Dvd-isaster Sales

[Spankey]

DVD-ISASTER SALES

December 4, 2007 -- Just in case Hollywood didn't have enough to worry about with the writer's strike, here comes the latest horror to scare Tinseltown: Shrinking DVD sales.

The DVD businesses, one of the movie industry's biggest sources of profits, is expected to post a year-over-year sales decline for the first time since the format's rise a decade ago.

Can the format war be having an effect? Could studios be more willing now to end settle this somehow and give rise to a new market? I know I haven't bought a DVD since Blu-ray debuted.

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by Spankey

DVD-ISASTER SALES



Can the format war be having an effect? Could studios be more willing now to end settle this somehow and give rise to a new market? I know I haven't bought a DVD since Blu-ray debuted.

The only SDs I buy are TV series where I have the earlier seasons and want to complete the set--and these aren't likely to come to Blu in a long, long time.

The last regular SD I bought was Zodiac a few months ago. Even then, I am sooo reluctant to buy SDs now. I feel that it, as well as HD, are dying formats; and I believe that you are right that this war *is* having an impact on SD sales. Why would anyone buy the latest titles in SD when you can have them in Blu-ray for a few bucks more?

And why buy HD disks when it clearly is in its deaththroes?

-Greg

[JackStraw]

I bought the regular DVD of the latest Elton John concert. I've been a huge fan since I was a kid and had to have it the day it came out. I figured that there wouldn't be a high def release for a long while. A few weeks later I see it on a list of upcoming blu rays and stopped buying regular DVD's right then and there.

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by JackStraw

I bought the regular DVD of the latest Elton John concert. I've been a huge fan since I was a kid and had to have it the day it came out. I figured that there wouldn't be a high def release for a long while. A few weeks later I see it on a list of upcoming blu rays and stopped buying regular DVD's right then and there.

You have my sincerest sympathy. I've bought vinyl albums and then the CD came out. I've bought laserdiscs only to have the title come out in DVD. And I've certainly bought SDs only to have the title come out in Blu. As god is my witness, I won't do that again.....

-Greg

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Spankey

DVD-ISASTER SALES



Can the format war be having an effect? Could studios be more willing now to end settle this somehow and give rise to a new market? I know I haven't bought a DVD since Blu-ray debuted.

Hasn't Bill Hunt already quoted someone who has said the format war is causing a drop in DVD sales? Yes, it is affecting DVD sales. And with the obvious sales superiority Blu is enjoying over dud, Paramount, Universal, and Warner are shooting themselves in the feet by continuing to support dud.

[Go Blu]

For the past few years I was buying new DVD releases quite often.
Since I got my PS3 I have only bought 1 DVD since.

Warner should take the high road and end this war.

[Neo65]

They knew this was coming, o/w they would not be so anxious to try HDM or downloads to replace this cash cow. The revenue numbers are still huge relative to HDM, but the YoY decline is going to cause problems because the studios are addicted to this stream of revenue, and not being able to count on this would place strain on their operating plans going forward.

In a few years though, this will really hurt them if the only thing that replaces DVDs are the free illegal to**ents that more and more people are finding out these days.

[JackStraw]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

You have my sincerest sympathy. I've bought vinyl albums and then the CD came out. I've bought laserdiscs only to have the title come out in DVD. And I've certainly bought SDs only to have the title come out in Blu. As god is my witness, I won't do that again.....

-Greg

Isn't that just the worst? For me this seemed right out of left field. I had no idea this was hitting blu and if I did I certainly would've waited.

So it goes to another place for store credit to pick up something else I guess.

[reiella]

Entertainment is a luxury. And when gas prices go up, luxury purchases go down. Folks will need to readapt, but should be interesting to note that rental sales should have also gone up.

That, and well, a luke-warm set of releases this year [that said I don't know a year that hasn't been lukewarm ].

[Phane]

I haven't bought an SD-DVD for about 2 years because I knew I wanted to start buying stuff in Hi-def. I haven't bought anything in Hi-def I didn't get a really good deal on (i.e. BOGO) because even Blu-ray's future isn't 100% as long as HD-DVD can keep shelling out big cash deals to motion picture companies. If the format war ended, there's probably quite a few movies I would start buying again.

[scott87]

i knew if is toppped buying dvds it would have an impact lol

[oscar_in_fw]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

You have my sincerest sympathy. I've bought vinyl albums and then the CD came out. I've bought laserdiscs only to have the title come out in DVD. And I've certainly bought SDs only to have the title come out in Blu. As god is my witness, I won't do that again.....

-Greg

Some folks regret selling off their vinyl collection because CD' s "perfect sound forever" turned out to be less than perfect for real music lovers.

I stopped buying DVDs about six months before I bought an HD player. I didn't want to be an early adopter but I finally succumbed to the "HD-itch".

[TheTenth]

In the past few months I've bought : 30+ Blu-ray movies, 3 DVD seasons, 2 used DVD movies (Immortel by Enki Bilal and Dead poet's society) so for me, with rare exceptions, DVD is dead

[Go Blu]

The problem is when you buy an HDTV you finally get a chance to see how bad your DVD's really look. Even worse when you hook your PS3 up to it for a taste of Full HD. You can never go back after that!

[Sonny]

I have not bought a DVD in a long time...

[Jim L]

But sometimes they look so horrible that I don't finish watching the movie.

I recently rented Zodiac and Fracture. They were great movies, but it was difficult to ignore the poor picture and sound quality.

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by Jim L

But sometimes they look so horrible that I don't finish watching the movie.

I recently rented Zodiac and Fracture. They were great movies, but it was difficult to ignore the poor picture and sound quality.

I bought Zodiac a few months ago, but I haven't yet watched it. As you mention, I'm worried that it won't look that good. For TV series I have no problem with PQ because it is TV. But watching an entire movie, I hate wasting time with lousy PQ.

-Greg

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by Spankey

DVD-ISASTER SALES



Can the format war be having an effect? Could studios be more willing now to end settle this somehow and give rise to a new market? I know I haven't bought a DVD since Blu-ray debuted.

After meetings with multiple stuido reps, I assure you everyone knows about the decline in DVD revenue.

My opinion is early 2008 is where a decision will be made for Warner and Universal. They do not want to kill the highdef format when DVD sales have been flat (and now negative) for a couple years. With highdef sets taking center stage in a lot of retail outlets, I assure you *most* stuidos want this war to be over.

[martinp1]

i honestly cant remember the last time i bought a Dvd. i think it was a porn movie if i did. GO TEAM BLU!

[erowe83]

I still buy a lot of DVD's just because of the Criterion Collection.. There are a ton of movies that will not be out for at least 5 more years if ever on HD and I dont want to wait for them..