Oh noes teh sky is falling!

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by The Batman Professor

That is spot-on. I teach graphic design at a large university, and my students look at me like I've got three heads when I talk about my movie collection. For example, I was going to show them THE IRON GIANT in my illustration class, and was having trouble with the dvd player in the classroom, when one of the students suggested I go to youtube. I infomed him I wanted the class to watch the film, not pixels swimming. They just don't get it, especially when it comes to always seeking out the best quality presentation. If they can watch it, it's good enough.

With that said, I'm starting to burn out on physical media myself, particularly when it comes to format evolution. I've said Blu-ray was the last stop for me, but now I'm thinking about the eventual release of PLANET OF THE APES, STAR WARS and THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY on UHD. This is particularly distasteful to me, considering that I've purchased POTA 13 times, across SIX different formats (Beta, VHS, Laserdisc, DIVX, DVD, and Blu!)

But like all good obsessives, I can't stop...

DIVX, really? Clearly you are obsessed. Time to join a support group my friend.

[The Batman Professor]

When Fox inked the deal with Circuit City, it looked like it was going to be the only game in town. While I paid $2 for the POTA disc, thankfully I never got around to purchasing a DIVX player.

[Samus Aran]

Originally Posted by The Batman Professor

This is particularly distasteful to me, considering that I've purchased POTA 13 times, across SIX different formats (Beta, VHS, Laserdisc, DIVX, DVD, and Blu!)

You win.

I think my record is Top Gun --> VHS, DVD, special edition DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray.

Good thing I never got all buy crazy for The Princess Bride and Army of Darkness.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

You win.

I think my record is Top Gun --> VHS, DVD, special edition DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray.

Good thing I never got all buy crazy for The Princess Bride and Army of Darkness.

I never got to 13, but I purchased every incarnation of Dune that I could ever find. VHS, widescreen VHS, DVD, DVD Steelbok, HD DVD, BD. I probably would have bought the Beta and LD had I had players.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by The Batman Professor

When Fox inked the deal with Circuit City, it looked like it was going to be the only game in town. While I paid $2 for the POTA disc, thankfully I never got around to purchasing a DIVX player.

Really takes me back. Purchased my first DVD (Twister) and DVD player (Sony DVP-S7000) from Circuit City back in the day. Seems like a lifetime ago.

[The Batman Professor]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

You win.

Yeah, thanks. Doesn't feel like a win when I add up the money. POTA on Beta and first-gen VHS cost me a cool $100 each, and I spent $400 on the Japanese LD box set.

[The Batman Professor]

STAR WARS is a close second:

VHS, VHS HI-FI, Laserdisc (CAV, CLV, boxset, SE boxset,) DVD (twice) Blu-Ray (boxset, steelbook.)

That's ten. It might be eleven, but I can't remember if I had a Beta or not.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by The Batman Professor

STAR WARS is a close second:

VHS, VHS HI-FI, Laserdisc (CAV, CLV, boxset, SE boxset,) DVD (twice) Blu-Ray (boxset, steelbook.)

That's ten. It might be eleven, but I can't remember if I had a Beta or not.

I owned them on Beta. My amaray cases have kept them safe and sound all these years. :-P

[The Batman Professor]

Brother in arms!

I feel a little better now.

[Ggould1975]

With Hastings closing down which is no surprise I used to shop there but now it's to the point with physical media especially for catalog titles for the most part I will shop online. I think at some point online will really be the best way anymore. New releases though I don't see that changing, like this morning I just bought Batman versus superman on bluray. Blurays were almost sold out and those 4k ultra hd were just collecting dust....thank God. I will not support that whatsoever. In all honesty I'm not going miss shopping at stores in ways, but sad to see places go but things change. I will continue to shop on occasion at walmart, best buy, and even target...just not as much as I used to but Definetly for new releases for sure.

[Rich1631]

Originally Posted by Ggould1975

With Hastings closing down which is no surprise I used to shop there but now it's to the point with physical media especially for catalog titles for the most part I will shop online. I think at some point online will really be the best way anymore. New releases though I don't see that changing, like this morning I just bought Batman versus superman on bluray. Blurays were almost sold out and those 4k ultra hd were just collecting dust....thank God. I will not support that whatsoever. In all honesty I'm not going miss shopping at stores in ways, but sad to see places go but things change. I will continue to shop on occasion at walmart, best buy, and even target...just not as much as I used to but Definetly for new releases for sure.

Thats odd, the 4K section in the Best Buy near me (New Jersey, USA) actually has some titles sold out or like 1 copy left (Martian Extended, Mad Max, Star Trek 1 and 2). I've been near that section maybe 4-5 times in past 2 months and I've noticed stuff selling fairly well. I'm not talking hotcakes...but better than I expected. Some titles never seem to move (Spider-man 2, Fant4stic, Hancock, Peanuts)

[Ggould1975]

That's cool. I guess it just depends on the area. We shall see though

[TripleHBK]

So here's an interesting statistic that means nothing... I'm a member of a Disney Advisory panel and had posted this survey a few weeks ago. In total there are 500 members of this panel and almost half have responded so far. The results aren't terrible surprising, but also not as discouraging as I expected.

How do you primarily watch movies?

Purchase on DVD (11%) 28
Purchase on Blu Ray (12%) 32
Purchase as a Digital copy (itunes, Ultra Violet) (1%) 4
I stream my movies. (Netflix, Amazon Prime) (39%) 99
I rent or watch them on tv. (VOD, Cable, Redbox) (16%) 40
In the theater (10%) 27
Illegally (torrents, copies,) (3%) 8
Other (4%)

Yes the sample size is incredibly small and specific, but it's encouraging to see Blu Ray beating DVD and for Digital to be out right failing miserably.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

So here's an interesting statistic that means nothing... I'm a member of a Disney Advisory panel and had posted this survey a few weeks ago. In total there are 500 members of this panel and almost half have responded so far. The results aren't terrible surprising, but also not as discouraging as I expected.

40% streaming as opposed to 12% buying on blu (and 23% blu and DVD combined) says it all. The future isn't physical, and it's happening faster than people expected.

[The Batman Professor]

Physical media accounts for 23% - depressing. Time to break out my paraphrasing of Chuck Heston:

"You will take my discs FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS."

[Bugg]

How do you primarily watch movies?

Purchase on DVD (11%) 28
Purchase on Blu Ray (12%) 32
Purchase as a Digital copy (itunes, Ultra Violet) (1%) 4
I stream my movies. (Netflix, Amazon Prime) (39%) 99
I rent or watch them on tv. (VOD, Cable, Redbox) (16%) 40
In the theater (10%) 27
Illegally (torrents, copies,) (3%) 8
Other (4%)

Even when dvd was at it's peak, most people would rather of rented or watched a PPV, than purchase a movie they only intended to watch once. The question doesn't really focus on purchases or how people prefer to own their favorite movies. Even many of those who do purchase BluRays and DVDs tend to feel that a Netflix stream or VOD is good enough for most the stuff they only want to watch once. I'm sure many in this very thread bought Star Wars: The Force Awakens on BluRay but will settle for a Netflix viewing of something like Elvis & Nixon or I Am Wrath

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

40% streaming as opposed to 12% buying on blu (and 23% blu and DVD combined) says it all. The future isn't physical, and it's happening faster than people expected.

It may be 23% of people who watch primarily on physical media, but in terms of sales it is much higher. The majority of people who spend the most money (and buy the most titles) do so on physical media.

That 39% who are watching on Netflix or Amazon Prime is spending less than $20 per month per household. There is no way that the studios will want to focus on them.

Meanwhile only 1% is buying downloads. That is the type of sales that the studios want most, but clearly it isn't catching on.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by The Batman Professor

With that said, I'm starting to burn out on physical media myself, particularly when it comes to format evolution. I've said Blu-ray was the last stop for me, but now I'm thinking about the eventual release of PLANET OF THE APES, STAR WARS and THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY on UHD. This is particularly distasteful to me, considering that I've purchased POTA 13 times, across SIX different formats (Beta, VHS, Laserdisc, DIVX, DVD, and Blu!)

I don't get why it's distasteful. When my favorite films are remastered I am happy to purchase the upgrade.

[ThatOneGuy]

Considering a couple of days ago my internet went out for the entire morning, right in the middle of a show I was streaming and I couldn't finish it. Yeah, I'm never going to support digital or streaming completely. At least with physical media I only have to worry about my power.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by John Klein

Considering a couple of days ago my internet went out for the entire morning, right in the middle of a show I was streaming and I couldn't finish it. Yeah, I'm never going to support digital or streaming completely. At least with physical media I only have to worry about my power.

I just had my modem/router replaced because I thought it was the the cause of my interruption in streaming, whether it was streaming through Netflix or through watching movie through iTunes home sharing. I still don't think the issue I'm having is an internet issue as home sharing from my PC also get's interrupted and I don't think it a Wi-Fi issue because my PC is connected by ethernet cable to the modem/router and my Apple TV is connected by Wi-Fi to the modem/router. I replaced it with the same modem/router from my internet provider. Maybe it's an internet interruption that makes the router reset itself? I'm without internet for about 4 minutes and iTunes home sharing takes about 5 minutes to work again on my Apple TV when this happens. Would a separate router connected to my modem/router allow me to still stream without interruption within my local area network when my modem/router resets itself? I was on a spree, buying iTunes codes and movies that were on sale at iTunes for this past month. I'm using U-Verse as my ISP. I'm nearly at the point of going back to blu-ray. I'm already thinking about purchasing the The Dark Knight Trilogy special edition blu-ray set and the Tarantino 8-film collection blu-ray set these past few days.