HC on DVD: 
Now a matter of 'when' not 'if'

    Below is a report from Andy Klyde, the attorney for Bonanza Ventures, Inc. regarding the current status of research and negotiation underway for the DVD release of both The High Chaparral and Bonanza.  This is the most encouraging news we have heard in a long time that indicates the awareness and desire is there once the ownership issues are untangled.  We are fortunate that Andy is also a passionate fan of both shows and has been candid with us about the status of any DVD release.  He has assured us that he is continuing to actively pursue whatever avenues might lead to the release of the DVD's. 
 

                                BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL on DVD
A Report by Andy Klyde
Lawyer for Bonanza Ventures, Inc. (BVI) and David Dortort
(David and Andy, incognito at left, August 2005)
 April 18, 2006

         First, a little corporate history: in 1973, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) barred television networks from participating in the syndication of their own shows, National Telefilm Associates (NTA) purchased the NBC library of television programs. In 1986, NTA changed its name to Republic Pictures Corporation (aka Republic Entertainment). (NTA had achieved such great success with its purchase of Republic Studios’ library of films that it later bought the Republic name and logo; that is why BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL episodes have the Republic “eagle” tacked onto their end credits). Aaron Spelling’s Spelling Entertainment Group (which included WorldVision Enterprises, spun off from ABC Films in 1971 to syndicate ABC-owned shows) later purchased Republic, and in 1999 Spelling/Republic merged with Viacom (created originally in 1971 to distribute CBS-owned shows; in 1984 Viacom merged with Paramount Communications, and in 2000 Viacom merged, ironically, with CBS). Now BONANZA and HC episodes have the Paramount “mountain” logo following the end credits. (Excised, sadly, from BONANZA prints is the “trickling coins” watercolor proclaiming an “NBC Television Network Production.”)

     At a recent meeting with executives from NBC Universal, I discussed the status of THE HIGH CHAPARRAL and BONANZA and the possibilities of their imminent release on DVD. With regard to HC, NBC has certain obligations it must meet vis à vie worldwide distribution of the series. At present, CBS Paramount International is responsible for distribution outside the U.S. The executives promised to report back to me after they determine what Paramount has done, distribution-wise, which will determine whether Paramount will continue to distribute the series (both in television syndication and on home video/DVD), whether NBC Universal will take over the series, or another entity chosen by Bonanza Ventures. As soon as the executives make their report, we will have a better idea of when the process of making HC available on DVD will begin. I emphasize it is a question of “when,” not “if,” episodes will appear on DVD.

     Regarding BONANZA, it is also a question of "when" and a matter of communication and coordination between NBC Universal executives, executives at Paramount Home Entertainment, and CBS.  Early in 2006 Viacom completed its split into separate CBS and Viacom companies, and as a result, oversight of the pre-1973 NBC library – which includes BONANZA – passed to CBS from Paramount. Paramount Home Entertainment is now just the home video distributor of the NBC library. CBS has expressed interest recently in releasing BONANZA on DVD in North America (with rights to distribution in other territories, like Germany, having been sub-licensed by Paramount to a European distribution company; BVI is a profit participant in this deal, but did not specifically authorize it).

     It is my hope and wish to have maximum input into the selection of episodes for these DVD releases, as well as the content of "extras," which I feel must also be included in season sets.
 

The Guest  Map

While the Guest Log has closed, the Guest Map is still open and awaiting your entry.  Here's a way to show there are HC friends far and wide.  Place your pin in the map and register your support for HC on DVD.  You can also post any of your recollections about The High Chaparral and why you think it is important to preserve it in its entirety before it is lost to neglect and bad cable channel editing.  Just click on the globe.  Use your Back button to return here. 

The DVD Campaign

     Our desire to get the show released on DVD exists on several levels.  First, of course, is the purely selfish one:  we would all like to be able to purchase the legal, uncut, commercial-free, first-generation quality episodes which many people have not seen in decades.  Second, even those of us with access to cable reruns (I don't know of any at the moment) or who own VHS copies of old TV re-runs, are concerned about the loss of both quantity and quality as time goes on.  For a series that broke new ground in so many ways and had such excellent production and cinematography to be lost to neglect and bad editing when the technology now exists to save it and share it would be truly unconscionable even if only in terms of the value of the historical archive. 

     For more than three years the High Chaparral Discussion Group and this website have been actively engaged in trying to get the show released on DVD, uncut, commercial-free, and first generation quality - qualities that no amateur bootleg collection can achieve.  We have met several times with Andy Klyde, the attorney for Bonanza Ventures, Inc. and a variety of network executives to try to untangle the complicated ownership issues that have clouded the copyrights.  We have compiled and presented the entries from the original Guest Log, from the Guest Map, and from the DVD petition.  Requests to purchase DVDs have come from every state in the United States and from at least 59 countries around the globe: