Why is the version on tape + dvd only 2 hrs. + it's always 4 hrs. on TV?

I've never watched the DVD or vhs tape of this film, but I've seen it on cable multiple times like on TBS, TNT, USA, etc. and maybe even the Sci-Fi channel. I absolutely love the version I've seen on TV, but it's always 4 hours long with commercials, and there can't be any more than 30 minutes or so of commercials. I almost got the DVD, but it's only about 2 hours, and I can't even imagine watching this film with half the content cut out. How can it even make any kind of sense? I thought the longer version was paced very well. Will the long version ever be available on DVD?

I noticed the Tommy Knockers DVD only runs about 2 hours as well, and it's always like 3 or 4 hours on TV as well. I just don't see how Stephen King's movies turn into practically mini-series on TV, but get cut in half for the DVD releases. That's probably one of the reasons, besides the fact that you can never put all the content from a book into a film, that his movies get such a bad rap.


Anybody got some answers?