What is Vudu Using to Determine Digital Level?

[novoice2008]

I currently have over 200 4K UHD physical discs and I currently maintain digital accounts with Movies Anywhere, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Google Movies, and Amazon Movies. I don't like maintaining 5 different accounts but it is necessary if I want to get the highest resolution of a digital redemption of various purchased movies, as each one of the digital outlets treat movies differently for a number of different reasons.

My rub has been with Vudu, and it goes like this; I buy a 4K UHD movie (physical disc with a digital redemption), and I redeem it at Vudu and the movie only redeems at the HDX level, and Vudu then advertises for an additional $19.99, they will upgrade it to the UHD level. Wait! I just purchased the 4K UHD movie. Now, if there was not a UHD redemption available, I could live with that (as is the case with many 4K UHD movies). But in this example, Vudu is showing there is a UHD level available, but they do not redeem my purchased 4K UHD movie at the UHD level, but instead offer it for additional money. That is not right.

On 203 4K UHD movies I have redeemed at Vudu, this has occurred with 11 4K UHD movies in my collection, with all 11 of these movies redeeming at the HDX level, and then Vudu offering UHD for additional money, and in a couple of cases, for a cost exceeding what was paid for the movie in the first place.

Many reading this are probably saying why worry about it, because if you have a decent system, the best playback would be with the 4K UHD disc, right? Well, not anymore, since the addition of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. With a Chromecast enabled Vudu app on my tv, I can watch movies I have previously purchased in Dolby Vision, something I couldn't do with my current DVD player that only used HDR10. What had been a minor issue with what Vudu has been arbitrarily doing with some movies, has now become more significant.

I wrote Vudu and asked specifically about the 11 movies in my collection and asked them if they would tell me what process was used so I could get a better understanding. 48 hours later I received a response from a first tier rep that didn't address my specific questions about the 11 movies I listed, but instead directed me to the digital redemption sheet that came with the movie to determine how it would redeem digitally at Vudu.

I wrote Vudu back and asked for a more specific response to my question and I received a response back again from a different tier one rep, that thanked me for my request and indicated the file would be closed. ??

Where is the check and balance for the customer? In my request it pertained to 11 specific 4K UHD movies that Vudu redeemed at the HDX level when they had the UHD level available, as evidenced by Vudu immediately offering the UHD level for additional money. Is this even legal? Where is the check and balance? When trying to get a resolution from Vudu, I got two canned BS responses which didn't address my request at all. A little frustrating on this end.

[odisn]

Which 11 movies? Some folks (like FOX) don't offer UHD redemptions, even if you buy a UHD disc.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by novoice2008

On 203 4K UHD movies I have redeemed at Vudu, this has occurred with 11 4K UHD movies in my collection, with all 11 of these movies redeeming at the HDX level, and then Vudu offering UHD for additional money, and in a couple of cases, for a cost exceeding what was paid for the movie in the first place.

It sounds like these were movies that only became available in 4K after you redeemed your codes, or the codes didn't include 4K rights in the first place. Unfortunately Vudu does not upgrade HD movies to 4K in such cases (like iTunes does).

One thing I would suggest for the future: if you want to redeem a movie that isn't available in 4K on Vudu (yet), check if it can be redeemed in 4K directly at MA (you can do this without "burning" the code by entering it on their redemption page while not being logged in). This way you record the 4K entitlement in MA and you will get the UHD in Vudu as well if they later get the 4K version.

Of course this doesn't help if the studio simply doesn't provide 4K codes as @odisn mentioned.

[Undeadcow]

4ksheet.com at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...BbUtHtmh4/edit is a great reference on how to get the highest digital quality for a code, which can vary wildly by studio and vendor. It's not just Vudu, you can get burned by redeeming a code into the inopportune vendor/service and stuck with a lower quality - in some cases there's flat no way to redeem in 4K.

Vudu will only give you the highest quality they have currently available when you redeem a code. If you redeem a 4K code and they only have HDX then it only ever gives you HDX rights even if upgraded later. Sometimes on iTunes you can redeem a standard HD code and get a free UHD upgrade, it's very inconsistent with codes getting downgraded or upgraded by various factors.

[novoice2008]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

It sounds like these were movies that only became available in 4K after you redeemed your codes, or the codes didn't include 4K rights in the first place. Unfortunately Vudu does not upgrade HD movies to 4K in such cases (like iTunes does).

One thing I would suggest for the future: if you want to redeem a movie that isn't available in 4K on Vudu (yet), check if it can be redeemed in 4K directly at MA (you can do this without "burning" the code by entering it on their redemption page while not being logged in). This way you record the 4K entitlement in MA and you will get the UHD in Vudu as well if they later get the 4K version.

Of course this doesn't help if the studio simply doesn't provide 4K codes as @odisn mentioned.

I'll use the example of Saving Private Ryan. First day redemption from a 4K UHD physical disc...Vudu redeems at the HDX level and immediately offers the same movie at the UHD level for an additional $16.99. When I asked Vudu where their UHD digital code came from, they didn't answer the question.

[novoice2008]

Originally Posted by odisn

Which 11 movies? Some folks (like FOX) don't offer UHD redemptions, even if you buy a UHD disc.

Hacksaw Ridge (14.99)
Saving Private Ryan (16.99)
Mamma Mia (13.99)
Deepwater Horizon (14.99)
LaLa Land (19.99)
Cars 3 (24.99)
Pirates of Caribbean (24.99)
Star Trek Beyond (29.99)
Spider Man 2 (17.99)
Spiderman 3 (17.99)
Spider Man (17.99)
Amazing Spider man 1 (17.99)
Amazing Spider man 2 (17.99)

I correct myself, there were 13.

[novoice2008]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

4ksheet.com at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...BbUtHtmh4/edit is a great reference on how to get the highest digital quality for a code, which can vary wildly by studio and vendor. It's not just Vudu, you can get burned by redeeming a code into the inopportune vendor/service and stuck with a lower quality - in some cases there's flat no way to redeem in 4K.

Vudu will only give you the highest quality they have currently available when you redeem a code. If you redeem a 4K code and they only have HDX then it only ever gives you HDX rights even if upgraded later. Sometimes on iTunes you can redeem a standard HD code and get a free UHD upgrade, it's very inconsistent with codes getting downgraded or upgraded by various factors.

I use it all the time....anyone who collects 4K movies must use it. My complaint remains the same thing...where is the check and balance with Vudu. When I buy a 4K UHD movie and redeem it digitally, I can live with an HDX redemption if that is all that's there. But when Vudu redeems it at the HDX level and offers it at the UHD level for additional money, I have an issue with that. If it was available to Vudu, what guidelines are they using when redeeming my code at the HDX level and then offering the UHD level to me for more money? Does no one else see a problem with this?

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by novoice2008

I use it all the time....anyone who collects 4K movies must use it. My complaint remains the same thing...where is the check and balance with Vudu. When I buy a 4K UHD movie and redeem it digitally, I can live with an HDX redemption if that is all that's there. But when Vudu redeems it at the HDX level and offers it at the UHD level for additional money, I have an issue with that. If it was available to Vudu, what guidelines are they using when redeeming my code at the HDX level and then offering the UHD level to me for more money? Does no one else see a problem with this?

For Vudu, in general the studios determine redemption quality.

[odisn]

I know for Cars 3 and Pirates 5, the codes did not originally redeem in UHD. They actually didn't start redeeming in UHD until about a month ago.

I honestly think you're angry at the wrong people. VUDU only redeems what the studios have allowed. Your anger needs to be directed at the studios, who determine the quality of the redemptions.

edit - Like he said just above me...lol.

[Undeadcow]

Originally Posted by novoice2008

I use it all the time....anyone who collects 4K movies must use it. My complaint remains the same thing...where is the check and balance with Vudu. When I buy a 4K UHD movie and redeem it digitally, I can live with an HDX redemption if that is all that's there. But when Vudu redeems it at the HDX level and offers it at the UHD level for additional money, I have an issue with that. If it was available to Vudu, what guidelines are they using when redeeming my code at the HDX level and then offering the UHD level to me for more money? Does no one else see a problem with this?

I get it now - you're complaining that the vendors/studios aren't using common logic in redeeming UHD codes taking a fair up-front no nonsense approach. Agreed x1000. It's just flat stupid and a problem often being arbitrary changing quality offered based on which service you redeem into or which timeframe you redeem at. Maybe this is the phase were the studios stop trying to engage new users to digital with codes on psychical media and start trying to con digital users into re-purchasing movies now that we've been lured in.

My understanding is that it is the studios who set standards on which codes redeem at which quality and where; but it's also obvious Vudu is way behind in adding 4K content.

[novoice2008]

Originally Posted by odisn

I know for Cars 3 and Pirates 5, the codes did not originally redeem in UHD. They actually didn't start redeeming in UHD until about a month ago.

I honestly think you're angry at the wrong people. VUDU only redeems what the studios have allowed. Your anger needs to be directed at the studios, who determine the quality of the redemptions.

edit - Like he said just above me...lol.

Not angry....just frustrated at the overall system. There are no established standards. I could not get a specific answer relating to the Saving Private Ryan issue. Vudu obviously had the UHD level on the day the 4K disc released, and instead of giving a UHD redemption, they instead gave a HDX redemption to people like me who purchased the movie, and immediately offered the UHD level at the same time for an additional $17.00. Something is not right with that. There has to be a check and balance in everything, and with the absence of a check and balance system, there is abuse, or at the very least, the appearance of abuse.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by novoice2008

Vudu obviously had the UHD level on the day the 4K disc released, and instead of giving a UHD redemption, they instead gave a HDX redemption to people like me who purchased the movie, and immediately offered the UHD level at the same time for an additional $17.00.

I agree with the other posters that you are barking up the wrong tree. It's the studios who determine whether or not a code includes a 4K entitlement.

Something is not right with that. There has to be a check and balance in everything, and with the absence of a check and balance system, there is abuse, or at the very least, the appearance of abuse.

Well, I understand the feeling, but strictly speaking nobody ever promised you that a digital movie included with a UHD disc release would be in 4K (at least I have never seen such a promise on any packaging). Just like in the early days of digital copies many Blu-ray codes redeemed in SD ...

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by novoice2008

.... I could not get a specific answer relating to the Saving Private Ryan issue. Vudu obviously had the UHD level on the day the 4K disc released, and instead of giving a UHD redemption, they instead gave a HDX redemption to people like me who purchased the movie,.....

What did Warner say when you contacted them?

[sengboy]

That's interesting. I just redeemed Deepwater Horizon on last weekend via VUDU and have the UHD in my library. You may need to contact Liongate about the issue. I'm pretty sure with some screenshot of your purchase with the disc, they would give you the new code to redeem like I experienced when I redeemed John Wick 1 and got just HD.
For the 5 Spidy, I think you should check the quality at myuv.com . if they are just HD, contact Sony and they will adjust them in UV locker to be UHD. Once they adjust, those 5 movies will be automatically ported and adjusted as UHD in Vudu. Plus, if these 5 Spidy were bought as Bestbuy Steelbook, you might have a chance to obtain Spidy 2.1 and 3.1 from Sony, just send them the proof of purchase.

[Ender14]

Just to add my 2 cents. I bought the Spider-Man Limited Edition 4K collection back around the holidays. They redeemed as HDX in Vudu. I accessed Vudu to add a new digital code a few weeks ago and noticed the 3 Spider-Man movies had moved to the front of the list. When I checked them, they showed UHD now instead of HDX. I didn't pay anything extra, they just converted to UHD. So it appears that some studios will upgrade once UHD becomes available.

Another odd thing happened to me with Vudu. I purchased the 3D version of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. When I redeemed it in Vudu it gave me the UHD version. I'm certainly not complaining, but it was odd.

[novoice2008]

Originally Posted by Greyman

What did Warner say when you contacted them?

I contacted Paramount and their response was they could not comment as to what Vudu was doing or not doing as it related to digital redemptions.

[novoice2008]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

It sounds like these were movies that only became available in 4K after you redeemed your codes, or the codes didn't include 4K rights in the first place. Unfortunately Vudu does not upgrade HD movies to 4K in such cases (like iTunes does).

One thing I would suggest for the future: if you want to redeem a movie that isn't available in 4K on Vudu (yet), check if it can be redeemed in 4K directly at MA (you can do this without "burning" the code by entering it on their redemption page while not being logged in). This way you record the 4K entitlement in MA and you will get the UHD in Vudu as well if they later get the 4K version.

Of course this doesn't help if the studio simply doesn't provide 4K codes as @odisn mentioned.

I think you are right in most of the movies I had listed. Also, I did not know of the process of checking on MA without burning the code. Appreciate that.