I looked into it a bit further. Doctor Who was initially recorded on tape, specifically 2" Quadruplex videotape. That is all the BBC saved (and ultimately chose to erase and reuse). They did transfer to 16mm film for sending elsewhere.
But the point is that these are people who actually stole BBC property, not merely people who recorded off-air. Not that I fault them for that, but that is why people are reluctant to turn it over. BBC would keep it and they very well can be charged with a crime. Really, the BBC should offer full amnesty, a guarantee that they will return videotape and/or film once they have had it copied to a more modern medium, and a significant payment per episode recovered. There is no commercial reason to go after such old cases, especially when there is so much value in getting the episodes back.
Thanks for checking it up. So actually most of the story is probably incorrect since it says they took film reels from bins/skips. When in reality it seems they stole reusable magnetic tape.
Agree on everything else though. If they want it back they need to have it down in writing they will not pursue them in any way, civil or criminal.
I looked into it a bit further. Doctor Who was initially recorded on tape, specifically 2" Quadruplex videotape. That is all the BBC saved (and ultimately chose to erase and reuse). They did transfer to 16mm film for sending elsewhere.
But the point is that these are people who actually stole BBC property, not merely people who recorded off-air. Not that I fault them for that, but that is why people are reluctant to turn it over. BBC would keep it and they very well can be charged with a crime. Really, the BBC should offer full amnesty, a guarantee that they will return videotape and/or film once they have had it copied to a more modern medium, and a significant payment per episode recovered. There is no commercial reason to go after such old cases, especially when there is so much value in getting the episodes back.
Thanks for checking it up. So actually most of the story is probably incorrect since it says they took film reels from bins/skips. When in reality it seems they stole reusable magnetic tape.
Agree on everything else though. If they want it back they need to have it down in writing they will not pursue them in any way, civil or criminal.