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Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)
LaserDisc

LaserDisc (LD) was the first commercially available optical disc storage medium – the 12 inch (30 cm, and in size comparable to the classic vinyl music LP record) disc diameter size by far the most common one – and was primarily employed as a motion picture video format for home viewing. The format was introduced in 1978.

Laserdisc was a major leap forward in picture and sound quality compared to its contemporary rivals, VHS and Betamax, gaining a modest following in America. In Europe however, it remained largely an obscure format, relegated to the niche market of videophiles. The most success it had was in Japan and Hong Kong, where the format was only discontinued well after the 1996 introduction of the DVD.

Star Trek was one of the earliest TV shows published on this format as well as one of the last.

Pioneer, the owner of the format, terminated production of Star Trek on LaserDisc for the US in October 1999. The final Star Trek LaserDiscs in Japan were released in 2001.

Release chronology[]

1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001

Date Country Product released
1981
Unknown US Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1982
Unknown UK Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1983
Unknown US Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Special Longer Version; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1984
1 October US Disc 1 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
Unknown UK Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1985
April US Discs 2-6 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
July US Discs 7-11 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
7 July Japan Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Special Longer Version; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
December UK Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Unknown US Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1986
January US Discs 12-16 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
8 May US Discs 17-21 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
11 October US Discs 22-26 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
Unknown US Disc 27 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1987
10 November US Discs 28-32 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
18 December US Discs 33-34 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
1988
25 January Japan Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
22 December US Disc 35 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
1989
16 January US Disc 36 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
20 April US Disc 37 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
27 May US Disc 38 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
10 June US Discs 39-41 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series
25 July Japan Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Special Longer Version – 2nd Edition
Unknown US Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1990
20 March US Star Trek: The Animated Series
25 April Japan Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1991
25 March Japan Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – 2nd Edition; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – 2nd Edition; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – 2nd Edition;
19 September US Star Trek: The Movies - 25th Anniversary Collection; Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
11 October US Disc 42 of 42 for Star Trek: The Original Series; Discs 1 & 2 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
Unknown France Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Unknown Germany
Netherlands
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1992
1 April US Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - Director's Series
4 April US Discs 3 & 4 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
25 June US Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
13 July US Discs 5-7 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
16 July US Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special
26 August US Discs 8 & 9 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 November Japan Star Trek - Log 1
25 November US Discs 10 & 11 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
Unknown Germany
Italy
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Unknown Netherlands Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1993
10 February Japan Star Trek: The Complete Collection; Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier – 2nd Edition; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
25 March Japan Star Trek - Log 2
19 May US Disc 13 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
26 May US Disc 12 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
25 August US Discs 14 & 15 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
18 October US Discs 16 & 17 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
12 December Japan Star Trek - Log 3
1994
10 March Japan Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - Director's Series; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – 2nd Edition and widescreen
21 July US Discs 18-20 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
7 December US Discs 21-23 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
21 December US Disc 24 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
21 December Japan Disc 1 for Movie Magic, containg the Star Trek specific episode of season one
1995
21 March US Discs 25 & 26 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
22 May US Discs 27 & 28 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
5 June US Discs 29-31 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 June Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 1
18 July US Star Trek Generations; Discs 32 & 33 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
22 August US Discs 34 & 35 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 September Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 2
4 October US Discs 36 & 37 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
December US Star Trek - The Movie Voyages
Unknown France
Germany
Hong Kong
Italy
UK
Star Trek Generations
Unknown Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 3
1996
January UK Disc 1 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
27 February US Discs 38 & 39 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
25 March Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 4
26 March US Discs 40 & 41 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
2 April US Discs 88 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
23 April US Discs 42 & 43 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
April Germany
UK
Star Trek - The Pilots
25 May US Discs 44 & 45 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
26 June US Discs 46 & 47 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
June UK Disc 2 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
5 July Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 5
30 July US Star Trek: The Next Generation - Q Continuum; Discs 48 & 49 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
July UK Discs 3 & 4 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 September US Star Trek - The Captains Collection
24 September US Discs 50 & 51 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 September Japan Star Trek Generations
24 September US Discs 1 & 2 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1 October US Disc 3 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
10 October Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 6
21 October US Discs 52 & 53 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
28 October UK Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Triple Tribble Troubles
26 November US Discs 4 & 5 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
November UK Disc 5 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation; "The Way of the Warrior" disc for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
17 December US Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Borg Collective
21 December Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 7
Unknown France Star Trek: The Motion Picture – 2nd Edition; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – 2nd Edition; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – 2nd Edition; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Unknown Germany Star Trek - The Film Voyages I-III; Star Trek - The Film Voyages IV-VI; Disc 1 for Star Trek: The Next Generation; Discs 2 and 3 for Star Trek: Voyager
Unknown UK Star Trek - The Screen Voyages
1997
18 February US Discs 54 & 55 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
8 March Japan Star Trek: The Animated Series
18 March US Discs 6 & 7 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
21 March Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 8
7 April UK Disc 6 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
22 April US Discs 56 & 57 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
12 May UK Disc 7 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
6 June Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Second Season Vol. 1
9 June UK Disc 8 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
17 June US Star Trek: First Contact; Disc 58 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation; Discs 8 & 9 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1 July US Disc 59 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
7 July UK Disc 9 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
15 July US Discs 10 & 11 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
2 August Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - First Season Vol. 1
3 August Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - First Season Vol. 2
26 August US Discs 60 & 61 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
7 October US Disc 62 & 63 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
7 October Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 9
9 October Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Second Season Vol. 2
10 October Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 10
12 October Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Third Season Vol. 1
October France
Germany
Italy
UK
Star Trek: First Contact
19 September US Discs 12 & 13 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
11 November US Discs 14 & 15 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
21 December Hong Kong
Japan
Star Trek: First Contact
21 December Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 11
1998
5 February UK Disc 10 of 10 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 February Japan Star Trek: Voyager - First Season Vol. 1
31 March US Discs 64 & 65 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
7 April US Discs 16 & 17 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
2 May UK "Basics, Part I", "Basics, Part II" disc for Star Trek: Voyager
5 May US Discs 66 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
12 May US Discs 67 & 68 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
9 June US Discs 69 & 70 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
7 July US Discs 18 & 19 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
8 July Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Fourth Season Vol. 2
4 August US Discs 71 & 72 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
5 August Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Fourth Season Vol. 1
2 October Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Third Season Vol. 2
3 October Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 12
6 October Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 13
9 October Japan Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 14
11 October Japan Star Trek: Voyager - First Season Vol. 2
20 October US Disc 73 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation; Discs 20 & 21 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
3 November US Worf - Return to Grace Collection; Discs 74 & 75 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
17 November US Disc 76 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
24 November US Disc 77 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 December Japan Star Trek: The Bilingual Collection
21 December Japan Star Trek Generations – Bilingual
1999
2 February US Discs 78 & 79 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
10 February Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Second Season Vol. 1
2 March US Disc 80 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
9 March US Disc 81 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
25 March Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Second Season Vol. 2
6 April US Discs 82 & 83 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
20 April US Discs 84 & 85 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
11 May US Star Trek: Insurrection
25 May US Discs 86-88 & 90 of 90 for Star Trek: The Next Generation
1 June US Discs 22 & 23 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
25 June Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Third Season Vol. 1
6 July US Discs 24 & 25 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
23 July Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Fifth Season Vol. 1
3 August US Discs 26 – 28 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
24 September Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Third Season Vol. 2
5 October US Discs 29 & 30 of 30 for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
22 October Japan Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Fifth Season Vol. 2
26 November Japan Inside Star Trek - The Real Story
Unknown Hong Kong Star Trek: Insurrection
2000
11 January US Trekkies
24 March Japan Star Trek: Insurrection; Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation; Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
10 November Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Fourth Season Vol. 1
22 December Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Fourth Season Vol. 2
2001
25 April Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Fifth Season Vol. 1
22 June Japan Star Trek: Voyager - Fifth Season Vol. 2

External links[]

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