Universal-UK discontinuing DVDs?

[Mister Levity]

Has anyone else heard that Universal-UK is discontinuing the Laurel
and Hardy 21 disc box set as well as all single released DVDs?

Is this true?

Kinowelt no longer releases the Laurel and Hardy DVDs since their
license expired quite some time ago so those disc's are all out of
print (so happy I got them all). Wonder if the same is happening with
the UK set?

Anybody out there got any info on what's happening with the Universal
releases?

[KennyM]

Have not heard that Universal-UK are discontinuing the 21 disc box set
but it does make you wonder if the license with all distributors of
the Kirsch group Laurel and Hardy films has expired.

As you point out, Kinowelt no-longer release DVDs and in another post
- Dutch DVD's out of print? - you have noticed some of them look to be
no-longer available. Add to this that no online retailer is able to
obtain Volume 16 of the UK set it does appear that Laurel and Hardy
Hal Roach DVDs may soon not be released in Europe at all.

If more of the UK discs become difficult to obtain then it would
suggest that is it for Europe which just leaving Hallmark means the
Hal Roach Laurel and Hardy films not being seen at all in future is a
frightening possibility.

[Mister Levity]

Post by KennyM
Have not heard that Universal-UK are discontinuing the 21 disc box set
but it does make you wonder if the license with all distributors of
the Kirsch group Laurel and Hardy films has expired.
As you point out, Kinowelt no-longer release DVDs and in another post
- Dutch DVD's out of print? - you have noticed some of them look to be
no-longer available. Add to this that no online retailer is able to
obtain Volume 16 of the UK set it does appear that Laurel and Hardy
Hal Roach DVDs may soon not be released in Europe at all.

Wonder what the story behind the Volume 16 disc MARITIME
ADVENTURES being so difficult to get these days is all about? Maybe
not
many DVDs of #16 were pressed? Who knows. But it is strange that this
particular disc is not available from online retailers.

Post by KennyM
If more of the UK discs become difficult to obtain then it would
suggest that is it for Europe which just leaving Hallmark means the
Hal Roach Laurel and Hardy films not being seen at all in future is a
frightening possibility.

What do you mean by, "Europe which just leaving Hallmark"? KirchGroup
and
Hallmark are totally seperate companies that have nothing to do with
one
another whatsoever. One owns exclusive rights to the Hal Roach
Library in Europe, the other (sound era shorts/features) in the US and
Canada.

[KennyM]

Post by Mister Levity
What do you mean by, "Europe which just leaving Hallmark"? KirchGroup
and Hallmark are totally seperate companies that have nothing to do with
one another whatsoever. One owns exclusive rights to the Hal Roach
Library in Europe, the other (sound era shorts/features) in the US and
Canada.

Worded that incorrectly as it did suggest they are linked. What I
meant to say was if the sound era of the Hal Roach Library in Europe
was no-longer being issued the only option would be the separate
Hallmark releases. Not only are these just available in the US and
Canada, but Hallmark have not released every film, and the ones they
have are inferior quality to the European versions.