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K-ON release plans in UK

Manga Entertainment has explained its release plans for the school-band series K-ON. In twitter messages, it said that it 'would probably release individual DVD volumes [of K-ON], starting this year,' but that the Complete Series 1 Blu-Ray set would have to wait until the first quarter of 2012.

After these comments were reported on the website UK Anime Network, Manga posted a further comment in the site's feedback section:

We never planned on releasing K-ON! in the UK as single volume Blu-ray or DVD volumes like they will in America. Our original plan was for a Blu-ray and DVD double-disc edition. We simply won't be able to guarantee we can clear the single disc BR inventory we'd have to commit to and we strongly feel that what UK fans deserve is a fair price and timely release. We always intended to deliver to British fans a 2-disc complete series collection in HD and on Blu-ray. So now we will have to wait until after Bandai has released their single disc offering in the US first. Bandai is selling each of its 3-4 episode BR volumes for $34.99 USD (£21.86 GBP)! We do not believe we can sustain a 4 volume Blu-ray release strategy at this price level.

I hope UK fans will A.) be able to hold out for our proposed box set, and B.) appreciate that we'll be rewarding their patience with a complete series collection blu-ray set for under £50 GBP when it is released in early 2012. And of course, we will ensure the DVD editions are released as close to the US release schedule as possible.

We are sorry to disappoint those fans who have been patiently awaiting our UK Blu-ray release of K-ON! We totally appreciate it is frustrating, but we are working closely with the Licensor and Bandai to provide the best solution we can to the British fans.

The comment was posted here.