THE PRECISION VIDEO/CHANNEL 5 RELEASES
video cover images courtesy Jaz Wiseman

The first official English-speaking-market video's of episodes of The Persuaders  were released by Precision Video in the early 80's. 4 tapes were released - each consisting of two episodes edited together into one programme. These 'films' had been originally compiled for the American TV market in 1976 each having its own distinct umbrella title with opening and closing tiles re-jigged to reflect a single 'movie' look.

The titles of the four programmes were:

  1. London Conspiracy - comprising Greensleeves & A Home of One's Own
  2. Sporting Chance - with Someone Waiting & Anyone Can play
  3. Mission:Monte-Carlo - compilation of Powerswitch & The Gold Napoleon
  4. The Switch - with To the Death, Baby & Angie,Angie
Apparently these compilations were the only episodes available for video distribution at the time due to contractual restrictions. As it would have cost money to re-master the compile episodes as 'singles', the 4 compilations were released.

Precision Video as a going concern either went belly-up, changed their name or were absorbed by another group and the rights to the series were relinquished. Channel 5, an innovative company who specialised in cult television programmes of the 1960's and 70's, acquired the rights to The Persuaders telemovie catalogue and released 3 of the 4 tapes (The Switch being the title left-out of their release schedule).

Regards quality, I only have an original of London Conspiracy (Channel 5 issue) so I can only comment on that tape. The picture quality of my Channel 5 tape is excellent and, to my eye, slightly superior to their ITC/Polygram counterparts.

In any case, all the video's from Precision Video & Channel 5 are collectors items - this does not mean they are worth bucketfuls of hard currency. Tatty copies of any of these editions are better than nothing but they are nowhere near as valuable to a collector as an edition in mint-condition.


Each of the tapes were presented differently so there was no uniform look about the programmes. I have documented the nuances of each tape, using frame-captures to illustrate oddities where possible. Some of the information comes from Jaz Wisemans excellent fan-mag, The Morning After (issue 1).

LONDON CONSPIRACY  -  SPORTING CHANCE  -  THE SWITCH  -  MISSION:MONTE-CARLO