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Discovery Channel's 'Human Body' Coming to Blu-ray

Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, Image Entertainment, Discovery Channel (all tags)

The Discovery Channel is set to go where no high-def release has gone before with the Blu-ray debut of its controversial four-part series 'Human Body: Pushing the Limits this July.'

Taking viewers across continents to introduce them to people who have pushed their bodies to the max, 'Human Body' uses CGI technology and hi-tech camera work to examine their subjects' physical ordeals in vivid detail -- both externally and internally. (Eeek!)

Image will present the complete four-episode, 180-minute series on a BD-50 dual-layer disc in 1080p video and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio.

There are no announced supplemental features.

Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.98

You'll find the latest specs for 'Human Body: Pushing the Limits' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 29.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Discovery Channel's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Human Body: Pushing the Limits' Blu-ray release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Human Body: Pushing the Limits (Blu-ray)

Discovery Channel Plans 'Deadliest Catch' Blu-ray, HD DVD

Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 01:04 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, Discovery Channel (all tags)

The Discovery Channel is set to hit the high seas next month with the next-gen disc debut of its hit series, 'Deadliest Catch.'

Hot on the heels of strong sales for its dual-format releases of 'Planet Earth' (the re-edited and re-scored US Version) and 'Sunrise Earth,' Discovery will release Blu-ray and HD DVD editions of 'Deadliest Catch: Season 3,' which culls all twelve episodes of the series' third season, chronicling the lives of crab fisherman off the Alaskan coast on the icy Bering Sea.

Like Discovery's earlier titles, 'Deadliest Catch' will be sold exclusively by The Discovery Channel Store, which recently listed both next-gen editions online with a release date of February 4, 2008. (At press time, both titles carried a $59.95 price tag.)

Tech and supplement specs for 'Deadliest Catch' are minimal, with the four-disc set presenting all twelve episodes in 1080i video and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio. There are no announced supplements

You'll find complete disc details for 'Deadliest Catch: Season 3' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 4, 2008.

We've also set up dedicated threads for Discovery Channel's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Deadliest Catch' Blu-ray release and the 'Deadliest Catch' HD DVD release.

Related links:
Deadliest Catch: Season 3 (Blu-ray) [Discovery Channel Store ]
Deadliest Catch: Season 3 (HD DVD) [Discovery Channel Store ]
Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Deadliest Catch: Season 3 (Blu-ray)
Deadliest Catch: Season 3 (HD DVD)
Sunrise Earth: American Sunrises Vol 1 (Blu-ray)
Sunrise Earth: American Sunrises Vol 1 (HD DVD)
Planet Earth (US Version) (Blu-ray)
Planet Earth (US Version) (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Discovery Channel To Release 'Sunrise Earth' Blu-ray, HD DVD (Oct 15, 2007)
'Planet Earth' Goes All-American in New HD DVD, Blu-ray Release (Jul 16, 2007)

Discovery Channel Goes All-American with 'Sunrise Earth' Blu-ray, HD DVD

Mon Oct 15, 2007 at 02:30 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, Discovery Channel (all tags)

Following its high-def release of the US edition of 'Planet Earth,' the Discovery Channel is back with American-themed Blu-ray and HD DVD box set editions of its popular series 'Sunrise Earth' this December.

As we've previously reported, back in April, the BBC released next-gen versions of its phenomenally successful documentary series 'Planet Earth,' which went on to shatter high-def sales records for a box set release. The Discovery Channel later began selling its own re-edited and re-scored version of the show, releasing new next-gen editions exclusively via its online store this past July to further strong sales.

Apparently hoping lightning will strike twice, Discovery Channel is now taking a similar approach with its next high-def release. 'Sunrise Earth: American Sunrise' compiles thirteen US-specific episodes from the popular series, which features breathtaking footage of sunrises across the world, all captured completely in high-definition.

As with 'Planet Earth,' The Discovery Channel's distribution rights to 'Sunrise Earth' appear to be limited to direct sales. As such, the channel recently listed three separate box set editions of the series at Discovery Channel Store. The standard DVD version ($49.95), and both next-gen editions ($59.95 for the Blu-ray and the HD DVD) all show an announced release date of December 4, 2007.

Exact tech specs for 'American Sunrise' were not yet available at press time, but supplements on the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions are set to include the bonus program "Secrets of the Sun," which takes a look at the history of the sun and some of its most recently-discovered secrets. We'll keep you posted as final tech specs are confirmed.

In the meantime, you'll find the latest disc details for 'Sunrise Earth: American Sunrise' linked rom our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 4.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Discovery Channel's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Sunrise Earth' Blu-ray release and the 'Sunrise Earth' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Sunrise Earth: American Sunrises Vol 1 (Blu-ray)
Sunrise Earth: American Sunrises Vol 1 (HD DVD)
Planet Earth (US Version) (Blu-ray)
Planet Earth (US Version) (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
'Planet Earth' Goes All-American in New HD DVD, Blu-ray Release (Jul 16, 2007)
'Planet Earth' Generates Record HD DVD, Blu-ray Sales Revenue (Jun 07, 2007)

'Planet Earth' Goes All-American in New HD DVD, Blu-ray Release

Mon Jul 16, 2007 at 11:58 AM ET
Tags: Discovery Channel, BBC, Disc Announcements (all tags)

Can't get enough 'Planet Earth' on High-Def? Now there's a new edition of the groundbreaking series bound for Blu-ray and HD DVD.

The series first hit both next-gen formats back in April from the BBC, featuring the original narration by legendary nature documentarian David Attenborough. That edition went on to break High-Def sales records, generating more revenue than any other HD DVD/Blu-ray release to date.

Now a second version of 'Planet Earth' is hitting both HD DVD and Blu-ray -- the version that was presented in the series' US television run, which replaced Attenborough's narration with the decidedly less British actress/conservationist Sigourney Weaver.

This new version is being released by The Discovery Channel (which aired 'Planet Earth' in the US), although it would seem that the cable network's distribution rights to the series are limited to direct sales.

As such, the channel recently listed three separate box set editions of its version of the series at Discovery Channel Store. While the standard DVD version ($69.95) is already available, the next gen editions ($99.95 each) show an an estimated ship date of July 30, 2007.

The Discovery Channel has also been advertising a separate website (pedvd.com) that's selling the first three episodes of 'Planet Earth' on a single disc at $14.95 on both next-gen formats. It wasn't immediately clear whether additional episodes will be available as standalone discs at some point in the future.

There's no word yet on specs or supplemental features for newly configured next-gen editions of the series. Here's hoping that the various featurettes and the bonus doc that were unceremoniously dropped from the BBC high-def editions get their due this time around. (Discovery has included them in its companion standard-def edition, but they appeared on the standard-def BBC edition as well, so that's no great indicator.)

We've added new listings for 'Planet Earth (US Version)' to our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our HD DVD Release Schedule under July 31.

We've also set up dedicated threads for this latest version of the disc in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Planet Earth (US Version)' Blu-ray release or the 'Planet Earth (US Version)' HD DVD release.

(Thanks to Peter S. for the tip!)

Related links:
'Planet Earth (US Version)' Box Set [Discovery Store Online]
'Planet Earth (US Version)' First Disc Promo [pedvd.com]
Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray)
Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (HD DVD)
Planet Earth (US Version) (Blu-ray)
Planet Earth (US Version) (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
'Planet Earth' Generates Record HD DVD, Blu-ray Sales Revenue (Jun 07, 2007)

Discovery Channel Brings 'Atlas' to Blu-ray, HD DVD

Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 01:14 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Discovery Channel (all tags) In a first for high-def, the Discovery Channel is bringing its new series 'Discovery Atlas' to both Blu-ray and HD DVD only days after its television premiere.

The first episode in the series, 'Discovery Atlas: China Revealed' will make its worldwide television premiere on October 1. The episode will then be made available in Discovery's 100-plus retail stores simultaneously on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray by the end of the month, though no exact street date has been announced.

With their announcement, Discovery becomes only the second network to release high-def television content on the next gen formats. HDNet released four volumes of its popular series 'GetOut!' and 'HDNet World Report' on HD DVD back in July.

Discovery has yet to announce technical specs, supplemental details or retail price for the discs, but we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we've added 'Discovery Atlas: China Revealed' to the "Release Dates Pending" sections of our HD DVD Release Schedule and Blu-ray Release Schedule.

Earlier on High-Def Digest:
HDNet to Debut First HD DVD Disc Titles (Jul 07, 2006)

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