Quote: TonyT @ 27th August 2017, 10:31 AMI was thinking about this, and wondering if, as a collective, it would be possible to buy the rights and then sell them sell the DVD or something, but it's probably more than any of us would be prepared to invest, and as you say, I doubt the returns would be that good.
I'd love to do this for a few shows, but the list of credits on any programme is endless.
I suspect it's more that no one person holds the rights so it;s not a cost issue as such. It was made before the internet and DVD and quite possibly before VHS/Betamax took off. Need to check the dates on that one but there's probably some badly filled in paperwork at the BBC's Written Archives and then a whole load of individuals each of whom you would have to reach agreement with. In some instances such as Mel Smith it will be his estate.
There are some interesting posts by the producer of the Joking Apart DVD about some of the challenges he faced.