I only own a handful of sets of TV shows on DVD, and most of those are one’s I’ve picked up fairly cheaply (including the first seasons of The Simpsons, 24 and NYPD Blue). That’s not to say I have anything against TV shows on DVD — there’s lots I’d love to have — but there’s two big reasons I don’t own more: they’re expensive and they take up a lot of room. But if the latest moves from Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox are any indication, at least one of those problems may soon be solved.

In November, Warner Bros. is releasing a box set containing all ten seasons of Friends for about $200US, and Fox is releasing a set with all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for only $140 (both of those are current Amazon prices — the list prices for each are $300 and $200 respectively). By comparison, a single season of The X-Files, which contains about the same number of episodes as a season of Buffy, currently has a list price of $100, meaning you’re lucky if you’re able to find it for less than $70 at most retailers — we won’t even talk about the price of Star Trek sets.

Now, Friends and Buffy aren’t exactly two series that I’ve been itching to buy, but here’s hoping they’re a sign of more to come. How about some smaller packaging now ?