ITC/ POLYGRAM
UK 1992-1996, £10.99 each (1996: £11.99 each)
A series of tapes, each containing two episodes. Part of a large release schedule of "classic" ITC fantasy and adventure television series including "Sapphire And Steel", "Supercar", "Fireball XL5", "The Protectors" and "The Champions", all previewed on these tapes. 10,000 copies of each tape were produced and sold exceptionally well.
Sleeve design was bright and attractive, featuring photographs of the leads against a dramatic space-scape. The back covers featured descriptions of the episodes and credits. The notes on the back were headlined "From The Creator Of Thunderbirds, Supercar and Fireball XL5". For the first series the back covers displayed a single small photo (occasionally from the enclosed episodes) and a larger shot of an Eagle flying by domes from "The Bringers Of Wonder". For the second series, the back covers featured four small photos from the episodes and a larger shot of the waste area 2 from "Breakaway". Purists might be irritated by the mixing of Year Two shots with Year One episodes and vice versa, and the frequency that photos were shown reversed left for right.
All the tapes except for volume 21 were based on existing videotape transfers based on 16mm prints. Volume 2, Dragon's Domain and The Testament Of Arkadia, was released twice due to sound compression problems, muting much of the background sound effects and music (including the distinctive Albinoni and Jack Arel tracks). The second release had the same 16-mm image, but the sound was 35mm audio quality. Although the sound was dramatically improved for this second release, some sections of The Testament Of Arkadia have the sound out of sync with the image.
The two episodes on volume 21 in 1996, Breakaway and War Games, were based on 35-mm prints, with much superior image and sound.
The rather strange episode order (for the first series virtually the reverse of the production order) was the "official ITC order" (although this order had never appeared before). The rights to the episodes compiled into the Channel 5/Polygram movies was not available until 1995, so those 8 episodes were not included (however, in 1995 Polygram acquired ITC Ltd).
Most were released two volumes at a time, at three month intervals. The last four tapes were delayed: originally due in February and May 1994, they were released individually from March onwards, with the volume 20 being delayed until February 1995.
The last 4 volumes were released by Polygram (not ITC) with a slightly different sleeve design (the main photo was in a crystal).
Volumes 15 and 16 had an offer for a T shirt from Network Distribution (no relationship to the company that released DVD/Blu-rays from 2005).
Vol 1 |
Matter Of Life And Death,
The Infernal Machine
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ITC 8160. Released 10th March 1992. Rated U
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Cover: reversed Year 1 publicity shot of Koenig & Helena
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Vol 2 |
Dragon's Domain,
The Testament Of Arkadia
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ITC 8161. Released 10th March 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: reversed Year 2 publicity shot of Koenig & Helena cowering in fear
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Note: tape had a sound fault muting the music. A corrected version available from May 1992 |
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Vol 3
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The Last Enemy,
Mission Of The Darians
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ITC 8162. Released 13th April 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: somewhat blurred shot of front of rescue Eagle
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| Vol 4 |
The Troubled Spirit,
Space Brain
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ITC 8163. Released 13th April 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: Year 1 publicity shot of Koenig & Helena
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Note: credits state that "The Troubled Spirit" guest stars Anthony Nicholls & Sandra Benes
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Vol 5
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End Of Eternity,
The Full Circle
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ITC 8164. Released 13th July 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: Helena, Koenig (same photo as Vol 1), Alan.
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Vol 6
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Death's Other Dominion,
Voyager's Return
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ITC 8165. Released 13th July 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: Koenig (large), Helena, Koenig in spacesuit from Bringers Of Wonder
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Vol 7
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Alpha Child,
The Last Sunset
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ITC 8166. Released 12th October 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: Helena, with Eagle (as vol 3) & smaller Koenig (as vol 1)
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Vol 8
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Force Of Life,
Guardian Of Piri
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ITC 8167. Released 12th October 1992. Rated PG
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Cover: large blue half face of Koenig, Eagle (as vol 3)
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Vol 9
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Missing Link,
Another Time, Another Place
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ITC 8168. Released 18th January 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: Koenig in spacesuit helmet, Raan, breakaway explosion
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Vol 9
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WHSmith Exclusive Video: Missing Link
Another Time, Another Place
Supercar "Flight Of Fancy"
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ITC 8157. Released 18th January 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: As ITC 8168, with Supercar picture over explosion
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Vol 10
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Earthbound,
Ring Around The Moon
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ITC 8169. Released 18th January 1993. Rated U
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Cover: Large blue profile of Helena; small Eagle on pad; large Zantor
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Vol 10
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WHSmith Exclusive Video: Earthbound
Ring Around The Moon
Supercar "Hostage"
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ITC 8158. Released 18th January 1993. Rated U
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Cover: As ITC 8169, slightly rearranged (the planet top right is different), with Supercar picture
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Vol 11
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The Exiles,
Journey To Where
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ITC 8170. Released 13th April 1993. Rated U
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Cover: Maya (head/shoulders), Cantar & Zova
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| Vol 12 |
One Moment Of Humanity,
All That Glisters
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ITC 8171. Released 13th April 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: Dave Reilly, a small Eagle, Alan, Koenig & Reilly cowering
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Vol 13
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The Mark Of Archanon,
The Taybor
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ITC 8211. Released 26th July 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: Taybor's head, Pasc strangling Alan, smaller Helena (Ring Around the Moon)
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Vol 14
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Brian The Brain,
The Rules Of Luton
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ITC 8212. Released 26th July 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: Koenig in silver spacesuit shining torch; small Alan, Tony & Helena; small Hawk
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Vol 15
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New Adam, New Eve,
Seed Of Destruction
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ITC 8213. Released 8th November 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: Magus in the foreground, Koenig, small Eagle and explosion Includes offer for T-shirt (Network Ltd)
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Vol 16
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The A B Chrysalis,
Catacombs Of The Moon
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ITC 8214. Released 8th November 1993. Rated PG
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Cover: Osgood & flames in the foreground, Tony with sleeping Michelle Includes offer for T-shirt (Network Ltd)
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Vol 17
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A Matter Of Balance,
The Beta Cloud
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ITC 8215. Released 21st March 1994. Rated PG
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Cover: Vindrus with hands to his temples, Beta creature, smaller Tony & Maya
Note: credits state The Beta Cloud stars "Dave Browse".
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Vol 18
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The Lambda Factor,
The Seance Spectre
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ITC 8216. Released 23rd May 1994. Rated PG
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Cover: large Koenig, Maya at desk, smaller Sam & Tessa
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Vol 19
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Dorzak,
Devil's Planet
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ITC 8217. Released 25th July 1994. Rated PG
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Cover: large Elizia, Sahala, prisoners
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Vol 20
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The Immunity Syndrome,
The Dorcons
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ITC 8218. Released 20th February 1995. Rated PG
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Cover: Mad Tony holding up laser, skeleton Zoran, Koenig & Helena h/s
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Vol 21
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Breakaway
War Games
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636 992-3. Released August 1996. Rated PG
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Cover: Astronaut
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Vol 22
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Collision Course
Black Sun
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636 994-3. Released August 1996. Rated PG |
Cover: Aged Koenig
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Vol 23
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The Metamorph
Space Warp
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636 996-3. Released August 1996. Rated PG |
Cover: Mentor (back cover credits Barry Morse)
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Vol 24
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The Bringers Of Wonder parts 1 and 2
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636 998-3. Released August 1996. Rated PG |
Cover: Koenig & Alan fighting (back cover credits Barry Morse)
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Video sleeves, thanks to Gordon Moriguchi
Sleeve interiors listed other titles from ITC Video
The T shirt offer
UK 4th October 1993; £89.99
All ten first series volumes in a 25 x 23 x 13 cm rosewood case with embossed logo on ends and a diamond design "Special Collectors Edition".
The Merchandise Guide
