List of Prisoner home video releases explained

The following is a list of home video releases from the Australian television series Prisoner (internationally re-titled Prisoner: Cell Block H in the United States and the United Kingdom, and Caged Women in Canada). The entire series, consisting of 8 seasons and 692 episodes is available in both Australia and the UK. Initially released in "Best Of" compilation format on DVD in Australia with three sets, in the United States with the first two sets, and in the United Kingdom with only the first set.

In Australia, Shock Records commenced releasing what was to be the beginning of the entire series in 2006 in volume format on DVD; the complete series over 40 volumes. Prior to the release of Volume 13, "The Complete Collection" was made available with the remaining individual volumes released subsequently. A second version of "The Complete Collection" was released in 2011. All of the original sets are now out-of-print. As of late 2016, ViaVision are releasing Prisoner on DVD in their original complete season formats.

In the United Kingdom, the series began releasing on VHS with the first 12 episodes over six videos and a video containing episodes 326 & 327. Prisoner Cell Block H DVDs have been released in stages by FremantleMedia Home Entertainment between 2008 - 2013. The content on the discs is identical to the Australian release, but with different cover/sleeve artwork. The UK releases started out as boxed sets of eight discs (32 episodes) with two discs in four cases within each set, but from Volume 4 onwards all the discs are packed into a plastic case with flip disc holders. The entire series has been released over a total of 20 volumes, the first 16 volumes featuring eight discs each but Volume 17 onwards contains ten discs.

The UK DVD releases are a combination of two volumes as released in Australia. For example, the UK Volume 1 consists of the Australian Volumes 1 and 2.

As with the Australian versions of the DVDs, the episodes are on the whole uncut, but due to the aged source of the master tapes, sometimes minor edits are made to the episodes to cover breaks in the picture or sound.[1] "The Edna Pearson Story", released on UK DVD in February 2010, contains most of the previously cut scenes although, episode 470 is still missing a scene.

VHS

United States

The first 12 episodes of Prisoner: Cell Block H were over six VHS tapes in the United States in 1993 via MPI Home Video

TitleRelease dateSeasonRatingAdditional information
Episodes 1 & 223 June 1993Season 1Not rated
Episodes 3 & 4[2] 23 June 1993Season 1Not rated
Episodes 5 & 623 June 1993Season 1Not rated
Episodes 7 & 823 June 1993Season 1Not rated
Episodes 9 & 10[3] 23 June 1993Season 1Not rated
Episodes 11 & 12[4] 23 June 1993Season 1Not rated

United Kingdom

NTV Entertainment released eight VHS tapes between 1993 and 1995 in the United Kingdom.

TitleRelease dateSeasonRatingAdditional information
Episodes 1 & 21993Season 1 15 
Episodes 3 & 41993Season 1 PG 
Episodes 5 & 61993Season 1 PG 
Episodes 7 & 81 February 1994Season 1 15 
Episodes 9 & 1015 August 1994Season 1 PG 
Episodes 11 & 127 November 1994Season 1 PG 
  • Exclusive interview footage with members of the cast
Episodes 326 & 32711 October 1993Season 4, episode 80 &<br />Season 5, episodes 1 15 
  • Features the ″Great Fire of Wentworth″ which includes the Season Four finale and the opening episode of Season Five.
 12  for the DVD releases in United Kingdom for violence, language, drug references, nudity, and sexual threat.

DVD

In North America, Some of the episodes of this soap drama cult classic series were released on Region 1 DVD by A&E Home Entertainment, under licence from FremantleMedia International through the Reg Grundy Organisation from 2004-2007.

Compilation releases

TitleInitial releaseEpisodesNo. of discsAdditional information
Region 1Region 2Region 4
The Best Of (1)30 November 2004[5] 22 September 2003[6] 18 February 2002[7] 123
The Best Of (2)19 December 2006[8] 24 February 2003[9] 123
The Best Of (3)26 July 2004[10] 123
The Edna Pearson Story8 February 2010[11] 82

Region 4

Prisoner is rated

 M  (recommended for mature audiences) for moderate themes, violence, moderate violence, infrequent moderate violence, drug references, moderate drug references, moderate drug use, moderate drug themes and coarse language.

Volume sets

Title[12] Release dateSeasonEpisodesNo. of discsACB ratingAdditional information
Volume 119 October 2006
  • Season 1, episodes 1 - 16
164 M 
Volume 219 October 2006
  • Season 1, episodes 17 - 32
164 M 
Volume 320 November 2006
  • Season 1, episodes 33 - 48
164 M 
Volume 420 November 2006
  • Season 1, episodes 49 - 64
164 M 
Volume 517 March 2007
  • Season 1, episodes 65 - 79
  • Season 2, episode 1

(Episodes 65 - 80)

164 M 
Volume 617 March 2007
  • Season 2, episodes 2 - 17

(Episodes 81 - 96)

164 M 
Volume 721 April 2007
  • Season 2, episodes 18 - 33

(Episodes 97 - 112)

164 M 
Volume 821 April 2007
  • Season 2, episodes 34 - 49

(Episodes 113 - 128)

164 M 
Volume 919 May 2007
  • Season 2, episodes 50 - 65

(Episodes 129 - 144)

164 M 
Volume 1019 May 2007
  • Season 2, episodes 66 - 81

(Episodes 145 - 160)

164 M 
Volume 1118 August 2007
  • Season 2, episodes 82 - 86
  • Season 3, episodes 1 - 11

(Episodes 161 - 176)

164 M 
Volume 1220 August 2007
  • Season 3, episodes 12 - 27

(Episodes 177 - 192)

164 M 
Volume 1320 October 2007
  • Season 3, episodes 28 - 43

(Episodes 193 - 208)

164 M 
Volume 14
"The Vera Bennett Edition"		20 October 2007
  • Season 3, episodes 44 - 59

(Episodes 209 - 224)

164 M 
Volume 153 November 2007
  • Season 3, episodes 60 - 75

(Episodes 225 - 240)

164 M 
Volume 163 November 2007
  • Season 3, episodes 76 - 81
  • Season 4, episodes 1 - 10

(Episodes 241 - 256)

164 M 
Volume 1716 February 2008
  • Season 4, episodes 11 - 26

(Episodes 257 - 272)

164 M 
Volume 1816 February 2008
  • Season 4, episodes 27 - 42

(Episodes 273 - 288)

164 M 
Volume 1915 March 2008
  • Season 4, episodes 43 - 58

(Episodes 289 - 304)

164 M 
Volume 2015 March 2008
  • Season 4, episodes 59 - 74

(Episodes 305 - 320)

164 M 
Volume 2112 April 2008
  • Season 4, episodes 75 - 80
  • Season 5, episodes 1 - 10

(Episodes 321 - 336)

164 M 
Volume 2212 April 2008
  • Season 5, episodes 11 - 26

(Episodes 337 - 352)

164 M 
Volume 2314 July 2008
  • Season 5, episodes 27 - 42

(Episodes 353 - 368)

164 M 
Volume 2414 July 2008
  • Season 5, episodes 43 - 58

(Episodes 369 - 384)

164 M 
Volume 2518 August 2008
  • Season 5, episodes 59 - 74

(Episodes 385 - 400)

164 M 
Volume 2618 August 2008
  • Season 5, episodes 75 - 90

(Episodes 401 - 416)

164 M 
Volume 2713 September 2008
  • Season 6, episodes 1 - 16

(Episodes 417 - 432)

164 M 
Volume 2813 September 2008
  • Season 6, episodes 17 - 32

(Episodes 433 - 448)

164 M 
Volume 2913 September 2008
  • Season 6, episodes 33 - 48

(Episodes 449 - 464)

164 M 
Volume 3013 September 2008
  • Season 6, episodes 49 - 64

(Episodes 465 - 480)

164 M 
Volume 3118 October 2008
  • Season 6, episodes 65 - 80

(Episodes 481 - 496)

164 M 
Volume 3218 October 2008
  • Season 6, episodes 81 - 89
  • Season 7, episodes 1 - 7

(Episodes 497 - 512)

164 M 
Volume 3318 October 2008
  • Season 7, episodes 8 - 23

(Episodes 513 - 528)

164 M 
Volume 3418 October 2008
  • Season 7, episodes 24 - 47

(Episodes 529 - 552)

246 M 
Volume 3515 November 2008
  • Season 7, episodes 48 - 71

(Episodes 553 - 576)

246 M 
Volume 3615 November 2008
  • Season 7, episodes 72 - 83
  • Season 8, episodes 1 - 12

(Episodes 577 - 600)

246 M 
Volume 3715 November 2008
  • Season 8, episodes 13 - 36

(Episodes 601 - 624)

246 M 
Volume 3815 November 2008
  • Season 8, episodes 37 - 60

(Episodes 625 - 648)

246 M 
Volume 391 January 2009
  • Season 8, episodes 61 - 84

(Episodes 649 - 672)

246 M 
Volume 401 January 2009
  • Season 8, episodes 85 - 104

(Episodes 673 - 692)

205 M 
The Complete CollectionOriginal release:
29 September 2007
Re-release:
5 October 2011
  • Seasons 1 - 8; 692 episodes
692174 M 

Complete season sets

In late 2016, Australian distribution company ViaVision commenced releasing the series in their complete season formats on DVD and is under its original title of Prisoner as opposed to the Region 4 volume sets which contained the international title Prisoner: Cell Block H.

Title[13] Release dateEpisodesNo. of discsACB ratingAdditional information
The Complete Season One2 November 20167920 M 
The Complete Season Two11 January 20178621 M 
The Complete Season Three8 February 20178121 M 
The Complete Season Four8 March 20178021 M 
The Complete Season Five5 April 20179023 M 
The Complete Season Six7 June 20178922 M 
The Complete Season Seven8 August 20178321 M 
The Complete Season Eight6 September 201710426 M 

Collection sets

TitleRelease dateEpisodesNo. of discsACB ratingFeatures
Collection One: Seasons One & Two2 February 2022[14] 16541 M 
Collection Two: Seasons Three & Four6 April 2022[15] 16142 M 
Collection Three: Seasons Five & Six20 July 2022[16] 17945 M 
Collection Four: Seasons Seven & Eight21 September 2022[17] 18747 M 
The Complete Series (Limited Edition)6 November 2024[18] 692175 M 

Region 2

In the United Kingdom, Prisoner: Cell Block H was released via Fremantle Home Entertainment, beginning late 2008. The complete series was released through 20 volumes containing 32 episodes per set for the first sixteen volumes; Volume 17 contains 40 episodes, Volume 18 and Volume 19 both contain 48 episodes and the final volume contains 44 episodes. The reason for the increased number of episodes on later sets was due to the fact that Fremantle wanted to keep exactly double the number of episodes as the original Australian sets. The first 33 Australian releases contain 16 episodes per set; sets 34 to 39 containing 24 episodes per set and Volume 40 containing 20 episodes. Therefore, Fremantle in the UK doubled-up on episodes so that they could finish releasing by Volume 20.

In Australia, distribution company Shock Records began releasing the UK volumes in 2011, as their original volumes are now out of print. The final volume was released in early 2014.

DVD titleRelease date Features
Region 2Region 4
Volume 1: Episodes 1–3210 November 20089 March 2011
Volume 2: Episodes 33–641 June 20099 March 2011
Volume 3: Episodes 65–9612 October 200911 May 2011
Volume 1–3: Episodes 1–9630 November 2009
Volume 4: Episodes 97–12824 May 201029 July 2011[19]
Volume 5: Episodes 129–16011 October 201030 November 2011[20]
Volume 6: Episodes 161–19221 February 20111 February 2012[21]
Volume 7: Episodes 193–22418 April 20117 May 2012
Volume 8: Episodes 225–25627 June 20114 July 2012[22]
Volume 9: Episodes 257–28829 August 20115 September 2012[23]
Volume 10: Episodes 289–32031 October 20115 September 2012
Volume 11: Episodes 321–35220 February 20126 February 2013
Volume 12: Episodes 353–38412 March 20126 February 2013
Volume 13: Episodes 385–41620 April 20121 May 2013
Volume 14: Episodes 417–44820 July 20121 May 2013
Volume 15: Episodes 449–4806 August 20123 July 2013
Volume 16: Episodes 481–51224 September 20123 July 2014
Volume 17: Episodes 513–5525 November 201216 October 2013
Volume 18: Episodes 553–60025 February 201316 October 2013
Volume 19: Episodes 600–64825 March 20138 January 2014
Volume 20: Episodes 649–69213 May 20138 January 2014

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of cuts made to the DVDs . canberrang.webng.com . 10 April 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110813032023/http://canberrang.webng.com/prisoner/dvd/cuts.htm . 13 August 2011 .
  2. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H Vol 2 [VHS] ]. amazon.com. November 8, 2014.
  3. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H Vol 5 [VHS] ]. amazon.com. November 8, 2014.
  4. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H Vol 6 [VHS] ]. amazon.com . November 8, 2014.
  5. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H, Set 1 (25th Anniversary Collector's Edition). Amazon.com. 2015-07-18.
  6. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H - Best Of Prisoner Cell Block H [DVD] [1987]]. Amazon.co.uk. 2015-07-18.
  7. Web site: Prisoner DVD. Blu-ray.com. 2015-07-18.
  8. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H, Set 2. Amazon.com. 2015-07-18.
  9. Web site: Prisoner DVD Prisoner: Cell Block H / The Best of - Volume 2. Blu-ray.com. 2015-07-18.
  10. Web site: Prisoner DVD Prisoner: Cell Block H / The Best of - Volume 3. Blu-ray.com. 2015-07-18.
  11. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H - The Edna Pearson Episodes [DVD]]. Amazon.co.uk. 2015-07-18.
  12. Region 4 DVDs:
  13. Prisoner DVDs:
    • Web site: Prisoner Season One on DVD. dvdorchard.com.au. 2017-02-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080251/http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/prod.asp?PND=208304. 2017-02-03.
    • Web site: Prisoner Season Two on DVD. dvdorchard.com.au. 2017-02-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203160901/http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/prod.asp?PND=208979. 2017-02-03.
    • Web site: Prisoner Season Three on DVD. dvdorchard.com.au. 2017-02-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080502/http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/prod.asp?PND=209210. 2017-02-03.
    • Web site: Prisoner Season Four on DVD. dvdorchard.com.au. 2017-02-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203160911/http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/prod.asp?PND=209415. 2017-02-03.
    • Web site: Prisoner Season Five on DVD. dvdorchard.com.au. 2017-02-18. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170218145836/http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/prod.asp?PND=209831. 2017-02-18.
  14. Web site: Prisoner - Season 1-2 - Collection 1. sanity.com.au. 23 November 2021.
  15. Web site: Prisoner - Season 3-4 - Collection 2. sanity.com.au. 28 April 2022.
  16. Web site: Prisoner - Season 5-6 - Collection 3. stack.com.au. 29 June 2022.
  17. Web site: Australian release dates new Movies TV. stack.com.au. 29 June 2022.
  18. Web site: Prisoner: The Complete Series – Limited Edition 175-Disc Hardbox with Sound Chip and Booklet. viavision.com.au. 16 September 2024.
  19. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H (Vol 04: 097-128). booktopia.com.au. 27 January 2022.
  20. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H (Vol 5 - Episodes 129-160). booktopia.com.au. 27 January 2022.
  21. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 06 Episodes 161-192. booktopia.com.au. 27 January 2022.
  22. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H (Volume 8 - Episodes 225 - 256). booktopia.com.au. 27 January 2022.
  23. Web site: Prisoner Cell Block H (Volume 9 - Episodes 257-288). booktopia.com.au. 27 January 2022.

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