UPDATE 2! Star Wars: Rebels Season 1 Will not Have a Blu-Ray Release in the UK and Australia?
Just a few days ago it was announced that Rebels Season 1 will be officially released on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 1st in the US. Unfortunately now it appears that due to commercial reasons not all countries are getting the Blu-Ray release…
One of our Cantina members adamclark83 contacted Disney Australia/New Zealand customer service team, asking about the release date in his country. Here’s the reply:
“Hi,
In response to your query regarding Star Wars Rebels S1 on Blu-ray, unfortunately Australia will not be releasing a Blu-ray version of this series, mainly for commercial reasons. Note: UK also are not releasing on Blu-ray, which ultimately impacts the Australian market.
Thanks again for your feedback.
Disney Australia/New Zealand Customer Service Team”
Both countries are still getting the DVD release, but if you live in the UK or Australia and want the Blu-ray, you will have to import one from the US. This is indeed unfortunate news since the Blu-ray will have bonus features that are not included in the DVD. Also it is worth mentioning that at this point the US Blu-ray is listed an Amazon.com as being region coded to Region A/1: North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. So if you’re from Europe or Australia you won’t be able to play it.
For more on the US release and the bonus features click HERE.
UPDATE!
It appears there is still hope. We received another update from our member adamclark83 from Australia:
Just got off the phone to Disney Australia and it seems they are in discussion with Disney HQ in Burbank about a Blu-ray of this in Australia. They asked me to email them late next week about an update.
Now we wait for the reply next week.
UPDATE 2!
While we’re waiting to see the development on the Blu-ray release in Australia, Lucasfilm’s Tracy Cannobbio took to Twitter to confirm that there is finally an official word that Season 1 will be released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray. Stay tuned for the official confirmation on Australia, but since both markets are connected this could be considered good news for both countries.
For all the fans asking…we are happy to confirm that the #StarWarsRebels Season 1 box set WILL be available on Blu-ray in the UK!
— Tracy Cannobbio (@Tcann13) July 6, 2015
It’s always good to see a story coming to a good end. Thanks again to adamclark83 for alerting us on this issue.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
Well that will just make people download it illegally..how backwards are these companies?..I understand rights issues etc but really? What really pisses me off is when you get a trailer or and avdert for a show or a film and they have blocked it because you are not in the correct location..seriously how thick are these people? any advertising is good advertising and everybody knows ways around stuff being locked like that..
That’s pretty shitty. Not your comment but the fact that the other countries not being able to get the BD version.
This. Exactly this.
Then they moan about how piracy is killing their bottom line.
Way to criminalise fans.
They did the same with last season of Clone wars. Just buy Rebels on Bluray when it hits Germany.
Disney are fools.
Yes and before any grammar Nazi’s or dictionary dicks point out my spelling..I am sorry
you did only a mistake here… nazis’… don’t worry
No laser slingshot for you… Two weeks!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I don’t understand, they’ve done this sort of thing with Marvel’s Agent Carter as well… its like they don’t want my money…
This discrimination against people with OCD.
Seriously, Disney! You can’t afford to offer the same content world wide????
As spanish fan, I feel cheated. Clone Wars: Lost Missions was never released in my country, on DVD or Blu-Ray, and I was forced to buy a german edition. Now Rebels is going to have release limitations in certain countries? An odd play of the Disney Trade Federation.
I dunno, but in italy they never released the clone wars on blu ray at all… i got it from germany…
Can someone explain what the “commercial reasons” are?
At a guess, Amazon wants you to stream it from them in HD (given how dire the quality of their HD streams I’d, that’s a no from me)
the point is that I’m not sure that us blurays cant be played on EU players… thats because of some stupid region restrictions… still not to worry: If you dont have problems with the description on the back being in german, german edition will do fine. it did with the clone wars collectors to me.
ALSO just checked US Eedition… it is playable in europe aswell and includes spanish/french language too.
That is such a disappointment. I was looking forward to buying this on Blu-ray in the UK but not anymore!
Commercial reasons I would assume we mean the lack of widespread acceptance of the plateaued Blu-ray format. It would just be cheaper to distribute single format that everyone could purchase. The HD and special features are excellent on the iTunes version. Plus you don’t have to wait a half year, you just have to wait until a day after airs.
It’s a shame that its not being released on Blu-ray, but at least I know now that it’s defiantly coming to dvd in the UK. With Clone Wars The Lost Missions not being released here, I was worried rebels wouldn’t be either.
The Clone Wars Lost Missions US blu Ray is multi regional – plays in the UK. I guess Rebels will also.
And they wonder why people steal online. It’s what I do. Anyone want the link?
LOL so Australia also banned Rebels for brutality like games or movies? XD
No, who said it was banned here in Australia, are you Australian?, I watch all the reruns nightly on DisneyXD..
Sucks,would have liked the bluray of this for Siege of Lothal alone,still,the resolution on DVD’s is fine for animation so I’m not too bothered.
So it’s fine to film Star Wars in the UK but the fans don’t deserve the Blu ray? Wtf is that all about. Why not just make the Blu ray region free and let anyone who wants it buy it on line. That way the production & shipping cost are absorbed by the customer (as is the case anyway). This only encourages piracy & a loss of respect ffrom the fans. I do recall an Australian chap from the 501st just walked around the entire coast of Australia dressed as a storm trooper. Surly he’s not the only Aussie fan.
What is wrong with Disney first its 3D content now its 2D also what do u mean by commercial reasons
Hey guys, sorry for the off topic but look at this early sketches http://marvel.com/news/comics/24797/open_stuart_immonens_star_wars_sketchbook (no time for submiting this the correct way).
Would have bought it, now I’ll just download it illegally
Star Wars Official Site has announced a Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Fan Art Contest!!!
http://www.starwars.com/star-wars-rebels-season-2-fan-art-contest
Where is the dislike button. This blows
I guess it’l be DVD for me then
if you own an Xbox One or a PS4, you can play a US copy in your console, as neither are region locked. There are ways of unlocking certain players too
Unlocking the player is the way to go then I think. Once you pay for hardware, you should have every right to do with it what you want.
I’ve emailed Disney support to get an answer to it all. I’m kind of getting sick and tired of the way non U.S. fans get treat.
I was planning on buying this, but now I am not so keen. The DVD medium is already a generation old and I am guessing will not be readable by next gen players in the not too distant future. Why would I buy the old format. I am not buying VHS either.
I am Australian and fortunate enough to have DVD and blu-ray players which are region free. I import 95% of my movies and shows due to piss poor decisions like this and for the fact in several cases I have owned movies for years before Australia gets a release
Just did a live chat with Amazon and they have confirmed this will be Region Free.
Also, Disney Australia said the reason why the UK and Australia miss out on several extras that America gets is because they include additional language options that reduces disc space.
Most Australians have region free players anyway (even the ones which are suppose to be restricted aren’t). I’ll be ordering mine online.
Here we go again just like prequel bashing! Who care? I saw EP I of season 2 and that is not without movie continuity flaws! Why are they copying adventure points and getaways of EP IV-VI!? This implies Darth Vader, Gran Moff Tarkin and Emporor Palpatine are bumbling knobs in space never being a threat to the rebels to really need a Ben Kenobi, Luke Skywalker or Yoda as Jedi because the rebellion is not ANH Tarkin crushed!?
Yeah, cos the UK and Australia have no interest in Star Wars WHATSOEVER!! Does the American edition include an English language version?
because in america they dont speak english… just try to think…
Really its no big deal, if you own a PS4 or xbox one you can watch them fine, otherwise you can unlock your br players to be region free. I do it all the time, get to save some $ and get it cheaper OS…
Maybe if you all open your eyes and wake up! you will know that there is always something behind something and everything is always the opposite! Do you really think its just about the release of a blu ray disc, I mean really! No further comment!
let’s just say it has everything to do with the economic climate! There’s a storm coming around the 4th quarter!
European and Austrailian fans can purchase a region free player though if they wish to import the blu Ray. I can’t imagaine a life without my region free player.
i live in england i shall get the german copy from amazon germany its a little anoying but hey ho thats the way it goes
For any of the Aussies here like me that deal with this rubbish on the reg, the ‘Good Guys’ stores have a region free Blu Ray player for around $90 I think. I’ve got region A Blu Rays from Amazon and they work fine – Thomson (Model BDP-G2603).
Omg who the hell cares!
https://youtu.be/E5Q7CcINC8M
Coolio
To be honest I think Disney are really pissing off a lot of people. Rebels season 2 premier has been show pretty much all over the world . But good old Blighty gets it in 20 minute chunks once a week on Disney XD! WTF is that all about ?