JB Hi-Fi NOW Video is closing (Australian UV provider)

[p w]

From the email they sent out to their users:

Dear JB Hi-Fi NOW Video Members,

Sadly, the JB Hi-Fi NOW Video service is closing down on 13 April 2017. As of the 13 April our JB Hi-Fi NOW Video apps and services will no longer be supported and all JB Hi-Fi NOW Video downloads and streaming services will no longer be available. You will be able to download and stream your movies and TV shows using JB Hi-Fi NOW Video as normal until the 13 April 2017.

It is important to note that UltraViolet codes that you have redeemed will remain available in your UltraViolet account linked to https://www.myuv.com/ and the Ultraviolet service itself will not be closing. Therefore movies and TV shows that you have redeemed using JB Hi-Fi Now Video will still be available for you to access via alternative UltraViolet services such as Flixster Video and other alternatives that you can view at https://www.myuv.com/.

If you wish to continue to access your UltraViolet films via Flixster Video or another redemption service, you will need to create an account with the relevant service. (Please note, all downloads that are currently saved on your device with the JB Hi-Fi NOW Video App will not transfer over to Flixster Video (or another service) and these will need to be downloaded again with the new service). Please see here for the answers to a number of questions you may have (FAQs). This also includes a guide on how to create and link your current UltraViolet account with Flixster Video.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the JB Hi-Fi NOW Video service. We remain passionate about movies and TV shows and continue to offer Australia’s largest range of DVDs and Blu-Rays through our stores nationally and via our online site.

JB Hi-Fi NOW Video Team

Source from website: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/features/m...video-closing/

[tobz]

That just leaves flixster which is phone only (is it even HD). UV is pretty much dead here now.... if it was ever alive.

[BlakkMajik3000]

Has UV really caught on anywhere outside of the US? Over the past couple of years, seems like at least once or twice a year there's a post about a service shutting down, usually from across the pond.

[p w]

Originally Posted by BlakkMajik3000

Has UV really caught on anywhere outside of the US? Over the past couple of years, seems like at least once or twice a year there's a post about a service shutting down, usually from across the pond.

I can't locate the specific DCDE article, but I do remember they had plans to expand the service into other countries between 2015 to 2017. With Japan being one of those new UV markets, as far as I know - Japan's UV system never went live.

Here were the services to support UV at its height:

Service - Countries

blinkbox (Talk Talk) UK
CinemaNow US, Canada, UK
Cineplex Canada
Flixster US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
JB Hi-Fi Australia, New Zealand
Kaleidescape US, Canada, UK, Ireland
M-Go US, UK, Ireland
Nolim (Carrefour) France
Nook (Barnes & Noble) US
Paramount Movies US
Sainsbury's UK
Sony Pictures Store US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
Universal Hi-Def US, Canada
Videociety Germany
Vudu (Walmart) US
Wuaki (Rakuten) UK, Ireland

[tobz]

Not a single UV provider in NZ had HD support let alone an app to watch on TV. Yet most movies came with a UV code to use. When I tried it, I found the only worthwhile provider was Vudu which I had to use a DNS/VPN to access.

[p w]

Originally Posted by tobz

Not a single UV provider in NZ had HD support let alone an app to watch on TV. Yet most movies came with a UV code to use. When I tried it, I found the only worthwhile provider was Vudu which I had to use a DNS/VPN to access.

UV does appears its hanging on by Vudu and the USA market. If Walmart decides to pull the plug on Vudu at any point in the future, the UV format will either have to be transitioned into another service (itunes, google play, amazon, or netflix) or UV will be over.

Flixster took a step back in 2016 when the MGO to Fandango deal reduced what Flixster was doing. Flixster retreated from several platforms as part of that deal and stopped offering disc to digital. The UV service provider list has shrank in all countries over the past 12-24 months. While the announced Japan UV expansion never happened in 2015 or 2016. CinemaNow ended their D2D program in Feb of 2017.

If the studios allow UV to die, its unlikely there will be any successful digital replacement for buying physical media in the next decade. Everyone wants to be the next Netflix, but consumers are not going to pay 5-15 different streaming fees each month so they can watch their content hidden behind each pay-walled garden. $10 to watch your streaming fox content, $10 to watch your sony content, $10 to watch your BBC, $15 to watch your HBO content, etc.

[BlakkMajik3000]

I'm starting to believe more and more that UV is going to die without support from some of the bigger EST providers (iTunes and Amazon first and foremost). Right now, DMA is the only one supported by all storefronts that matter in digital, so UV needs to figure out what DMA is doing to get these deals and do the same.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by BlakkMajik3000

I'm starting to believe more and more that UV is going to die without support from some of the bigger EST providers (iTunes and Amazon first and foremost). Right now, DMA is the only one supported by all storefronts that matter in digital, so UV needs to figure out what DMA is doing to get these deals and do the same.

I have said that for a long time. Not because of my love of Bluray rather because I believe it to be true.

[p w]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I have said that for a long time. Not because of my love of Bluray rather because I believe it to be true.

the at&t 85 billion dollar purchase of warner content is going to have the biggest deciding factor on digital content delivery going forward. at&t is not spending 85 billion to share, they are spending that to create a locked walled garden of warner streaming content on at&t phones. it will probably mean all the deals with hbo steaming content will die after those existing contracts are up (amazon prime). and flixster will be shuttered in 2018. leaving all the 4 remaining studios in UV to try and salvage digital streaming going forward. UV is hanging on by vudu, as long as walmart is making cash on it, there is a future for it. physical disc sales are down, the younger generation is more in streaming or ripping. the movie studios can continue to force physical media and ignore digital, but it will turn out like mp3s vs cd in 90s to 00s.

[BlakkMajik3000]

Originally Posted by p w

the at&t 85 billion dollar purchase of warner content is going to have the biggest deciding factor on digital content delivery going forward. at&t is not spending 85 billion to share, they are spending that to create a locked walled garden of warner streaming content on at&t phones. it will probably mean all the deals with hbo steaming content will die after those existing contracts are up (amazon prime).

Warner has lots of valuable content, but I doubt there's any big shifts in digital distribution, at least in the near-term. There was a lot of hoopla when Comcast bought NBC/Universal, but nothing has really changed there from what I can see. No service provider wants to be a dumb pipe (which is what the future is for them), so I expect a few more of these deals in the forseeable future (i.e. Verizon may try to buy something like Paramount or Lionsgate). No one provider has enough content to create a walled garden just for that content, and that includes Disney. If they start pulling content from digital storefronts, people will either buy a disc or "acquire" the movies elsewhere.

Originally Posted by p w

and flixster will be shuttered in 2018. leaving all the 4 remaining studios in UV to try and salvage digital streaming going forward. UV is hanging on by vudu, as long as walmart is making cash on it, there is a future for it.

A digital locker, which claims to be universal, cannot survive hanging on to a single retailer (or e-tailer in this case). I think we are living HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray all over again. All it takes is for 1 or 2 other big studios (I can see Fox, at least) to support DMA, and it's lights out for UV. At some point, we must have a single locker that both contains our licenses and is supported by the major EST platforms.

Originally Posted by p w

physical disc sales are down, the younger generation is more in streaming or ripping. the movie studios can continue to force physical media and ignore digital, but it will turn out like mp3s vs cd in 90s to 00s.

I think it's the opposite. More studios are trying to force digital, but they can't go all-out yet because a large (read: most) portion of their revenue still comes from physical disc.

The mp3 vs CD scenario does not support a case for an all digital future. Over a decade after it was supposed to be "dead" (by many tech blogs/sites), CD is still here. This is even with a multitude of services that serve "all you can eat" subscriptions that INCLUDE new releases.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by BlakkMajik3000

Warner has lots of valuable content, but I doubt there's any big shifts in digital distribution, at least in the near-term. There was a lot of hoopla when Comcast bought NBC/Universal, but nothing has really changed there from what I can see. No service provider wants to be a dumb pipe (which is what the future is for them), so I expect a few more of these deals in the forseeable future (i.e. Verizon may try to buy something like Paramount or Lionsgate). No one provider has enough content to create a walled garden just for that content, and that includes Disney. If they start pulling content from digital storefronts, people will either buy a disc or "acquire" the movies elsewhere.


A digital locker, which claims to be universal, cannot survive hanging on to a single retailer (or e-tailer in this case). I think we are living HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray all over again. All it takes is for 1 or 2 other big studios (I can see Fox, at least) to support DMA, and it's lights out for UV. At some point, we must have a single locker that both contains our licenses and is supported by the major EST platforms.


I think it's the opposite. More studios are trying to force digital, but they can't go all-out yet because a large (read: most) portion of their revenue still comes from physical disc.

The mp3 vs CD scenario does not support a case for an all digital future. Over a decade after it was supposed to be "dead" (by many tech blogs/sites), CD is still here. This is even with a multitude of services that serve "all you can eat" subscriptions that INCLUDE new releases.

Well said. All those are points I have made in several posts going back many many pages lol. So, obviously I agree with you. The problem is, when I make this point people assume I am using it as cannon fodder for my disc based media hopes.. people are starting to realise UV is doomed.