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How to Buy Movies Made for Television

Decades ago, made-for-TV movies were not available on the home-video market. You had to watch them when they aired or record them with your VCR if you wanted to keep them. The DVD revolution has changed all that, and today you can buy a number of made-for-TV movies to own forever. It is not particularly difficult, although it sometimes takes a little detective work to track down the specific TV movie you want.

Instructions

    • 1

      Enter the title for the made-for-TV movie in Amazon.com's search field. Not all made-for-TV movies are available on DVD--or even VHS--and you need to ascertain whether the one you want is out there. Amazon provides a good starting point. If the title is available, you can sometimes purchase it from Amazon immediately, or check their affiliated stores to see if a copy is available through them.

    • 2

      Check local stores for a copy of the made-for-TV movie. If it has been released but is not readily available, you may be able to find a copy nearby. Big chains, such as Best Buy and Target, usually are not ideal in these circumstances (although they are good sources for recent made-for-TV movies). A better option is a local mom-and-pop store--especially one that buys and sells used DVDs--or a rental chain, such as Blockbuster, which often sells excess used copies of DVDs.

    • 3

      Visit eBay. Not only can you find someone willing to sell you a DVD of your made-for-TV movie, but you may come across a DVD-R or VHS copy of a movie that has not been officially released. You may have to pay more if it is a hard-to-find movie--and the quality may not be ideal--but if it is rare enough, this avenue may be the only way to obtain a copy.

    • 4

      Check swap meets, flea markets and garage sales in your area. This serves as a last-ditch effort if your made-for-TV movie absolutely is not available anywhere else. Be prepared for a long search--it may not be out there--but you might also find a VHS or DVD-R copy taped from the movie's original airing. When you do, it will be worth its weight in gold.

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