Disney's Aquisition of Fox Studios: How will it affect Fox's 4k releases? Discuss!

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Well ladies and gentlemen,


Now that Disney has gobbled up most of 20th Century Fox and its film & TV assets, how do you suppose this will affect Fox's output of 4k titles (and Blu-ray in general), especially when it comes to their catalog of obscure, classic, and neo-classic films?


Personally, I believe this is a major blow to physical media in general given Disney's abysmal track record of releasing back catalog titles besides their animated feature films (most of them anyway) and the fact that they're about to launch their own streaming service using Disney and Fox titles as its backbone.

[Agent Kay]

Won't change much of anything, they still have to be run as a company.

[azmodeous]

It's not a completely done deal, Comcast could make another counter offer but you have to wonder just how much they can afford to keep going versus Disney's deep pockets. I do think its mostly a done deal though as any other offers would require Fox to start over and I can't see anyone wanting to start over from scratch 6 months in with the go-ahead from the government.

I do agree this is bad news for physical media. The main reason for this deal was for Disney to beef up their streaming service they're developing. Physical releases, especially catalogue titles are going to be far in the back of their minds especially once they get into the streaming game.

[Agent Kay]

They want sky and are looking hard at that now.

[MattPerdue]

I mean if Pixar/Lucasfilm/Marvel can do whatever they please I don't see why it'd be any different with Fox if they're still their own autonomy. Mastering will probably take a hit if nothing else but I'm not that worried the catalog beyond that.

Honestly, it's not like Fox has been doing much with its own catalog as of late.

[swarm87]

guess I'll have to snap up predator fast as possible before it goes into the vault and there goes any chance of getting alien(s)(3) in UHD physical media

[Geoff D]

Seeing as Fox have pretty much given up on exploiting their own back catalogue unless there's an anniversary or cash-in opportunity to be had (and that's for BD, never mind UHD) and they're being bought by a company even more reticent to put catalogue content on UHD I'm not sure we'll notice much of a change. Fox don't mind licensing their stuff out though, the indies don't yet do UHD but that's a future avenue that may be cut off by Disney because they don't tend to licence their stuff out.

[Fendergopher]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Seeing as Fox have pretty much given up on exploiting their own back catalogue unless there's an anniversary or cash-in opportunity to be had (and that's for BD, never mind UHD) and they're being bought by a company even more reticent to put catalogue content on UHD I'm not sure we'll notice much of a change. Fox don't mind licensing their stuff out though, the indies don't yet do UHD but that's a future avenue that may be cut off by Disney because they don't tend to licence their stuff out.

RIP the original trilogy on UHD.

[pottyaboutpotter1]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Seeing as Fox have pretty much given up on exploiting their own back catalogue unless there's an anniversary or cash-in opportunity to be had (and that's for BD, never mind UHD) and they're being bought by a company even more reticent to put catalogue content on UHD I'm not sure we'll notice much of a change. Fox don't mind licensing their stuff out though, the indies don't yet do UHD but that's a future avenue that may be cut off by Disney because they don't tend to licence their stuff out.

Just as long as we get the first four Alien films on UHD before the takeover I’m happy. It is the 40th anniversary of the franchise next year so that should be enough for a release.

[cynatnite]

It does concern me as far as physical media goes. Not that it's going anywhere, but we could see fewer releases and/or a rise in prices for the more desirable movies and TV shows.

Plus I believe competition is a good thing and this hurts that, IMO.

Streaming services will likely be impacted as well. More streaming, less quality and paying more, too.

I subscribe to Netflix and Hulu. I'm considering DC, but I really don't want to have to pay for more streaming to get the stuff I want either.

I see some benefits, but the negatives bother me a lot.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by pottyaboutpotter1

Just as long as we get the first four Alien films on UHD before the takeover I’m happy. It is the 40th anniversary of the franchise next year so that should be enough for a release.

Fox didn't bother doing all the Die Hards on UHD even though they're ready to rumble, I think we'll see a UHD of Alien next year but the rest of them, I wouldn't bet on it - and that's just with Fox in charge.

[pottyaboutpotter1]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Fox didn't bother doing all the Die Hards on UHD even though they're ready to rumble, I think we'll see a UHD of Alien next year but the rest of them, I wouldn't bet on it - and that's just with Fox in charge.

I’d settle for just Alien and Aliens. Especially since they’re looking to retcon away the other two.

[Dubstar]

just along as Disney doesn't @#$% up the Atmos home theater mixes - bring 'em on!! Maybe they'll given them Don Bluth animated features a push onto UHD, say like... ummm - "Titan A.E."

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Fendergopher

RIP the original trilogy on UHD.

Actually this gets Disney Star Wars fully

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by MattPerdue

I mean if Pixar/Lucasfilm/Marvel can do whatever they please I don't see why it'd be any different with Fox if they're still their own autonomy.

They can't, and don't, "do whatever they please." Do you honestly believe any of them are existing independently? Disney is calling the shots on all of their product. All you have to do is look at the "Disney Star Wars" films to know they are being made on an assembly line like all the other releases the studio cranks out. Nobody has autonomy there. Kathleen Kennedy may take the fall for "Lucasfilm" but there's no question Iger and the other suits are sitting there with focus groups trying to figure out how to maximize dollars with all of those films.

This is all bad for physical media. They will take the Fox product for their Netflix-like service and spit out the rest. They won't be using it as anything but one more chip in their massive arsenal of brands they've acquired. Disney has been disinterested in physical media for years. Outside of new releases they don't care, their "Movie Club" exclusives are brainlessly produced with no effort expended on them at all. How this is going to be a good thing for Fox who has licensed out to Twilight Time and other labels is beyond me.

Really, the only people who should be happy are comic book fans, as if this last Avengers movie wasn't stuffed with enough characters, now they can add a few more dozen into the mix. Sigh.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Do you honestly believe any of them are existing independently? Disney is calling the shots on all of their product. All you have to do is look at the "Disney Star Wars" films to know they are being made on an assembly line like all the other releases the studio cranks out. Nobody has autonomy there.

On a line? Lol if they were they would be safer and all hit.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

...Fox don't mind licensing their stuff out though, the indies don't yet do UHD but that's a future avenue that may be cut off by Disney because they don't tend to licence their stuff out.

That's not entirely accurate. Disney has licensed a ton of their touchstone movies out to Mills Creek and King Lober. So there is a chance they could do the same with Fox's catalog. Though I suspect Fox will continue putting out their own movies and what not. In theaters and home video. Fox so far has done pretty good with their catalog releases. They haven't gone deep deep in their catalog, but they've put out a good chunk of decent stuff. I suspect their next big catalog release will be the X-Men movies to coincide with the release of Dark Phoenix next year. Though they may announce The X-Files Fight The Future for release this fall on 4K considering it's the 20th anniversary of the movie.

[Geoff D]

Touchstone is a different 'label' in the Disney stable so if they were to treat Fox as such then fair enough, but when it comes to their own catalogue content their head's jammed so far up their vault that they ain't gonna change for nobody. I know that wasn't the point being discussed but still, one of the most reticent studios for catalogue physical media releases being gobbled up by THE most reticent studio for catalogue physical media isn't A Good Thing.

[fighthefutureofhd]

I think Fox has been pretty good with the physical media. They are supporting it in a healthy way. Are they as good as the other studios? Maybe not, but they are still supporting it which is good. It's only been two years and so far they're holding their own. Disney has also been good with physical media. In fact, they are the kings of physical media. They only started putting out 4k UHDs less than a year ago and knowing that they've done pretty damn good. One catalog title is a bit slow, but it's a start and they'll be doing more. TRUST.

[cynatnite]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

I think Fox has been pretty good with the physical media. They are supporting it in a healthy way. Are they as good as the other studios? Maybe not, but they are still supporting it which is good. It's only been two years and so far they're holding their own. Disney has also been good with physical media. In fact, they are the kings of physical media. They only started putting out 4k UHDs less than a year ago and knowing that they've done pretty damn good. One catalog title is a bit slow, but it's a start and they'll be doing more. TRUST.

It would be nice if Disney did a better job with the AQ of their releases. Trust...nope.