It seems there's nothing like natural beauty to bring out the best in high-definition technology. The BBC's Planet Earth: The Complete Series has been wowing high-definition audiences in the States where it's been pronounced as the biggest money-spinner to ever hit the HD-DVD and Blu-ray disc market.
US consumers have spent an incredible $3.2m on the four-disc set of nature documentaries narrated by David Attenborough. That translates to about 45,000 sets or one for every five owners of next generation HD players – a ratio only a few DVDs can compete with.
Ron Sanders, president of Warner Home Video, which distributes BBC films in the US, believes it's success is down to two factors – the programmes were originally shot in high-definition and are available in both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats.
"This series was made for high definition," Sanders says. "Its success points to consumers wanting to see and hear high-definition content, and there isn't a huge amount of true content available from broadcast or cable or satellite."
Planet Earth producer Alastair Fothergill agrees. All of a sudden switching to high definition "is similar to having a stocking over your head that you pull off," he says,
A shorter version of the series, with Sigourney Weaver narrating, is not yet available on high-definition but sales of the standard DVD version have been recorded as the fastest-selling DVD in Discovery Channel history – surpassing the BBC's other wildlife extravaganza, Blue Planet, the top seller since its launch in 2002.
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