Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season 4K UHD (2011)

[Nothing371]

Originally Posted by Majoran

It’s a catch 22 as if people don’t buy they may not make more.

yep, and even if you buy it they still might not follow suit in the same fashion.

Game of Thrones isn't exactly one of those properties that needs customer support. They spend over $10mil making each episode. The sales numbers for the blu-ray sets must be staggering. They can certainly afford, and will absolutely eventually make, a 4K UHD disc set. It's a pretty bad example of something that would require your support in order to happen.

I'm kind of tired of the "customers need to support" angle, specifically for this show. Do a good job. Make a good product. Then people will buy it in droves. It doesn't take a tech giant CEO to figure it out.

Right now I'm looking at a plain amaray case with a slip and the original season 1 theatrical artwork. *yawn* Ball is in your court, HBO. Look at the various Blade Runner 2049 releases if you're confused as to what I'm talking about. The customers have nothing to prove. This is the type of release that could be a 4K HDR system mover (in minor numbers).

[Nothing371]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

There are also several seasons of this show I don’t ever feel the desire to watch again. Love that first season (and book) though.

[Elbie]

Originally Posted by NoLifeDGenerate

Who the hell would buy just 1 season in 4K at this point? The series ends next year. I want a complete UHD box set.

I will.

[NoLifeDGenerate]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

yep, and even if you buy it they still might not follow suit in the same fashion.

Yep. Still waiting for the standard Viva case releases of season 3+. They only did the 1st two for some stupid reason. I despise digipak and all cardboard packaging, so I decided to just wait for the complete series box next year.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

Game of Thrones isn't exactly one of those properties that needs customer support. They spend over $10mil making each episode.

Sounds like they do need the support because that budget is so high.

The sales numbers for the blu-ray sets must be staggering.

What are the sales. "Must be" doesn't mean they are or are not.

They can certainly afford, and will absolutely eventually make, a 4K UHD disc set. It's a pretty bad example of something that would require your support in order to happen.

You haven't been paying attention to the state of physical media lately.
Even some first run films aren't getting 4K releases.

I'm kind of tired of the "customers need to support" angle, specifically for this show.

It's still true.

Do a good job. Make a good product. Then people will buy it in droves. It doesn't take a tech giant CEO to figure it out.

They did that and more for ST:TNG, putting the entire show through post production again and doing an outstanding job. No droves. CEOs look at the sales figures of that and shake their heads sadly.

With streaming and previous BD releases and readily available on places like HBO-GO/HBO-NOW good sales are not a given.

[Nothing371]

Ugh. Don't be that guy, man. I don't do grudges.

Do your own research and post your own opinions as you'd like. I don't have to look up sales numbers to know that GoT has sold seven seasons incredibly well on bd disc. It's one of the most successful television shows of all time, it's current, and it has a rabid paid customer following. Nobody is talking about Star Trek discs anymore and that's a poor analogy.

[ckenisell]

I hope they load this in and update the HBO GO/NOW apps to be 4K capable.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by ckenisell

I hope they load this in and update the HBO GO/NOW apps to be 4K capable.

I think we'll see a dedicated 4K HBO channel before then. I reason by then there will be more support for that than the short-lived 3D channel.

Again, I draw your attention to a closeup of the cover (click on Large:Front)
Digital HD not available in 4K.
If ANY of the services do this, likely Apple would do it first. HBO GO/NOW none of that is delivered in 4K.....and prolly won't until HBO debuts a 4K dedicated channel, and that won't occur until the market share of 4K gets closer to the 50% threshold.
And also likely, reruns of Westworld (season 1) and Thrones (season 1 and maybe any subsequent seasons released by then) would be the showcase of the new channel along with the movies.

Now, WHEN would this happen? Well, here is the problem. These programmers are driven by the CABLE market, and CABLE technology is limited by the infrastructure of their head-ends. Now many of these providers have upgraded their InFras for HD, which means an increase of bandwidth, and piggy-backing these HD feeds with those still in SD.....which is WHY a majority of cable systems STILL have more SD channels and seem stagnate as of late. For many of these cable systems (locally) they would have to dump two SD channels to increase one in HD. The SAME principal applies to 4K, except they would have to dump 4 SD or 2 HD feeds in order to add 1 channel in 4K. For those who have DirecTV, its sorta the same/similar principal. You NEED the Genie DVR AND a wireless Genie in order to get THREE channels of 4K programming. Their "software" actually bands together 2 "unseen" channels to create one viewable 4K channel.
Wanna example how DTV "allocates" these channels? On football Sunday, when the Sunday Ticket is going on, several "infomercial" channels are "off-the-air" so the bandwidth can be used for those NFL games in HD.

In other words, it may be a while before HBO has a dedicated 4K channel.

[ckenisell]

I kinda see it the other way around. Because of the cable and satellite bandwidth restrictions, it's much easier for content providers to go the 4K online app route. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc. are already streaming in 4K HDR. It wouldn't be too difficult to for HBO to leverage that tech with the app infrastructure that they already have in place.

Sure, I saw that the digital copy for the UHD BD won't be in 4K, but that doesn't stop HBO from updating their GO/NOW apps to be 4K capable. Digital Copies and GO/NOW are two different offerings.

In any case, I could see GO/NOW offered in 4K before any of the cable/satellite providers upgrade to 4K (Dish, DirecTV, etc.)

But, it's all speculation here. So it's anybody's guess what they'll actually do.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by ckenisell

In any case, I could see GO/NOW offered in 4K before any of the cable/satellite providers upgrade to 4K (Dish, DirecTV, etc.).

GO/NOW was up until recently 720p on most devices. I don't see them jumping to 4K with HDR anytime fast.


Besides, you want them to cannibalize disc sales further?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

Ugh. Don't be that guy, man. I don't do grudges.

The guy who basically proved that sales aren't a sure thing and the "wait for box set" attitude will probably result in nothing further?

You also realize a lot of GoT is pirated online.

I've done the research. The market is NOT good.

[darkedgex]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

They did that and more for ST:TNG, putting the entire show through post production again and doing an outstanding job. No droves. CEOs look at the sales figures of that and shake their heads sadly.

Ehhh... even assuming sales were terrible, it was a necessary step to get the show into syndication in the HD world. It also makes that content viable for streaming services because the quality is actually there.

Any CEO that doesn't realize that's a long-term investment is fooling themselves.

[jamesdevil]

Originally Posted by NoLifeDGenerate

Who the hell would buy just 1 season in 4K at this point? The series ends next year. I want a complete UHD box set.

Me. I prefer individual packaging and it's probably going to be a long time before, or if, we get all of them anyways.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by ckenisell

I kinda see it the other way around. Because of the cable and satellite bandwidth restrictions, it's much easier for content providers to go the 4K online app route. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc. are already streaming in 4K HDR. It wouldn't be too difficult to for HBO to leverage that tech with the app infrastructure that they already have in place.

Sure, I saw that the digital copy for the UHD BD won't be in 4K, but that doesn't stop HBO from updating their GO/NOW apps to be 4K capable. Digital Copies and GO/NOW are two different offerings.

In any case, I could see GO/NOW offered in 4K before any of the cable/satellite providers upgrade to 4K (Dish, DirecTV, etc.)

But, it's all speculation here. So it's anybody's guess what they'll actually do.

Well Chet, you're kinda proving MY point! Netflix, Azon, Vudu, even Apple, are NOT tied or owned by any CABLE providers or conglomerates.

Cable is STILL the owners/driving force behind HBO, Showtime, Encore, etc (name your pay cable favorite here). Ex: HBO/Cinemax didn't go HD until their major markets had the HD capability. They didn't offer multiplex channels until cable headends had the capacity to carry them.
Cable is still the master in their eyes, despite the ability to stream their content in 4K, they won't do it until cable catches up. Think of it like this: Cable is the first-born son, all other outlets are the poor stepchildren. Whether it be satellite, streaming, online apps, etc....If it ain't cable, it ain't stable. They are not as concerned about acquiring additional streams of revenue as much as making sure the lions share of their customers are bound by wire.
Certainly they are concerned by "cord-cutters" but ANY capital investment will be made to IMPROVE what is offered via cable, before they eliminate the "wire". Some areas, that's STILL the primary source of ANY TV programming at all. Remember, just like MY household, cable provides the INTERNET...so even if I stream....I STILL have that monthly bill to Comcast/Xfinity every month. They are franchised here, I have no other comparable choices as far as internet is concerned. Verizon cannot provide decent local phone service here, and their DSL is just as faulty...and limited. Cell service is WAY too expensive, if I go with unlimited (regardless of the providers) its a $300+ cell bill (based on the data usage). Plus, other suppliers throttle their signal, I don't have that with cable. For me cable is the only, best option.

[tjritter79]

Originally Posted by jamesdevil

Me. I prefer individual packaging and it's probably going to be a long time before, or if, we get all of them anyways.

I'm kinda leaning that they are going to release a past season in 2-3 month intervals in 4K. Based on the sales of this initial season. Subsequent seasons would likely require less work...but they'd charge us the same

Even in HD, season 1, photographically, prolly appears to be the most inferior transfer. I'm anxious to see what the 4K transfer does to enhance this. Besides, think of it THIS way....its a revenue stream for HBO for FANS of the show since it has a year off!

Please, take my money, NOW!

[Gouden]

I just saw this on Zavvi, 57€ way to much I would say. Do that times 2 and you have seasons 1-7 on blu-ray.

[Vangeli]

Westworld had a similar MSRP but went for around 40 bucks at launch.

[DJViking]

Originally Posted by Majoran

It’s a catch 22 as if people don’t buy they may not make more.

That is a distinct possibility. Better purchase now just in case, however if they later choose not to release the other seasons in UHD then you stand short with missing seasons in UHD.

[magoosh]

amazon.com sure is taking their sweet time adding this to their site

[SwaGGInTheShadows]

Originally Posted by yarulbcool

Am I the only one who finds the "Oh I will only buy the unedited original Star Wars Trilogy on blu-ray," "Oh, I don't like the later seasons of GoT, only season 1 because I read books," etc. crowd to be extremely annoying? Yea, we get that elements of the edited Star Wars makes little sense. We get that GRRM is a far superior writer than the show runners. Are you trying to impress random people on the internet or something by posting in every thread how you just wants the originals?

They need attention. I love seeing them in person. I ask them this same question on the spot and their answer "its just my opinion" Like they justifies being snide lmao

Its 2018, and i have yet to pay my bills with passion and knowledge of fandom. That's all i need lmao