Game of Thrones reunion special is coming — to DVD, not HBO
Instead, Entertainment Weekly notes today that this reunion special, which has already been confirmed to include none other than Sean Bean (Ned Stark!), will eventually be featured as a part of a complete series set.
From a business vantage point, we somewhat understand the move here. Most Game of Thrones fans with a good internet connection have no real reason to buy a complete series DVD or Blu-Ray set, mostly given the fact that they’ve already got the complete series on HBO GO or HBO NOW. Yet, doing this adds another incentive for people to purchase the complete collection … though we’re also not entirely sure just how many casual fans of the series will be forking over likely hundreds of dollars in order to check out some more interviews, including one with many original cast members.
The Game of Thrones series box set could feasibly come out in time for the holiday season next year, given that the eighth and final season will be premiering in April. It certainly seems like HBO would want it out there by November, at the latest, to make good on the holiday season. Depending on what other special features / collectible items are included, it does nonetheless feel like something that diehard fans would consider purchasing. The show is a part of television history, but we do always wonder this: How many people who go out and purchase individual seasons will then also want to buy the complete series set down the line? It’s double-dipping and that’s not something all viewers want to do. (At this point, we wouldn’t even consider buying individual seasons knowing that HBO is probably going to do something big and comprehensive down the line — though its possible that the individual seasons may have their own unique features.)
In the end, the DVD / Blu-Ray sales game is a tricky one, and we do understand that HBO is probably just trying to make the most of their cash cow anyway that they possibly can. At present, a reunion special with cast members viewers haven’t seen in ages seems to be a rather-great way to do it. (We should certainly note that the network has not confirmed who is actually appearing in the reunion, but we expect a number of other familiar faces when the dust actually settles.
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What do you want to see when it comes to a Game of Thrones reunion special, and are you surprised that this was put on the DVD set and not on HBO proper? Be sure to share right now in the attached comments. (Photo: HBO.)