Oh noes teh sky is falling!

[blonde_devil]

what I am curious about is more are theatres coming to an end. before you say no, what purpose to they serve? lots of movies seem to aim more for the home market than the theatre. sure there are the huge summer releases that you want to see in theatre but for most films, you don't really need to see them in the theatre to get the full impact. if a couple studios got on board, I could see then starting to stream movies directly to your house the same time they are in theatres or even instead of going to theatres - kind of do the ppv route early instead. you look at things like 3D and they are gimmicks to get people into the theatre as so many people are waiting for it to come out on bluray before they see it. eventually it might not be worth the fight and you can just stay at home and watch the movie instead. the upcoming Doctor Who is a good example - you can stay home and watch it or go to a theatre and see it on the big screen. if that started, then I think physical media would start to disappear pretty quick.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

what I am curious about is more are theatres coming to an end. before you say no, what purpose to they serve? lots of movies seem to aim more for the home market than the theatre. sure there are the huge summer releases that you want to see in theatre but for most films, you don't really need to see them in the theatre to get the full impact. if a couple studios got on board, I could see then starting to stream movies directly to your house the same time they are in theatres or even instead of going to theatres - kind of do the ppv route early instead. you look at things like 3D and they are gimmicks to get people into the theatre as so many people are waiting for it to come out on bluray before they see it. eventually it might not be worth the fight and you can just stay at home and watch the movie instead. the upcoming Doctor Who is a good example - you can stay home and watch it or go to a theatre and see it on the big screen. if that started, then I think physical media would start to disappear pretty quick.

We need cinema to survive. We really, really do.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I have been enjoying this

You should be happy then, as according to my count, I recollect this being the 4th such thread of the same general theme (including the one which I can’t list as it was entirely deleted out) -

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=198752
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=225404

[RyanPom]

Streaming - good for TV shows with lower resolution, bad for movies.

[The_Donster]

^^But that's your opinion Ryan and not necessarily fact. Honestly this has been discussed to nauseum and has ended with the same results, the board being divided. Some see the benefits of streaming and others like their physical media. Unfortunately folks like me who are in the middle are few and far between.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

pent is taking his bow and may your futures hold what you desire...

The post was a parody of YouTube original version which went viral and is now closing in on the 1 billion (with a ‘b’) viewership mark)…

Ylvis - The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?) [Official music video HD] - YouTube

but yes, the point being I am of the same sentiment as Kerry Washington….”C’mon I’m so sick of this video”…

My Girl - SNL Highlight - YouTube

or, in this analagous case, the perpetual optical disc longevity public catharsis which is reinvented under a new thread name every several months. Insecurity or defensiveness much?

I guess different strokes for different folks.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Honestly this has been discussed to nauseum and has ended with the same results....

Exactly

[blonde_devil]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

We need cinema to survive. We really, really do.

but most people don't. how many people wait until a movie is on bluray to watch it because they hate idiots at the theatre, or going to the theatre in general? how many people don't go because they don't like near one? for a lot of people, seeing a movie in a theatre isn't even a thought. I do think it would have a negative impact on movies to an extent - lower budgets since they are not making that box-office money, etc - but we are not really that far off from that right now. with Netflix doing its own tv shows, how long before they start doing thier own movies or someone strikes a deal to release thier movies through Netflix only?

[The_Donster]

Before our son was born my wife and I used to go to the movies on a regular basis. Now our priorities have changed and we've started baby stepping him into walk ins with drive in. So I get your point and agree blonde. It is much easier to just wait for the movies to hit stores and I rarely go to the movies like I use to. Much easier to stay at home and watch whatever via streaming or BD rental or purchase.

[KRW1]

The theatre is an odd one. People going on about the end of physical media because its old fashioned don't seem to see how completely old fashioned the theatre itself is. It's a throwback to the days when the only form of home entertainment it had to compete with was the wireless. Since then it's tried various ways of getting people through the doors from Cinemascope, colour, 3D (many times) and Imax.

The idea of going outside and paying money to go and sit in a room with strangers to watch a film which you'll be be able to watch film at home within weeks sometimes is, when looked at objectively, bizarre. Yet people seem to like it.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

We need cinema to survive. We really, really do.

The theaters aren't going anywhere, as it's as much as a social event to give people a place to go as is it to watch the movie itself. Especially true for teens and young adults as a dating/hangout venue. That's why theatrical movies are increasingly targeting the younger audience, as it's the older people who are going less. Just my two cents though, but I did find it surprising that Home Media Magazine would even go so far as to throw theaters under the bus in order to prop up disc sales (through eliminating the window advantage theaters have). But then, they are a home video trade magazine and will promote it at just about any cost.

I do agree with their take on SVOD revenue though. I don't think it should be included in the DEG revenue total, and the article seemed to imply that it shouldn't either.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

but most people don't. how many people wait until a movie is on bluray to watch it because they hate idiots at the theatre, or going to the theatre in general? how many people don't go because they don't like near one? for a lot of people, seeing a movie in a theatre isn't even a thought. I do think it would have a negative impact on movies to an extent - lower budgets since they are not making that box-office money, etc - but we are not really that far off from that right now. with Netflix doing its own tv shows, how long before they start doing thier own movies or someone strikes a deal to release thier movies through Netflix only?

These days, a large portion of big-budget films don't even make money at the boxoffice, they don't become profitable until they sell on home video and cable TV. A movie that costs $200 million to make, has to gross more than $500 million just to break even, (and even after that, it's not all profit, only 35-40% of gross after hitting break-even would be profit... so if your $200 million dollar film grosses $600 million, you probably only made $30 million). Most of the money from ticket sales goes to cover the costs of running the cinema, as well as covering the distribution costs of the studios. Many studios have had so many expensive bombs on their books lately, that they are bound to re-evaluate their standard as to what gets the investment of a theater-run, versus what goes straight-to-video.

Anymore, the cinema has become a means of advertising and selling home videos, that's where they make their real money. While I think it is unlikely, it is certainly within reasonable possibility that film studios could do without the cinemas almost entirely, aside from their sure-thing franchise tentpoles. I do think that we are coming to a time where releasing something straight-to-video or straight-to-cable doesn't carry the stigma it used to, and a lot more films will be released that way. Cinemas are in much more danger than physical media, home theater, or films in general.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

http://homemediamagazine.com/eriks-s...pyrrhic-savior

Backs up a lot of people's arguments.

True. I have been saying all along that the vast majority of streaming revenue is from Netflix and the other subscription services. Long term that's not a high margin revenue stream. Packaged media is where the bulk of the money is made for the studios.

Look at today's release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (EE). The street prices are running from $20 to $35 between the 2D and 3D versions. Now that price includes an extensive behind the scenes look at the making of this installment. But I highly doubt to the collector market that a streaming copy is appealing even if you get streaming extras. There's intrinsic value in packaged media.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

^^But that's your opinion Ryan and not necessarily fact. Honestly this has been discussed to nauseum and has ended with the same results, the board being divided. Some see the benefits of streaming and others like their physical media. Unfortunately folks like me who are in the middle are few and far between.

That's just it. There won't be a middle ground.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

That's just it. There won't be a middle ground.

As long as physical media and some form of streaming both exist - and that's going to be the case for quite some time - there are going to be people who see value in both.

I love physical media and have for a very long time but I love my cable box's DVR and OnDemand buttons too. Neither is a perfect replacement for the other and I get a hell of a lot of enjoyment out of both.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

As long as physical media and some form of streaming both exist - and that's going to be the case for quite some time - there are going to be people who see value in both.

I love physical media and have for a very long time but I love my cable box's DVR and OnDemand buttons too. Neither is a perfect replacement for the other and I get a hell of a lot of enjoyment out of both.

Not the same though. The likes of UV and DHD are set up as replacements. Once £10 movies are a reality it will turn people off bluray. It will cheapen movies and that is not a good thing IMO. I am pretty sure people won't pay more than £15 for ANY digital film, even if it is day and date with cinema release.

[bhampton]

I used to worry about optical media. It's still a valid concern. However, I can watch a different blu ray every night for three years. If I watch something every night. And, I still get more. I see them cheap just about everywhere.

I can only imagine how many I will eventually have. Esp if they go "extinct" and I can pick up large collections for cheap.

Of course, that could limit me to old stuff once the new stuff moves on... but I myself am becoming old stuff and there's plenty of good old stuff.

I'm not going to worry about anything. Nothing but Blu skies from now on.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I used to worry about optical media. It's still a valid concern. However, I can watch a different blu ray every night for three years. If I watch something every night. And, I still get more. I see them cheap just about everywhere.

I can only imagine how many I will eventually have. Esp if they go "extinct" and I can pick up large collections for cheap.

Of course, that could limit me to old stuff once the new stuff moves on... but I myself am becoming old stuff and there's plenty of good old stuff.

I'm not going to worry about anything. Nothing but Blu skies from now on.

I am going to have to do same. Obsessing about it is not helping matters. Bluray has took a battering YOY in the last five or six weeks I understand. It looks like it might be flat or maybe 1-5 percent higher unless it really picks up from now until Xmas. Considering how well it was doing q1 it is very disappointing.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Considering how well it was doing q1 it is very disappointing.

I purchased many disc in this period because there was many titles released that I and many others wanted. IMO, the 2nd half has a fairly weak release slate and therefore sales will be weak.

If there is desirable titles made available then sales will be strong, if not then sales will be weak. I believe it has always been this way and will continue this way.

Just sales numbers, percentages, YoY gains, etc. only tell part of the story, unfortunately that is about all the press folks use.

[mredman]

Originally Posted by Tok

True. I have been saying all along that the vast majority of streaming revenue is from Netflix and the other subscription services. Long term that's not a high margin revenue stream. Packaged media is where the bulk of the money is made for the studios.

Look at today's release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (EE). The street prices are running from $20 to $35 between the 2D and 3D versions. Now that price includes an extensive behind the scenes look at the making of this installment. But I highly doubt to the collector market that a streaming copy is appealing even if you get streaming extras. There's intrinsic value in packaged media.

^ This it could not be more true. Studios earn zilch on streaming and downloads compared what they earn on physical media