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

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I don't think Blu-ray will ever even begin to gain ground on output. Even now DVD releases over four times as much content (and three times as much back catalog). Also, Blu-ray's output has pretty much peaked and actually declined slightly last year.

And personally ...................... I don't mind watching DVD's upconverted via my Oppo machines

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by Megalith

I just feel like this is one of those things that the consumer should be forced into.

Forced into buying blu-rays instead? Why? If it is consumer driven world, how is forcing them going to help your cause any? Don't get me wrong, there is a time for that kind of thing to happen - vhs needed to be phased out once dvd came around - but not when the market is still strong and there is still a use for dvd. What is wrong with having choices? People look at things from a modern perspective but need to take a step back to get the fuller picture. Lots of tv shows were done on video so there is no HD version of it. In cases like that, there is no use putting them on blu-ray. Even with movies, sometimes blu isn't better. Look at the reviews here - there are a lot that say the improvement is marginal at best so what is gained? Simple fact is that if the studios wanted blu-ray to be dominant, they could have done a lot of simple things to do that already and haven't. Want to get rid of dvds? Drop the price of a blu-ray by 25% and see what happens. Or put more stuff out on blu. They like having both formats out there. It allows them to make some really good money. How many people buy the blu-ray collecton/special edition sets of things? Just look at Wizard of Oz - 70th Anniversary collector set, 75th anniversary a few years later. Both were also released as standalone blu-rays and DVD. Why? So they can make the most money! If dvd was really such a burden, they would have gotten rid of it a long time ago. It still makes them money so they keep it around. It's that simple.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Megalith

I just feel like this is one of those things that the consumer should be forced into.

Yes, because you love BD and you want everyone to love BD, but that's not how the world works and it's certainly not how business works. Take a course in Marketing 101.

If they stopped making DVDs tomorrow only a very small percentage of that business would go to Blu-ray. Most of it would go to streaming services.

Think about it this way: You're a CEO of a media corporation. Your sales are consistent with that of everyone else in the industry (in the U.S.): 78% of unit sales are DVD, 22% are BD. 68% of the dollars are DVD, 32% are BD. In any given week, for new titles released in both formats, no more than five titles sell more units on BD than on DVD.

You have the power to make the decision to dump DVD. But if you wind up with less revenue, you lose your bonus, stock options and your job. What do you do? I suspect you think that you'll make up the DVD sales if consumers are forced to take BD. But you'd be very wrong. Do you think every CEO of a movie studio is an idiot? (Some are...but not all).

If anyone should have dumped DVD, it should have been Criterion - they make high end packages for an elite and informed audience. How is it that anyone who is willing to spend the money for a Criterion release doesn't buy it on Blu? They tried to get rid of DVD by having single inventory, but even that didn't work for them and now new releases generally have separate inventory again for Blu-ray and DVD.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

If anyone should have dumped DVD, it should have been Criterion - they make high end packages for an elite and informed audience. How is it that anyone who is willing to spend the money for a Criterion release doesn't buy it on Blu? They tried to get rid of DVD by having single inventory, but even that didn't work for them and now new releases generally have separate inventory again for Blu-ray and DVD.

Twilight Time is an example of a company that successfully dumped DVD, and transitioned to Blu-ray, but then again they cater to a different crowd with higher priced limited edition releases. From what I remember their DVD releases weren't selling all that well to begin with so it probably made sense to dump DVD in their case.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Twilight Time is an example of a company that successfully dumped DVD, and transitioned to Blu-ray, but then again they cater to a different crowd with higher priced limited edition releases. From what I remember their DVD releases weren't selling all that well to begin with so it probably made sense to dump DVD in their case.

Catalog is a much different animal than new release. A typical new release title will sell many times more units (even as much as 1000 times as many or more).

Also there are far more yet-unreleased movies available for Blu-ray, so a small outfit like TT can specialize if they want. After all, TT doesn't have a whole lot of choice for movies still unreleased on DVD. Olive for example releases some incredibly obscure stuff and often they release movies new to both formats. TT on the other hand is getting more mainstream and releasing more genre movies than before, so it's been a while since they have released a movie that hasn't been seen on R1 DVD.

Another thing to consider is that TT charges $30 (street) for their movies. That price point will tend to cater to the higher end demographic that has already converted to Blu-ray.

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Twilight Time is an example of a company that successfully dumped DVD, and transitioned to Blu-ray, but then again they cater to a different crowd with higher priced limited edition releases. From what I remember their DVD releases weren't selling all that well to begin with so it probably made sense to dump DVD in their case.

Are they successful because they dumped dvd or because they release few movies but at a high price? Here is the La Bamba release here in Canada
http://www.amazon.ca/Bamba-Twilight-...words=la+bamba

How about Buddy Holly http://www.amazon.ca/Buddy-Holly-Sto...dy+holly+story

Come on, $60 for a barebones blu-ray? They are successful because they are releasing niche movies in limited quantities to try and get the collectors interested. The format isn't the reason, it is their marketing. There will always be people willing to spend crazy amounts to say they have something that others can't get - they are using the consumer's egos against them. They are taking movies that the studios are not interested in releasing but that fans want and then getting fans to pay a fortune for them. Most of these films were already available on dvd which is why their dvds wouldn't sell but blu-ray is a different story. In their situation, I can see them going one format only as they are not a huge company but that doesn't mean the industry is better off that way.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

Are they successful because they dumped dvd or because they release few movies but at a high price? Here is the La Bamba release here in Canada
http://www.amazon.ca/Bamba-Twilight-...words=la+bamba

How about Buddy Holly http://www.amazon.ca/Buddy-Holly-Sto...dy+holly+story

Come on, $60 for a barebones blu-ray? They are successful because they are releasing niche movies in limited quantities to try and get the collectors interested. The format isn't the reason, it is their marketing. There will always be people willing to spend crazy amounts to say they have something that others can't get - they are using the consumer's egos against them. They are taking movies that the studios are not interested in releasing but that fans want and then getting fans to pay a fortune for them. Most of these films were already available on dvd which is why their dvds wouldn't sell but blu-ray is a different story. In their situation, I can see them going one format only as they are not a huge company but that doesn't mean the industry is better off that way.

Those two are far from barebones as they come with an IST, commentary tracks, and a theatrical trailer. They might not be your cup of tea but barebones would be no extras what so ever.

You've also got your pricing wrong. SAE sells these titles for $30 but you chose to link to third-party sellers who've raised their price to try and make a profit.

http://www1.screenarchives.com/displ...m?category=546

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Those two are far from barebones as they come with an IST, commentary tracks, and a theatrical trailer. They might not be your cup of tea but barebones would be no extras what so ever.

You've also got your pricing wrong. SAE sells these titles for $30 but you chose to link to third-party sellers who've raised their price to try and make a profit.

http://www1.screenarchives.com/displ...m?category=546

Maybe not totally barebones but no new features - those are all from the previous releases. They didn't add anything to these. And as for the price, good luck finding them on release date for the $30. I tried for both, this is what I found. I guess that is one other key - they are really a US only company. Outside of the States, good luck getting your hands on these so you can't really say that the industry would be successful because they were successful. They are a company that is not even 5 years old yet focusing on a very specific part of the market - that is hardly proof that the industry should follow their lead. Who is to say they will even exist in 2 years?

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

Maybe not totally barebones but no new features - those are all from the previous releases. They didn't add anything to these.

That's not technically correct as they did add the IST. I realize everyone may not be interested in them, as I'm not always, but it is something that they did add. Fair enough though.

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

And as for the price, good luck finding them on release date for the $30. I tried for both, this is what I found. I guess that is one other key - they are really a US only company. Outside of the States, good luck getting your hands on these so you can't really say that the industry would be successful because they were successful.

I guess I don't understand the issue. You can currently order these directly from SAE and they'll ship them to you; people from many different countries have ordered from SAE. In fact you can preorder TT titles roughly 3 weeks prior to the release date. If you order both they come out to ~$34.50 each. Although they may be higher than some releases it's still much less than the $60 you stated.

I've provided the links below:

La Bamba
Buddy Holly

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

They are a company that is not even 5 years old yet focusing on a very specific part of the market - that is hardly proof that the industry should follow their lead. Who is to say they will even exist in 2 years?

I never said the industry should follow TT, they are just one example of a company that was able to successfully transition from DVD to Blu-ray. Again, as I stated before, they cater to a different crowd though.

[bruceames]

I actually watched a TT movie with the isolated track on. It was Night of the Living Dead and it was actually pretty cool since there wasn't too many dead spots and since I've already seen it, the subs worked just fine for the dialogue.

I think a part of the reason TT movies sold pretty good in the early days was because they already had a following from those who bought their soundtrack CDs. They also chose their early movies for the better isolated scores. But lately they've been getting away from their roots and are becoming a little more commercial and mainstream, competing with Kino for the MGM/UA releases (pretty soon there aren't gonna be any left, it seems like) and Shout and others for genre movies. I realize they probably have to be competitive and to justify the high price, but that's not why I was buying them originally. I wanted the older stuff, the movies that dominated their earlier releases, and now we're lucky if they release one every other month.

[Coenskubrick]

I've said it before, but I really think that with DVDs being such antiquated technology, I'd like to see, if nothing else, a push to get rid of DVD only players from stores, maybe change the marketing to show that blu ray players play DVDs. Consumers don't lose the choice (except they lose about $40 on a player) but it will give them the option of buying blu rays and could well increase revenue since they cost more, and often people playing DVDs do so out of habit and not price necessity.

[DustnBones001]

I am really curious and wonder why you BD enthusiasts want the DVD format to die so bad. I mean if you have a fancy home theater setup then of course you're always going to go with BD but why does it bug you if other consumers stick with DVD?

I will never understand why so many want to take a option away from other consumers seems very narcissist. Not everyone can afford BD so I am happy that DVD still is a affordable option for consumers.

Personally I am finally planning on buying a BD player next month. I concede I was wrong I never thought that a BD player would look good on a "19 screen TV but boy was I wrong. Speaking of which does anyone know of any good sites that I can buy cheap used BD's???

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by DustnBones001

does anyone know of any good sites that I can buy cheap used BD's???

Amazon
Ebay
GoHastings
Craigslist
FYE

[halloween5309]

family video is great for used newer used blus

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by DustnBones001

I am really curious and wonder why you BD enthusiasts want the DVD format to die so bad. I mean if you have a fancy home theater setup then of course you're always going to go with BD but why does it bug you if other consumers stick with DVD?

I will never understand why so many want to take a option away from other consumers seems very narcissist. Not everyone can afford BD so I am happy that DVD still is a affordable option for consumers.

Personally I am finally planning on buying a BD player next month. I concede I was wrong I never thought that a BD player would look good on a "19 screen TV but boy was I wrong. Speaking of which does anyone know of any good sites that I can buy cheap used BD's???

BD isn't expensive and there is something for everyone. Often times BD releases can be found for just as much or cheaper than their DVD counterpart; maybe not right away but shortly thereafter.

When the BD is cheaper than the DVD...

Just last week, as an example, American Sniper and Interstellar were $12.49 and $12.99, respectively.

I can see one day where the studios will shift their focus away from DVD since technology is moving to HD+ so as time goes on there is less need to have an SD format.

[Coenskubrick]

Originally Posted by DustnBones001

I am really curious and wonder why you BD enthusiasts want the DVD format to die so bad. I mean if you have a fancy home theater setup then of course you're always going to go with BD but why does it bug you if other consumers stick with DVD?

I will never understand why so many want to take a option away from other consumers seems very narcissist. Not everyone can afford BD so I am happy that DVD still is a affordable option for consumers.

Personally I am finally planning on buying a BD player next month. I concede I was wrong I never thought that a BD player would look good on a "19 screen TV but boy was I wrong. Speaking of which does anyone know of any good sites that I can buy cheap used BD's???

Blu Ray isn't much more expensive, and there's always downloads and streaming as options as well. Even a low bitrate stream can be better than a DVD. Most people buying DVD instead of blu ray isn't because of price, but because they just don't give a crap.

As for the reason we care? It's about releases. You get fewer releases if the format isn't as popular. When people buy DVD most of the time, most of a store's shelf space goes to DVD and blu ray gets a small fraction of the number of releases. In a week there are hundreds of official DVD releases and only about 20-50 blu ray releases. There are still a massive number of classics unavailable on blu as well as a lot of smaller independent films.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I can see one day where the studios will shift their focus away from DVD since technology is moving to HD+ so as time goes on there is less need to have an SD format.

Studios are already shifting their focus, but it's toward digital (SD, HD, UHD, they don't care). They stopped focusing on physical several years ago when they realized that Blu-ray wasn't going to perform at a level high enough to take the baton from DVD. In fact, Blu-ray is no longer gaining market share from DVD.

[DustnBones001]

Originally Posted by Coenskubrick

Blu Ray isn't much more expensive, and there's always downloads and streaming as options as well. Even a low bitrate stream can be better than a DVD. Most people buying DVD instead of blu ray isn't because of price, but because they just don't give a crap.

As for the reason we care? It's about releases. You get fewer releases if the format isn't as popular. When people buy DVD most of the time, most of a store's shelf space goes to DVD and blu ray gets a small fraction of the number of releases. In a week there are hundreds of official DVD releases and only about 20-50 blu ray releases. There are still a massive number of classics unavailable on blu as well as a lot of smaller independent films.

I admit I was wrong I do tend to find prices for BD are not that much more expensive than the DVD. And since I tend to buy a lot of TV shows I would do much better getting the BD since it also comes with a digital copy. So I do get more bang for my buck.

Now is the hard part of trying to find a reliable BD player for cheap. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good player?

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by DustnBones001

I admit I was wrong I do tend to find prices for BD are not that much more expensive than the DVD. And since I tend to buy a lot of TV shows I would do much better getting the BD since it also comes with a digital copy. So I do get more bang for my buck.

Now is the hard part of trying to find a reliable BD player for cheap. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good player?

What price range are you looking to spend on a player?

[DustnBones001]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

What price range are you looking to spend on a player?

Around $60- $80 if possible