Oh noes teh sky is falling!

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Chordata

It's not blatantly wrong at all. In the future it might be "if their choice results in Blu-Rays or other high quality media going away" - but that hasn't happened.

It doesn't have to happen globally.

All it takes is for a single item to become stream/digital only and the fact that some moron is choosing a 3 inch screen affects the Blu-Ray user.

And such things are starting to exist. There are TV shows they don't even bother with DVDs these days that are still available digitally.

So, sorry, but your statement that them doing it doesn't affect others is wrong.

[Afrobean]

nd such things are starting to exist. There are TV shows they don't even bother with DVDs these days that are still available digitally.

So, sorry, but your statement that them doing it doesn't affect others is wrong.

That's generally because of licensing issues or low demand. For example, Netflix has Wonder Years. Wonder Years is not on DVD and may never be. Because of the licensed music that would have to be re-licensed for a home video release. But apparently the existing deals for broadcast rights are applicable to streaming or maybe Netflix just dropped insane cash to make it happen for them while the producers aren't willing to drop the cash to make it happen for DVD.

There's also the case of Power Rangers. Something like 20 seasons of this show. All available on Netflix. This is a series that never had great DVD sales, and I think music licensing was also an issue for earlier seasons. But even though DVDs sold so poorly that each season would be discontinued before every episode came out, Netflix makes it available. And for only 8 dollars a month. You know what Power Rangers fans were doing before Netflix got the show? They were paying through the nose to import PAL DVDs from Europe, because that was apparently the only region that actually got full season releases.

[Towergrove]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

That's generally because of licensing issues or low demand. For example, Netflix has Wonder Years. Wonder Years is not on DVD and may never be. Because of the licensed music that would have to be re-licensed for a home video release. But apparently the existing deals for broadcast rights are applicable to streaming or maybe Netflix just dropped insane cash to make it happen for them while the producers aren't willing to drop the cash to make it happen for DVD.

There's also the case of Power Rangers. Something like 20 seasons of this show. All available on Netflix. This is a series that never had great DVD sales, and I think music licensing was also an issue for earlier seasons. But even though DVDs sold so poorly that each season would be discontinued before every episode came out, Netflix makes it available. And for only 8 dollars a month. You know what Power Rangers fans were doing before Netflix got the show? They were paying through the nose to import PAL DVDs from Europe, because that was apparently the only region that actually got full season releases.

Yes for 8 dollars a month (right now) thats a great value but Power Rangers fans are still buying the Available PAL versions. Fans who want to be sure that they can watch their favorite episodes when they want to will buy the episodes. Remember what's on Netflix today may not be there tomorrow due to Netflix losing rights or rights expiring. For example approx 1,200 titles will be vanishing from Netflix at the end of Feb due to them losing.

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by Towergrove

Yes for 8 dollars a month (right now) thats a great value but Power Rangers fans are still buying the Available PAL versions.

Are you active in the fandom? I don't think you are. Interest for the terrible DVDs went from mediocre to essentially nothing in the months since Netflix got the show. Netflix also has access to other similar shows from Saban like Beetleborgs, that, unless I'm mistaken, don't have even close to a proper DVD release anywhere. Not that the PAL DVDs for Power Rangers are especially proper either, but at least they were released as full seasons, while if any of the seasons got releases in the States, they were as "volumes", and they always ended up failing to get each episode out through "volumes".

Remember what's on Netflix today may not be there tomorrow due to Netflix losing rights or rights expiring. For example approx 1,200 titles will be vanishing from Netflix at the end of Feb due to them losing.

Because of the huge big deal about the Starz deal running out? Saban has an independent deal. There's no reason to expect that any deal for Saban's shows would abruptly be cut short like that. And if it did? THEN would be the time to go back to looking for the terrible, very old, probably out-of-print import PAL DVDs.

[Blu-dock Saint]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...time-year.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/25265...this_year.html


There are tons of these articles floating around today claiming that the final nail in the coffin to physical media will be in 2012. Granted they totally ignore the fact that physical media revenue is still way higher than streaming revenue, yet for some reason they think that DVD's and Blu-ray will be dissapearing sooner than later. Oh and the fact that digital distribution sales are only ....1.3% of total sales? I mean don't get me wrong I think we have 8-10 years until we see something digital come to fruition that would threaten physical media. But who are these IHS people that evidentally just "know" the end is here for physical media? I just feel like this is a bunch of FUD personally.

[Blu-dock Saint]

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/mar...ion-2011-26778


Interesting article on how DVD/bluray tangle made $5.6 billion in 2011 and also questions IHS on the source of their research proclaiming physical media is dying, since most of Netflix watchers watch TV shows and not movies. Interesting read. Sorry if this was already posted.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Blu-dock Saint

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...time-year.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/25265...this_year.html

You know, I've seen stretches before, but comparing "views" of streaming to purchases of discs? That's the best the latest round of "Physical is dying" can come up with?

It's like they aren't even trying anymore.

[Blu-dock Saint]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

You know, I've seen stretches before, but comparing "views" of streaming to purchases of discs? That's the best the latest round of "Physical is dying" can come up with?

It's like they aren't even trying anymore.

It really is laughable. Its not like movie companies get money for every "view". I don't even understand where they are coming from, can they magically see how many times I watch a movie I buy on disc? No? How anyone could call their company credible when they post articles like that is beyond me......

[partridge]

It's been a while since I contributed to this topic and since then I've signed up to Netflix (UK).

First though, it's worth highlight a piece from one of the links above that I completely agree with:

"The rise of online video over superior-quality Blu-ray discs is another example of convenience trumping quality. We've already seen this play out in the music business, where lousy audio formats such as MP3 have led to the decline of compact discs."

It IS convenience over quality, exactly what we've seen with music over the last ten years. For whatever reason, consumers aren't buying films like they used to they are going for cheap subscription services that allow them to watch content on demand.

It seems ridiculous to me that the vast majority of people have gone out and bought HD tv's, home cinema kit, etc, but then feed it with average quality media. But that's where we are and it isn't likely to change.

Personally I feel that blu-ray is still far too expensive for what it is and a good price drop would do wonders for sales but - for the first time - I have to admit and accept that disc based media is on it's way out, not any time soon, but sadly I'm forced to agree with these pundits who are saying the balance has moved Online.

I hate convenience over quality, but this is the reality; the masses just don't care enough about picture and sound. We live in a world where "good enough" rules and quality is over rated

[Cevolution]

As long as I purchase the 40-50 movies currently available on Blu-ray that I want, plus the other 60 movies that I want get released on blu-ray (which they will as they are all quite popular films), so I can complete my collection, and new release films still get released in physical form, regardless of whether they eventually become a niche product, then I personally couldn't give a sh*t what happens in the future. As I'll all ready own all the movies I want in my collection, and won't have to pay a monthly service charge to be able to watch and access all of them when I want to.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by partridge

I hate convenience over quality, but this is the reality; the masses just don't care enough about picture and sound. We live in a world where "good enough" rules and quality is over rated

I stream/buy digital movies. That doesn't mean I don't care about quality, and don't still buy Blu-Rays.

I will never understand the "there can be only one" mentality of the digital side of the argument.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by partridge

It's been a while since I contributed to this topic and since then I've signed up to Netflix (UK).

First though, it's worth highlight a piece from one of the links above that I completely agree with:

"The rise of online video over superior-quality Blu-ray discs is another example of convenience trumping quality. We've already seen this play out in the music business, where lousy audio formats such as MP3 have led to the decline of compact discs."

It IS convenience over quality, exactly what we've seen with music over the last ten years. For whatever reason, consumers aren't buying films like they used to they are going for cheap subscription services that allow them to watch content on demand.

It seems ridiculous to me that the vast majority of people have gone out and bought HD tv's, home cinema kit, etc, but then feed it with average quality media. But that's where we are and it isn't likely to change.

Personally I feel that blu-ray is still far too expensive for what it is and a good price drop would do wonders for sales but - for the first time - I have to admit and accept that disc based media is on it's way out, not any time soon, but sadly I'm forced to agree with these pundits who are saying the balance has moved Online.

I hate convenience over quality, but this is the reality; the masses just don't care enough about picture and sound. We live in a world where "good enough" rules and quality is over rated

It will get worse. With the move to digital copies and the clueless brigade watching movies on their smart phones we may not even have television sets in ten years, yet alone bluray discs. Sales are already down (tv), the best enthusiasts can hope for is a 12 inch tablet. The only way to see blockbusters will be at the cinema, i doubt we will be able to recreate the experience at home. It will of course be a tragic way for things to go, but i believe it is a real danger.
Just think, a generation of older people having to watch films on a small tablet or mobile phone otherwise their is no way to experience films outside the cinema. I will no doubt be ridiculed, (again) for saying so, but this is a real possibility.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It will get worse. With the move to digital copies and the clueless brigade watching movies on their smart phones we may not even have television sets in ten years, yet alone bluray discs. Sales are already down (tv), the best enthusiasts can hope for is a 12 inch tablet.

No doubt tv sales will be dropping. There is a saturated market.

http://allthingsd.com/20120327/flat-...latten-in-u-s/

“The main factor behind the expected slowdown in the U.S. TV flat-panel market during 2012 can be attributed to the TV market reaching a state of maturity for this particular region,” IHS analyst Lisa Hatamiya told AllThingsD. “Flat-panel TVs experienced major uptake since their release because they offered a much slimmer form factor compared to CRT tube TVs and were also easier to place into secondary TV-viewing areas of the household. While 2011’s incredibly low price declines were aimed to boost flat-panel TV sales last year, consumers reacted very positively to this, and the flat-panel TV market reached nearly 39 million units.”

But the industry cannot afford to offer those same low prices this year, said Hatamiya. “So we expect that U.S. TV prices will not experience huge price declines this year, and as a result, shipments will fall 5 percent year over year.”

But, to go from that to assume no large format HDTVs in ten years seems a bit extreme and unfounded.

[Steedeel]

Why? How many hifi systems do you see in stores now.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It will get worse. With the move to digital copies and the clueless brigade watching movies on their smart phones we may not even have television sets in ten years, yet alone bluray discs. Sales are already down (tv), the best enthusiasts can hope for is a 12 inch tablet. The only way to see blockbusters will be at the cinema, i doubt we will be able to recreate the experience at home. It will of course be a tragic way for things to go, but i believe it is a real danger.
Just think, a generation of older people having to watch films on a small tablet or mobile phone otherwise their is no way to experience films outside the cinema. I will no doubt be ridiculed, (again) for saying so, but this is a real possibility.

sorry but they've been saying that for DECADES. just because a fad of watching movies on your portable devices is going strong doesn't mean the whole home theater market is dying out. the PSP has been around for years and look how well umd faired. watching video on ones phone has been around for years and I don't know anyone who actually does that anymore except while at the gym.

[Flatnate]

I will believe the end of physical media is only near when this country makes serious strides in upgrading the high speed internet infrastructure and increases bandwidth to more areas. As a whole we are behind South Korea in terms of speed! Much of my family isn't in town and still doesn't have access to a truly high speed connection. I'd love to put an actual number on the amount of households where Netflix is not even an option yet. No amount of compression is going to get us past this pipeline problem in many areas. You can't stream Netflix over Hughesnet when you have a 250mb a day data cap, and Lightsquare was promising but is going belly up.

[blueshadow | Kosty]

Originally Posted by wormraper

sorry but they've been saying that for DECADES. just because a fad of watching movies on your portable devices is going strong doesn't mean the whole home theater market is dying out. the PSP has been around for years and look how well umd faired. watching video on ones phone has been around for years and I don't know anyone who actually does that anymore except while at the gym.

TV display sizes are getting bigger and consumers still spend billions and billions on packaged media each year.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

I will never understand the "there can be only one" mentality of the digital side of the argument.

agree, especially since VHS there has always been more than one. More than one competing format isd bad but there has more or less always been several complementary formats

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Why? How many hifi systems do you see in stores now.

you can still buy them. But components are a bit easier. But I think DVD had more to do with the decline of Hi-fi systems than digital music. Why Joe Buy a hi-fi system when the DVD player can play CDs, the receiver can tune into radio stations and is connected to a 5.1 (or 7.2 now) speakers and the higher end systems can do multi zones.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by wormraper

sorry but they've been saying that for DECADES. just because a fad of watching movies on your portable devices is going strong doesn't mean the whole home theater market is dying out. the PSP has been around for years and look how well umd faired. watching video on ones phone has been around for years and I don't know anyone who actually does that anymore except while at the gym.

as well as portable DVD players and laptops with DVD players.