TV on DVD - 11:49am

Kicking off today's news are yet more new TV on DVD announcements. Just announced from A&E Home Video is a December 11th street date for the third installment in the highly acclaimed Horatio Hornblower saga, The New Adventures (Part III). This two-disc set includes a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack, plus audio commentary with cast and crew, a still gallery, filmographies and promo spots. Retail is $39.95.

More TV on DVD includes a November 4th debut for Little House on the Prairie: Season 3 from Godhil Entertainment. This six-disc set includes 4:3 full screen transfers and mono soundtracks, and no extras. Retail is $49.95.

Next up from A&E is the first-ever DVD release for Sapphire & Steel: The Complete Series, the high-concept BBC series in the vein of "Dr. Who" and "The X-Files." Starring Joanna Lumley and David McCallum, this five-disc set includes full screen transfers and stereo soundtracks, plus a still gallery and episode synopses. Retail is $99.95.

Rounding it out are two new announcements from Warner Home Video. At last getting a new street date is The Ben Stiller Show, which is now set for December 2nd. This two-disc set includes the entire short-lived Fox comedy sketch series, plus extras: audio commentary with Stiller and cast, a featurette and TV special, deleted scenes, outtakes, easter eggs and more. Retail will be $26.95.

Last but not least, to promote the theatrical debut of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Warner will issue the National Geographic special Beyond the Movie: The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King on December 16th. The set includes the complete program, plus a bonus featurette, additional interviews, a fact file, timeline, Middle Earth interactive map and a still gallery. Retail is $26.95.

Opened Vault - 11:49am

Just in from Buena Vista Home Entertainment is their full lineup of early 2004 catalog releases. Dusted off from the vaults is a wide selection of top hits and favorites, most getting their first-ever DVD debuts, as well as some reissues of titles previously licensed to independent distributors.

Due for release on January 13th are: Unzipped, Torrents of Spring, The Lovers on the Bridge, The Innocent, Talk of Angels, Strawberry & Chocolate, Ridicule, Sonatine, Revenge of the Musketeers, Moondance, The Little Twins, I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, Get Bruce!, Ciao Professore! and Microcosmos.

Next up on February 3rd are: My Science Project, Midnight Madness, Welcome to Sarajevo, The Rage, Mask of Death, Hawk's Vengeance, Those Calloways, The Misadventures of Merlin, Selma Lord Selma, Perfect Harmony, Follow Me Boys!, Bon Voyage! and Return to Oz. Retail is $19.95 a pop, and specs and features have yet to be announced. Stay tuned.

On February 3rd, Buena Vista will also release the recent Ashton Kutcher and Tara Reid comedy My Boss's Daughter, which gets the anamorphic widescreen treatment, plus an audio commentary, featurette and trailers. Retail is $29.95.