RoS Media

Network RoS Blu-ray Discs, DVDs & videos

The Network Robin of Sherwood Blu-ray Discs and DVDs are available in the UK from the media stores and from Network's website (and other Internet media stores). For enquiries contact:

Network Distributing Limited
19-20 Berghem Mews
Blythe Road
London
W14 0HN
United Kingdom
phone: (UK) 01992 657707
email: shop@networkonair.com

Blu-ray Discs (Region B)

Network has released Robin of Sherwood on Region B (Europe) Blu-ray Disc, with new HD transfers taken from the original film elements.
The Michael Praed episodes were released on 15 November 2010 for £34.72 (7957033). This 4-disc release consists of the first two series in a single set and contains English subtitles and numerous special features, including commentaries, an extensive Making Of documentary and expanded, HD versions of The Electric Theatre Show documentary and stills.
The Jason Connery episodes were released on 31 October 2011, also for £34.72 (7957034). This 4-disc release contains series 3, and also a host of special features, including a HD still gallery of over 400 images, a TV-am location report, and PDF copies of six series three scripts. They also have an 8-disc RoS Complete Series box (7953486), that contains everything from the above sets.

About Blu-Ray Regions

The Blu-ray Disc region coding scheme divides the world into 3 regions, labeled A, B, and C:

includes most North, Central and South American and Southeast Asian countries plus the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Korea
includes most European, African and southwest Asian countries plus Australia and New Zealand
contains the remaining central and south Asian countries, as well as the People's Republic of China and Russia

DVDs (Region 0 PAL / Region 1 NTSC)

Network has released Robin of Sherwood on Region 0 ("region free", i.e. plays on any DVD player) PAL DVD. Series 1 was released on 11 March 2002, Series 2 on 1 July 2002, Series 3 Part 1 on 28 October 2002, and Series 3 Part 2 on 25 November 2002.

The RoS DVDs feature new digital transfers, newly enhanced Dolby Surround track and the original mono track.
Picture: 4:3 (16:9) colour.
Sound: Dolby Surround English.
Subtitles: NONE! (i.e. not even English, let alone German or French or Dutch or any other language - see below for the DVD releases in other languages).
Special features:

Vol 1: Commentary with creator Richard Carpenter and director Ian Sharp (Episodes 1 and 2), "The Electric Theatre Show" documentary from 1983, "The Making of Robin of Sherwood" Part 1 of a 2-part documentary, Clannad promo for "Robin the Hooded Man", Stills gallery, French titles.
Vol 2: Commentary with creator Richard Carpenter and director Ian Sharp (Episode 6), "The Making of Robin of Sherwood" Part 2 of a 2-part documentary, Series 1 out-takes, Richard Carpenter's original treatment, Biographies, Stills gallery, Textless titles.
Bonus Disc 3: "The Electric Theatre Show" unseen footage, Clannad promo footage.
N.B.: This disc is no longer part of the boxed sets anymore since about October 2005.
Vol 3: Music only tracks, Stills gallery, Series 2 French Titles.
Vol 4: "The Swords of Wayland" commentary with director Robert Young and producer Paul Knight, "The Making of Robin of Sherwood" Series 2 documentary, Stills gallery, Series 2 out-takes, US titles.
N.B.: The sound on the Season 2 "making-of" documentary was mixed on the wrong amount of channels, so whether you can hear it or not depends on what sort of sound system it's playing on -- it is not an individual disc problem!
Vol 5: Commentaries with Jason Connery, Mark Ryan and Clive Mantle (episodes 1 and 2), Music only track (episodes 1 and 3), "The Making of Robin of Sherwood" Series 3 documentary (Part 1), Stills gallery, "Robin Hood 1-2-3 Screen Swordplay short.
Vol 6: Commentaries with Jason Connery, Mark Ryan and Clive Mantle (episodes 4 and 5), Music only track (episode 5), Promotional Stills gallery, Biographies, "It's Showtime" promotional short from 1985.
Vol 7: Stills gallery, US titles, Commentaries with Jason Connery, Mark Ryan, Nickolas Grace and Anthony Horowitz, Series 3 out-takes.
Vol 8: Esta Charkham's Photographic Retrospective, "The Making of Robin of Sherwood" Series 3 documentary (Part 2), Clannad Interview, TV-am location report, Commentary with director Sid Roberson and producer Esta Charkham (episodes 12 & 13).

Robin of Sherwood came on:

Eight DVDs with 3 episodes per DVD, costing £14.99 each (7952118: Robin Hood and the Sorcerer 1 & 2, The Witch of Elsdon; 7952119: Seven Poor Knights From Acre, Alan A Dale, The King's Fool; 7952120: The Prophecy, The Children of Israel, Lord of the Trees, The Enchantment; 7952121: The Swords of Wayland 1 & 2, The Greatest Enemy; 7952122: Herne's Son 1 & 2, The Power of Albion; 7952123: The Inheritance, The Sheriff of Nottingham, The Cross of St Ciricus; 7952124: Cromm Cruac, The Betrayal, Adam Bell, The Pretender; 7952125: Rutterkin, The Time of the Wolf 1 & 2). No longer available.
Four 2-disc "Complete Series" boxed sets of £17.35 (RRP £30.62) each (7952126, 7952127, 7952128, 7952129). The Complete Series 1 is no longer available.
A 9-disc "The Complete Collection" boxed set (Series 1, 2 & 3 + bonus disc) boxed set of £39.99 (RRP £99.99) (7952137). The "New Packaging" complete series (7952966 or 7953486) costs £39.82 (RRP £61.27) and contains only 8 discs, but still appears to have all the contents of the previous 9 discs.

There was also a limited edition (2500 copies only, originally 1500) 9-disc (The Complete Collection Series 1,2 & 3 + bonus disc) boxed set in Region 1 (USA, Canada, and Japan) NTSC format released on 12 August 2003 for £99.99 (7952130). No longer available.

About DVD Regions

The DVD region code scheme divides the world into 6 regions:

Informal term meaning "worldwide". Region 0 is not an official setting; discs that bear the region 0 symbol either have no flag set or have regions 1-6 flags set
United States, Canada, Bermuda, U.S. territories
Europe (except Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus), Middle East, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Greenland
Southeast Asia, South Korea, Republic of China (Taiwan), Hong Kong, Macau
Mexico, Central America, South America, Oceania
India, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Africa (except Egypt, South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho), Central and South Asia, Mongolia, North Korea
People's Republic of China

There seems to be a bit of confusion about the region code of the RoS PAL DVDs. Network itself lists them as Region 0 (i.e. plays on any DVD player), but most of the resellers list them as Region 2 (Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East including Egypt). Some US buyers report that they don't play in their Region 1 (USA, Canada, US Territories) DVD player, others that they do, and they are also reported to play in some Region 1 computer DVD players. Of course, there is also the additional difference between PAL (most of Europe and Autralasia) and NTSC (USA, Canada, and Japan). The best shot for US RoS fans who want to buy and play the Region 0 PAL DVDs seems to buy a code free (also called region free) DVD player with a built-in PAL/NTSC convertor. One such DVD player that is reported to indeed play the RoS DVDs on a US NTSC TV is the Sampo Premium 611. An ordinary Region 1 DVD player that is reported to play the RoS DVDs is the Apex 1500, which also has a built-in PAL/NTSC convertor. Some useful Websites for buying code free DVD players:

Videos (PAL and NTSC)

On 13 September 1999 Network released the first and second RoS series and on 8 October 1999 the third RoS series on PAL (most of Europe and Autralasia) videos. Digitally remastered, with new covers, some minor editing of the episodes, improved picture and sound quality, and with 4 wonderful postcards per box (i.e. 32 postcards in total).

The whole series came on 8 tapes, with 3 episodes per tape. The tapes costed £12.99 each, but are no longer available.

Since March 2000 they also delivered the tapes in NTSC (USA, Canada, and Japan) format, but these tapes are completely sold out.

As from 13 March 2000, the complete series was also available in two limited edition boxed sets, "THE MICHAEL PRAED COLLECTION" and "THE JASON CONNERY COLLECTION", each set with 5 tapes featuring 13 episodes and 16 postcards. The boxes costed £49.99 each and were available in both PAL and NTSC format. These limited edition Praed and Connery box sets sold out and the titles were deleted.

The videotapes are no longer available, but they show up on Internet auctions like eBay.

RoS Blu-ray Discs and DVDs for USA and other languages

The Network RoS Blu-rays, DVDs and video tapes have also been re-released in other countries by other companies in different formats or with subtitles.

USA (Acorn Media)

RoS was released on Region 1 DVD in North America and Canada by the US company Acron Media. These DVDs contain the same extras - with the exception of a Clannad music video - and remastered quality as the Network release in the UK. The first two seasons were released as a set on 13 March 2007 and the third season was released end September 2007. The two 4-vol. / 5 discs boxed sets (Set 1 / # 13262 and Set 2 / # 13545) cost $59.99 U.S./$72.99 CAN each. Since May 2008 there is also a "The Complete Collection" 19 discs boxed set (# 13907) available, which costs U$99.99.

Acron Media also released Robin of Sherwood Set 1 (i.e. with all 13 episodes from Series 1 and 2) on Region A Blu-ray Disc on 7 June 2011 for SRP U$79.99. See the reviews in Row3 and LensViews. This 3-BD/1-DVD set features: English and Polish Subtitles (main program); a 40 page booklet written by Simon Wells outlining, in great detail, the development of the series including writing, casting, locations and music; 5 episode commentaries by series creator Richard Carpenter, director Ian Sharp, and producer Paul Knight; behind-the-scenes documentary, The Electric Theatre Show, upgraded and expanded from the original series; Nothing's Forgotten: The Making of Robin of Sherwood (remastered), two documentaries about the making of Series 1 and 2 (102 min.); new featurettes for three episodes; 40-page booklet with extensive production notes; photo galleries with nearly 500 images in HD; outtakes; PDF material including PR, Richard Carpenter's original story treatment, and several scripts (access via the bonus DVD via your computer); and more!
They released the Robin of Sherwood Set 2 (3rd Season) bluy-rays on 14 February 2012.

Other languages

The Network RoS DVDs have been or will be released in the following other languages or subtitles:

Polish, by Montezuma (was: Studio Printel). Series 1 (DVDs 1+2) was released on 1 December 2005, Series 2 (DVDs 3+4+5) on 15 February 2006 and Series 3 on ???. The disks cost 19.00 Zloty (PLN) each.
German (partly dubbed and partly subtitled), by Koch Media. The 3-DVD Series 1 box (DVM000216D) was released on 11 Aug 2006, the 3-DVD Series 2 box (DVM000217D) on 10 Nov 2006, the 4-DVD Series 3 box (DVM000218D) on 9 Feb 2007, and the 10-DVD complete series Superbox (DVM000775D) on 26 March 2010. The boxes cost EUR 29.99 each, except for the superbox which is EUR 49.99.
Dutch (subtitled), by Just Entertainment. The 2-DVD Season 1 box (8717344728157) was released on 22 Jan 2007, the 3-DVD Season 2 box (8717344728706) on 8 Mar 2007, and the 4-DVD Season 3 box (8717344728720) on 11 May 2007. The boxes cost EUR 19.95 each. There are also a 5-DVD Season1&2 (8717344731577) box and a 9-DVD complete series box (8717344728447), the latter costing EUR 29.95.
Scandinavian (subtitled in Swedish, Danish, Norse and Finnish), by DVD Data-Mate. The 2-DVD Season 1 box was released on 25 Jul 2007, the 2-DVD Season 2 box on 17 Sep 2007, and the 4-DVD Season 3 box on 31 Oct 2007. The boxes cost DKK 199 each.

Video Gems RoS videos (PAL only)

In the UK, the entire Robin of Sherwood series was released on PAL video tape by Video Gems, but they are now out of print (although you may chance upon them somewhere, e.g. at Internet auctions like eBay. They were released in two 600 mins. boxed sets of 3 tapes each, containing all of the Michael Praed episodes / series 1 and 2 (R1424) and all of the Jason Connery episodes / series 3 (R1558):

There where also five twin tape, 360 mins. boxes (R1424: entire first series; R1425: entire second series; R1430: series 3 eps 1-4 Herne's Son 1 & 2, The Power of Albion, The Inheritance; R1431: series 3 eps 5-8 The Sheriff of Nottingham, The Cross of Saint Ciricus, Cromm Cruac, The Betrayal; R1432: series 3 eps 9-13 Adam Bell, The Pretender, Rutterkin, The Time of the Wolf 1 & 2), with each tape containing 3 or 2 episodes:

But there were also eightteen single tapes with two episodes (100 mins) or one episode (52 mins): (R1250: Robin Hood and the Sorceror 1 & 2; R1294: The Witch of Elsdon, Seven Poor Knights from Acre; R1306: Alan A Dale, The King's Fool; R1313: The Prophecy, The Children of Israel; R1370: The Enchantment, Lord of the Trees; R1340: The Swords of Wayland 1 & 2; R1374: The Greatest Enemy; R1375: Herne's Son 1 & 2; R1376: The Power of Albion; R1377: The Inheritance; R1378: The Sheriff of Nottingham; R1379: The Cross of Saint Ciricus; R1380 Cromm Cruac; R1381: The Betryal; R1382: Adam Bell; R1383: The Pretender; R1384: Rutterkin; R1385: The Time of the Wolf 1 & 2)

Playhouse Video/CBS Fox RoS videos (NTSC only)

A long time ago (1991) there were 4 Robin of Sherwood video tapes (the 4 two-hour episodes) released by Playhouse Video/CBS Fox in the USA NTSC format:

Robin Hood and The Sorcerer,
Robin Hood and The Swords of Wayland,
Robin Hood: Herne's Son,
Robin Hood: Time of the Wolf.

These are long since on moratorium but you may come across them at Internet auctions like eBay.

RoS Blooper Tapes

Yes, there are RoS blooper tapes (or rather: outtake tapes), but they are not for sale anywhere. Copies are circulating around out there -- of varying quality and completeness -- but none of them are "legal". The actors and others involved in RoS made the bloopers for their own personal use and sold them to raise money towards the Variety Club Sunshine Coach they bought for a school for the handicapped in Bristol. The crew own the copyright on the tapes and really don't want them being circulated or sold. A copy has been made available to Spirit of Sherwood to show at gatherings and conventions, but as you can understand we can't make copies of it for other fans. You can watch them at the Weekend in Sherwood cons. For more info on the blooper/outtake tapes, see the Bloopers page.

However, some of the outtakes feature on the Network RoS DVDs...(see above).

Conventions videos

Silver Arrow & Legend videos/DVDs

The convention videos/DVDs of Silver Arrow '97, '98, and 2000 and Legend 2004 and 2006 (and soon 2008) are available from Mr. Eric De Bock (Email: TalesSherwoodForest@mail.be).

RoS videos on-line

If you're in the USA, you can watch the Robin of Sherwood episodes on-line via Hulu.

Your Online Video Guide has RoS videos up.

And of course there are many RoS clips to be found on YouTube.

Last updated Tue 5 Jan 2016