“Downton Abbey” season 3 DVD already in stores

[Colorado Media Newsroom]

From The Denver Post:

Joss Barratt/Carnival Film & Television Limited
Downton Abbey season 3 DVDs on sale in the midst of the season

If you wanted to maintain the image of a classy, critically acclaimed, exclusive bit of programming on your very special network, wouldn’t you hold back the streaming and DVD sales until after the first run of the program on the air?
Not in the current multi-platform environment, when programmers know they’ve got to be everywhere to be seen. The whole push is to meet the viewers where they are, on social media, on mobile devices, in the store and, also, on the couch.
So, if you were surprised to see DVDs of “Downton Abbey” season 3 for sale at Target already, then you’re thinking like an outdated, too defensive network executive. Let a thousand platforms bloom. The broad strategy makes even more sense when you factor in the earlier “Downton” airings in the UK, and the sneaky ways people have found to stream those episodes before the US premiere.
Have at it, and promise not to spoil the drama for those who are waiting patiently for Sunday nights on PBS.


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