Why did HBO Release Vinyl on Blu-Ray Early?

HBO chose to release Vinyl on Blu-Ray as soon as possible instead of waiting until right before the next season.

HBO’s Vinyl wasn’t the hit that they hoped it would be. To that end, the original showrunner Terence Winter — famous for Boardwalk Empire — left after only the first season due to undisclosed creative differences. Some of those differences could have had to do with HBO wanting to right the Vinyl ship as quickly as possible.

Perhaps it was also for that reason that HBO chose to release the DVD and Blu-Ray versions of Vinyl so quickly. The home video release can out on June 7th. For those wondering, the season finale aired on April 17th. That’s a fast turnaround for not only HBO, but television networks as whole. Standard practice is to wait a month or two before the next season before having releasing on DVD.

Check out this feature on creating Vinyl’s 70’s feel:

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With, Vinyl, however, it’s obvious that HBO wants to do things a little differently. Having the first season of Vinyl out there so quickly allows viewers to give it a second chance while it’s still on their minds. It also allows a cleaner break from the first season if season two is going to go in a different direction.

It’s also worth pointing out that the release came with little fanfare, almost as if HBO is as eager to move on as everyone else is. If Vinyl is going to return in February to match the first season, that would leave an eight month break between this home video release and season two. That’s an unusually long break, though it’s not unheard of. The second season of Fargo release in February and that isn’t coming back until 2017, also a fast turnaround.

But Fargo is an anthology series, and prior knowledge isn’t necessary to enjoy new seasons — though it does help.

Next: The next Game of Thrones is going to be a bloody one.

This could all be part of a new release plan for HBO, something which would be good for fans eager to get their hands on shiny Blu-Ray’s or DVD’s. Time will tell on that one.