Blu-rays are 8 years old and DVDs still cling to them like a cancerous tumor. Why?

[Dynamo of Eternia]

I'm not trying to ignore anything, and I'm in no way trying to argue against the point that DVD was more successful overall.

But your point about "anything that plugs into a wall" plays DVDs was IMO an exageration, since really even devices like that kid's projector that you posted and even laptops more often than not would have been the exception and not the rule on how people watched DVDs.

Most people likely watched them (and still watch them) on standard DVD players and game systems. And the reason why they didn't want to upgrade to Blu-Ray in some cases is more so because they didn't want to replace players in many rooms of the house (regardless of how low BD player prices have gotten).... not because most of them were worried that there was no Blu-ray equivelant of some Fisher Price projector/DVD player.

Heck, my own family is a funny example of this. A few years back my mom and step-dad (and half sister, who is much younger than me and still lives with them) got an HDTV in their finished basement and a PS3 for watching Blu-Rays and for my sister to play games on. While they do have several Blu-Rays and sometimes buy combo packs, my step dad would buy DVDs because he could watch them in other areas of the house.

Here's the funny part. Since that time, all but one room now has a Blu-ray playing device. In the living room on the upper level, they had a crappy DVD player that was giving them problems, so when there was a really good sale, I pointed them to a decent Sony BD player a while back. My sister, who now goes to college locally and works part time, bought herself a PS4 back when the black friday bundles were happening, and has that in her room.

The only room that still only has DVD is my mom and step-dad's bedroom. So instead of just upgrading that one last player (which he can probably do for cheap), he will still buy DVDs when either the Blu-Ray does not come with a DVD in the same pack, or if he perceives the BD combo pack as being much more expensive (if he even paid attention in the first place... sometimes he just goes for the DVD without really looking into the alternative).

People are just funny this way.


So, I get where you are coming from. My point is simply that I think the thing that hindered most people who didn't move to Blu-Ray is not wanting to update multiple players and equipment throughout the house.... not so much compatibility with the occasional, one off unusual "fringe device" that played DVDs, but no BD equivelant has been released for. I'm sure there are exceptions, but they are just that... exceptions... and not the rule.

[Steedeel]

What I find more disturbing is the folks who have switched from Blu-ray to Digital. I don't get it and never will. Since when has convenience entered into the thoughts of videophiles? It's tragic, almost as tragic as a generation that browse the web on a 4 inch screen when they could be browsing content with rich pictures and illustrations on a 1080p monitor/screen.
People know my thoughts but we are heading towards a MP3 scenario. Only on this occasion, the MP3 is portable devices.

Look at China. Smartphones have exploded over there and advertisements for games and tv are everywhere. That could be us in a couple of years as China always seem to be slightly ahead of the curve.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

What I find more disturbing is the folks who have switched from Blu-ray to Digital. I don't get it and never will. Since when has convenience entered into the thoughts of videophiles?

Oohh interesting. I never thought about that scenario.
Yeah, it would make sense for the average person (who every once in a while bought a DVD) to jump from buying DVDs, to Digital...
But to go from being a Blu-ray lover to going Digital is odd.
Are there/were there members here who've done that?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Oohh interesting. I never thought about that scenario.
Yeah, it would make sense for the average person (who every once in a while bought a DVD) to jump from buying DVDs, to Digital...
But to go from being a Blu-ray lover to going Digital is odd.
Are there/were there members here who've done that?

Quite a few i would guess. Imo, its the usual i have kids and its so convenient line. Makes me want to throw up. Pick a side and get off the fence is my thoughts. You either love home cinema and commit to it or become a casual, singing 'let it go' every other week. Just my opinion though.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Oohh interesting. I never thought about that scenario.
Yeah, it would make sense for the average person (who every once in a while bought a DVD) to jump from buying DVDs, to Digital...
But to go from being a Blu-ray lover to going Digital is odd.
Are there/were there members here who've done that?

I read more and more posts from members that are using both formats now .

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

I read more and more posts from members that are using both formats now .

Yep, i see that. Thats when we know the format is in trouble. Its the constant justification that annoys me. Why dont people be honest and jusy say i have switched for the convenience. Instead they mention how they cant see a difference in quality lol.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

I read more and more posts from members that are using both formats now .

Yeah, I could almost hear the "both formats" user touting, "Hey, look at me, I'm more tech than you! I utilize everything; I got DVDs, Blu's, Digital, CDs, mp3's, Vinyl, ear buds, Beats by Dre..."

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yep, i see that. Thats when we know the format is in trouble. Its the constant justification that annoys me. Why dont people be honest and jusy say i have switched for the convenience. Instead they mention how they cant see a difference in quality lol.

Exactly.
If they admitted it was "for convenience", you could almost respect their answer.
But that's like saying you eat PB&J Uncrustables because you can't taste the difference. Just admit it, you get Uncrustables because they're convenient (they're lil', round shaped, pre-made pb&j sandwiches that you buy frozen and bring for lunch), vs making your own peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yep, i see that. Thats when we know the format is in trouble. Its the constant justification that annoys me. Why dont people be honest and jusy say i have switched for the convenience. Instead they mention how they cant see a difference in quality lol.

We know for certain that there is a substantial difference in quality between the two so yeah, convenience would be the only thing I could see making people make the switch or dabbling in both. I haven't seen any of the core members or veterans of this site mention digital, but alot of the newer members are discussing using it most definitely. ( yes I know, it says I joined June of last year but trust me, I've been coming here for my reviews and reading the boards since 2007. Why I waited so long to join I haven't a clue).

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

We know for certain that there is a substantial difference in quality between the two so yeah, convenience would be the only thing I could see making people make the switch or dabbling in both. I haven't seen any of the core members or veterans of this site mention digital, but alot of the newer members are discussing using it most definitely. ( yes I know, it says I joined June of last year but trust me, I've been coming here for my reviews and reading the boards since 2007. Why I waited so long to join I haven't a clue).

I was reading review for a long while before joining too.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Exactly.
If they admitted it was "for convenience", you could almost respect their answer.
But that's like saying you eat PB&J Uncrustables because you can't taste the difference. Just admit it, you get Uncrustables because they're convenient (they're lil', round shaped, pre-made pb&j sandwiches that you buy frozen and bring for lunch), vs making your own peanut butter and jelly sandwich

.

I have never got the love for peanut butter. If i am having a break from healthy eating its chocolate spread for me!
However, good point!

[Dylan34]

I will remain blu and eventually 4K blu until physical media completely dies and they take it off the market. Until that time comes, which is hopefully never, I will have no need or use for digital anything.

[Penton-Man]

To the Mod team…https://vine.co/v/OOtFjjJ9VLA

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by flyry

wrong.

besides people like us physical media almost has a negative connotation now.. kinda like CDS do to most.

i heard on 2 podcasts last week proclaiming "physical media is dying".. one was even on the AMC movie talk

That's the mantra but I wonder how many reporters who use it actually look up the numbers. It also depends upon your perspective and what you're comparing it to.

CDs: CDs are definitely dying if you compare them to their peak performance. In 1999, 942.5 million CDs were sold in the U.S. as compared to 2014's 144.1 million. But even in 2014, that generated $1.854 billion in revenue (at list prices). That's only slightly less than the $1.867 billion generated by Sound Exchange royalties, paid streaming subscriptions and on-demand ad supported streaming, which gets all the hype.

Furthermore, we also hear all kinds of hype about how vinyl is making a comeback. But that only sold 13.2 million units and generated $315 million (at list). But you listen to the press, you'd think vinyl is outselling CD.

Video: Physical media has been in decline for five years. In 2010, it was down 9.17% (in dollars in the U.S.). In 2011, it was down 13%. 2012, down 5.3%. In 2013, down 8%. 2014, down 10.4%. In 2009, it was an almost $11 billion business in the U.S. In 2014, it was down to under $6.8 billion.

Year-to-date it's down another 15.83%. BD is down 15.98% in dollars and 15.15% in units. YTD, we're at $2.119 billion total (BD+DVD). At this time in 2010, we were at $3.6 billion. So that's definitely bad...the question is whether streaming is making up the difference and which is more profitable for the studios. I don't have streaming revenue stats, so I don't know.

My guess is that streaming is not making it up. My personal feeling is that the studios have turned movies into such a cheap and easily available commodity that they're losing their perceived value in the minds of consumers and that consumers are watching less both theatrically and at home. I think this is actually a sad time for movies as it seems like there's more junk being produced than ever before and movies do not seem to have the same rarified place in the culture that they once did. Sure, the big comic book blockbusters still do amazing business, but there seems to be fewer and fewer quality films that people feel they must see theatrically. And the other thing that's changed is that most films now do more business internationally than domestically and China has become the largest film market, so films are being crafted to please Chinese consumers.

[DustnBones001]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Maybe because the "cancerous tumor" is being applied to an inanimate object where as the "butt-hurt" was being apply to people.

But what if someone values inanimate objects over ppl??? Anywho I use the term butt-hurt all the time and was not meaning to use it an a offensive tone but I do wish I picked a better word to convey my point better.

I did take offense to OP's post of DVD's sticking around like "Cancerous Tumors" tho DVD deserves more respect than that.

[mredman]

always nice to see this when it happens

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by mredman

always nice to see this when it happens

It's nice to see some positive numbers for a change. Lately, there haven't been many strong releases over the past several months. It looks Fifty Shades of Grey is what drove the increase this month.

[mredman]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

It's nice to see some positive numbers for a change. Lately, there haven't been many strong releases over the past several months. It looks Fifty Shades of Grey is what drove the increase this month.

Yep you said it. What is released is also a big part of when its down and up. And 2014 wasn't such a big blockbuster year as 2013 was.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Quite a few i would guess. Imo, its the usual i have kids and its so convenient line. Makes me want to throw up. Pick a side and get off the fence is my thoughts. You either love home cinema and commit to it or become a casual, singing 'let it go' every other week. Just my opinion though.

Why should people have to "pick a side"? I don't get why people always think things have to be one way or another. I have kids in the house and use streaming because of that (when they watch stuff). Mainly because they're not old enough to handle the discs yet, so I put them on the computer digitally and stream them to the TV. I also use Netflix, but I see it as a rental service and a substitute for cable, not physical discs. There are plenty of shows I like that I can watch on Netflix but still choose to buy them on DVD or Blu-Ray when available.

[mredman]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

Why should people have to "pick a side"? I don't get why people always think things have to be one way or another. I have kids in the house and use streaming because of that (when they watch stuff). Mainly because they're not old enough to handle the discs yet, so I put them on the computer digitally and stream them to the TV. I also use Netflix, but I see it as a rental service and a substitute for cable, not physical discs. There are plenty of shows I like that I can watch on Netflix but still choose to buy them on DVD or Blu-Ray when available.

this is me as well. And i am sure there are plenty more that do this. There are many people that like to own their favorites.