Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

...The big push right now is on the 2-packs, and I think it's a good way to go, so long as they continue to pair movies well.

Yeah, that is great. Do you file it under "C" for Capote or
under "I" for In Cold Blood. Maybe everyone has several
shelves just for "None of the Above."

They hit that magical $20 a movie while letting the studios move more units

Or less units if people don't want to pay $20 for a movie
they didn't want it the first place just to get a movie they
did want at $25. Then I guess people fall for false economy.

Better yet, just go to Redbox and rent the one you do want
twenty times for a dollar. With the rise in rentals you would
think barebones is all people really want.

[Jeff Kleist]

Yeah, that is great. Do you file it under "C" for Capote or
under "I" for In Cold Blood. Maybe everyone has several
shelves just for "None of the Above."

2-packs, as in shrinkwrapping 2 keepcases side by side, not double fetures

Better yet, just go to Redbox and rent the one you do want
twenty times for a dollar. With the rise in rentals you would
think barebones is all people really want.

Redbox IMO isn't going to last once the VC runs out. At a dollar a movie, they can't turn them enough times, and the studios are hopping mad at them for devaluing rental further. They have to turn your average new release 15 times to even make money, and they don't have a direct retail outlet for their overstock. IMO they're just looking to sell the thing to netflix anyway, making it a good outlet for returns and another way to move discs.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

2-packs, as in shrinkwrapping 2 keepcases side by side, not double fetures



Redbox IMO isn't going to last once the VC runs out. At a dollar a movie, they can't turn them enough times, and the studios are hopping mad at them for devaluing rental further. They have to turn your average new release 15 times to even make money, and they don't have a direct retail outlet for their overstock. IMO they're just looking to sell the thing to netflix anyway, making it a good outlet for returns and another way to move discs.

VC? Sorry, not sure what it means.

[Jeff Kleist]

Venture capital- a firm makes an investment in your business in exchange for a piece of it to give you a sizeable chunk of startup money

That's how all the internet companies in the 90s got started.

[Batman1980]

And that's why so many Internet companies flopped worse than a dead fish once the initial start-up money ran out.

[Jeff Kleist]

yup, cause they lost money hardcore

I have no idea what RedBox's financials look like, and all of this is pure speculation. The above is my educated guess only, and should not be taken as definitive fact. But given what I know of the retail and rental industry, something is just majorly not computing

[jw]

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Originally Posted by Iceman

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[HeavyHitter]

Jeff,

Are the studios generally happy with the Netflix structure? I ask as I have seen so many local video stores close and Blockbuster not doing well, it could be that Netflix will be the last man standing for packaged media rental.

[Jeff Kleist]

They're generally getting the same from NetFlix as they would from Blockbuster. netflix works because the vast majority of members are getting under 10 discs a month. If you hit the mailings right for NF you can go through almost 25 if you're a power user.

I heard some figures on streaming costs for them, but don't remember off the top of my head but it's much lower than buying, mailing you a disc and the overhead involved

[Vincent Pereira]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

...

The big push right now is on the 2-packs, and I think it's a good way to go, so long as they continue to pair movies well. They hit that magical $20 a movie while letting the studios move more units

I gotta say, the Blu-ray two-pack of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER at a good price worked for me. I picked that sucker up without thinking twice.

Vincent

[NL197]

That's an odd combination. I thought "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger" were the two out of four with the most common connection.

I like the Paramount rebate idea. When I send in the rebate for "Ghost", that will reduce the price of that BD to just under $7.

[Vincent Pereira]

Originally Posted by NL197

That's an odd combination...

Since HUNT and CLEAR are my two favorite Jack Ryan films, it wasn't an odd combination to me.

I like the Paramount rebate idea. When I send in the rebate for "Ghost", that will reduce the price of that BD to just under $7.

I'd like it if I trusted it. I followed their rules and sent in the rebate form for THE GODFATHER with all the stuff they asked for and they sent me a notice saying I didn't send them the right material and they wouldn't honor the rebate.

Vincent

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Vincent Pereira

Since HUNT and CLEAR are my two favorite Jack Ryan films, it wasn't an odd combination to me.

Yes, they share the common quality of being the two in the series worth watching.

Originally Posted by Vincent Pereira

I'd like it if I trusted it. I followed their rules and sent in the rebate form for THE GODFATHER with all the stuff they asked for and they sent me a notice saying I didn't send them the right material and they wouldn't honor the rebate.

I've had this happen, as well (though not with this particular promotion, in which I haven't participated). I've meticulously prepared mailings (which, I'm sure, put me in the top percentile of envelopes received, in terms of clear, organized submissions) and received the same kind of notice in return. Of course, this leaves us without the materials with which to mount a second attempt.

The cynic in me wonders how often this may be the result of a cost-saving directive. If the fulfillment house rejects, say, 10% of legitimate entries, even a well-organized class-action effort from complainants who'd found each other online would have an extremely difficult time getting any justice. The company can say "Look at all these other 90% of entrants who were sent a check!" and they also hold all the evidence of what you actually sent in. How many people are going to photocopy the contents of their envelope for a $10 rebate?

[Jeff Kleist]

Excellent policy is to make photocopies of all submitted materials, and if they try that BS then you have evidence that you prepared it correctly.95% of the time that will solve the problem

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Excellent policy is to make photocopies of all submitted materials, and if they try that BS then you have evidence that you prepared it correctly.95% of the time that will solve the problem

You were posting this as I was editing my comment to mention photocopying.

[FourToedStatue]

Jeff Do you think If the the upcoming BSG box sells well it could influence how other studios release their TV shows?

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by FourToedStatue

Jeff Do you think If the the upcoming BSG box sells well it could influence how other studios release their TV shows?

Out of curiosity, what are you alluding to? (or hoping for?)

[Jeff Kleist]

I think a lot of studios are looking to complete boxes as the best way to get catalog TV out. It's probably easier to convince people to upgrade all at once.

That's how Lost was going to work originally

I expect you'll see complete boxes for Holidays and then singles starting to dole out 6 months or so down the line

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I think a lot of studios are looking to complete boxes as the best way to get catalog TV out. It's probably easier to convince people to upgrade all at once.

That's how Lost was going to work originally

I expect you'll see complete boxes for Holidays and then singles starting to dole out 6 months or so down the line

Along these lines, FOX is doing a great job of getting tv series out on blu. They seem to be throwing out everything possible. Are they just testing the waters to see what sells? I would think they already know that male geared series sell better than most.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I think a lot of studios are looking to complete boxes as the best way to get catalog TV out. It's probably easier to convince people to upgrade all at once.

Jeff, Fox's upcoming TV-on-Blu release slate is "impressive," to say the least, and the prices on some of them are nice too. In fact, Fox's release slate is SO impressive that the only two series I haven't seen information for (not counting their animated stuff), is of course, the already discussed "Season Four" of "Prison Break", and the next season of "Bones." I'm also thrilled to see the introduction of network comedies on Blu-ray.

I'm pleased with WB's continued Blu support of "Pushing Daisies" after it was cancelled, their support of "bubble" shows like "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles", "Chuck", their addition of "Fringe", and of course, their continued support of "Supernatural," a show that I love, but don't have access to in HD. Still, I'm surprised that Amazon only has a pre-order listing up for "The Mentalist" on DVD, and not Blu-ray, due to the success of the show. Sure, one can pop up later, but I'm still surprised by it's lack of Blu-ray release. It's not my #1 wanted from WB ("The Big Bang Theory" is), but I'm surprised given it's success.

~Alan