http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=2400
We often receive emails asking, "Where's Married... With Children season 3?" Season 2 was released in March, 2004, and nothing has been mentioned for season 3. We've been privy to some information for awhile, and with the upcoming announcement of season 3 we've been given the "a-ok" to make it public. Please do not email us asking when season 3 is coming, we will post the information on the announce date for the title (we can't post the information before this date).
Long negotiations with the rights owners of the title song has caused delays in getting the third season released. The two parties weren't able to negotiate for the use of the theme song for season 3, even though they had done so on the previous releases (two "best of" and two season sets). Columbia TriStar decided to push ahead with the release of season three, since they knew fans would choose the set in some form over no set at all. Columbia TriStar assures us that the music substitution will be clearly marked on the packaging.
Gord's Editorial:
This is another example of how music licensing hurts TV-on-DVD. I'm one of the first to tell the studios when I think they've done something wrong, but I have to support them here. The cost to license the theme song was enough to make me choke on a candy when I heard how much they wanted, and I know it would add significant cost to the DVD set. It's simple to say, "Then charge more money for the set!" but that's not an effective solution. Sure, diehard fans would pay the increase, but they may lose out on the casual fan that doesn't like the increase, so fewer sales will cost them more money. The music companies would ask for higher licensing fees because they have the DVD companies backed into a corner, and it could become a vicious cycle that keeps increasing.
No one wins in this situation; the fans have to deal with different music, the studio has to deal with upset fans, and the music company doesn't make any money from licensing the song. Hopefully fans of the show understand that the company tried to release the show intact. The studio should earn some points for being upfront about the music substitution, and hopefully fans will feel the set is still worth owning. I'm not sure what music will replace the theme song, but I was told there will be a chapter after the opening so everyone can skip right to the episode.