie Aldred, Billie Piper, Freema Ageyman, Catherine Tate, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Jenna Coleman and Pearl Mackie will likely still be alive by such a point where entire eras have to be ignored.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2016 14:46:08 GMT
They won't get rid of CDs, but they will have to recast all of the actors eventually. Why don't you think they would get rid of CDs? There's a huge market for them and some people, such as myself, don't like downloads.
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