Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Vilya]

Here is a special news bulletin:

My new gargantuan TV has shipped!

You may now resume your regularly scheduled program.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Ender14

Just out of curiosity, what are you passionate about besides streaming? What hobby do you hold near and dear to your heart and couldn't imagine a world without?

I'd just like to know so I can repeatedly tell you how doomed it is and how you must get used to life without it. How no one likes it and my cousin's friend has never heard of it and would never use it. How stores are abandoning it and in 5 years it will be a world free of your said hobby! And I will do so with glee and many exclamation points!

I guess as a hobby Movie Collecting and working and building computers comes to mind. I was just fascinated over a decade ago when I started to Stream Movies from my Local Server, but I was collecting DVD's and backing them up. To me Streaming from a Storage Device is all the same, from Disc or Server. I know for you guys the Quality has to come up to Disc, and the ownership is essential. I don't feel Movies are doomed, only that Discs have run their course. They will be around for the people that want to collect them, but for the most part they are phasing out.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I guess as a hobby Movie Collecting and working and building computers comes to mind. I was just fascinated over a decade ago when I started to Stream Movies from my Local Server, but I was collecting DVD's and backing them up. To me Streaming from a Storage Device is all the same, from Disc or Server. I know for you guys the Quality has to come up to Disc, and the ownership is essential. I don't feel Movies are doomed, only that Discs have run their course. They will be around for the people that want to collect them, but for the most part they are phasing out.

Digital HD will be dead first. Subscription streaming isn’t what you have in mind for movies on servers. You are at the mercy of the studios. It’s not about collecting, it’s about paying to view.
You really might as well have stuck with disc.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I guess as a hobby Movie Collecting and working and building computers comes to mind. I was just fascinated over a decade ago when I started to Stream Movies from my Local Server, but I was collecting DVD's and backing them up. To me Streaming from a Storage Device is all the same, from Disc or Server. I know for you guys the Quality has to come up to Disc, and the ownership is essential. I don't feel Movies are doomed, only that Discs have run their course. They will be around for the people that want to collect them, but for the most part they are phasing out.

Well it seems we have something in common. I build computers as well. I hope that doesn't signify the end times .

I understand you like streaming and I do not have a problem with that. To each his own. But you seem to find personal joy in predicting the end of physical media knowing full well that it would cause unhappiness for the majority of the people on this site. That is what I do not understand. I don't like to view anyone as a mustache-twirling villain, but that's how you come across when you gleefully state that physical media is dead. If that's not the case then perhaps you should think about what you post. If you do take personal pleasure from others unhappiness then perhaps you should seek help.

[The_Donster]

I guess my question is, why does the future need to be so bleak and absolute when it comes to digital or physical? What tells either side that one is phasing out the other? I think it is ridiculous to think that will happen. No matter which side of the pendulum you are on.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I don't feel Movies are doomed, only that Discs have run their course. They will be around for the people that want to collect them, but for the most part they are phasing out.

Once again you are factually incorrect. We are seeing more titles released on disc each year, not less. You do not manufacture more product if it is being "phased out."

BlurayReleaseTotalsFromYear1.jpg

You do take a sadistic delight at the idea of discs dying; that has been proven by your own words many, many times. It clearly demonstrates your mean spirit. However, you fail to comprehend that a decline in sales is only making the disc market increasingly niche. Niche does not mean dead; there are numerous niche markets.

Falling demand for DVDs are driving most of the disc sales decline. If you only look at blu-ray and 4K discs, sales are modestly down for the former and they continue to grow steadily for the latter.

You will have to be content with sticking pins in your disc voodoo doll and with your feeble attempts at annoying people here. Discs aren't going anywhere but into my collection and those of other quality focused film fans.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I guess my question is, why does the future need to be so bleak and absolute when it comes to digital or physical? What tells either side that one is phasing out the other? I think it is ridiculous to think that will happen. No matter which side of the pendulum you are on.

I don't think that either the disc or digital formats are in any danger. Purchases of content overall have been in decline for a few years, but the ability to purchase on either format will continue.

[Steedeel]

I spoke a while back of the social media push. I notice today, Facebook released their Portal tv device that allows video calls/chats and the ability to watch shows with family or friends in other homes. I know it’s Facebook, but I said ages ago this type of thing will be more prevalent in the future. The significance of this announcement is that Facebook are trying to open up the feature for the big streaming services. I see Netflix watch parties being a big thing. Even our home TVs are not safe from this crap now it seems. Sigh.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I spoke a while back of the social media push. I notice today, Facebook released their Portal tv device that allows video calls/chats and the ability to watch shows with family or friends in other homes. I know it’s Facebook, but I said ages ago this type of thing will be more prevalent in the future. The significance of this announcement is that Facebook are trying to open up the feature for the big streaming services. I see Netflix watch parties being a big thing. Even our home TVs are not safe from this crap now it seems. Sigh.

Just let anyone try to walk off with my new TV! Or even my old one!

If anyone ever invites me to a "Netflix watch party" this is the reaction that they will get:

I do not see why anyone would prefer to watch any content on anything less than their magnificent big screen TV/ projector. Everything that you describe can be accomplished with a TV/ projector and it can also be ignored entirely by those of us with no interest in this social media BS.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Just let anyone try to walk off with my new TV! Or even my old one!

If anyone ever invites me to a "Netflix watch party" this is the reaction that they will get:

I do not see why anyone would prefer to watch anything anywhere on anything less than their magnificent big screen TV. Everything that you describe can be accomplished with a TV and it can also be ignored entirely by those of us with no interest in this social media BS.

No, they would be watching on the tv with this device, just with picture in picture with s small rectangle showing your loved ones or friends. I can’t think of anything more distracting then my friend shrieking every time they get a shock in s horror film. Good job it comes with a camera cover and option to switch microphone off.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

No, they would be watching on the tv with this device, just with picture in picture with s small rectangle showing your loved ones or friends. I can’t think of anything more distracting then my friend shrieking every time they get a shock in s horror film. Good job it comes with a camera cover and option to switch microphone off.

That is beyond revolting! I do not see how it endangers our TV, though, as it is entirely optional. It will never be used on any TV of mine!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

That is beyond revolting! I do not see how it endangers our TV, though, as it is entirely optional. It will never be used on any TV of mine!

It doesn’t immediately. Trends and all that though..........

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It doesn’t immediately. Trends and all that though..........

If it remains optional, I don't care if the selfie generation flocks to the idea. Options are exactly that and this is one that I will not only ignore, but one that I am already in the process of forgetting about.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It doesn’t immediately. Trends and all that though..........

When have any of the latest trends been forced on you?

How can the feature you described possibly be mandated? Will certain movies refuse to play if you aren't using video chat?

[ZIROK]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Just to be clear: I hate cable even more than streaming.

With streaming you can only buy and watch things while they are offered by the studios. They can remove or modify titles at any time.

With cable you can only watch things (or record them) at the exact time they air. If you miss them they are gone forever.

With physical media you can buy and watch almost everything that's ever been available. The used market ensures that out-of-print titles remain available for many decades. The studios have absolutely no ability to ever take anything off the market.

Depends on which Cable company you have. I have Xfinity and can rewatch just about anything that has been aired. No DVR needed.Just pic up the remote and speak what you want. Example: I can can watch season 1 of Hawaii5O or last weeks SNL or pause the program I am currently watching. As much as I hate Cable I love the feature. Fiber has incredible bandwidth

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I guess my question is, why does the future need to be so bleak and absolute when it comes to digital or physical? What tells either side that one is phasing out the other? I think it is ridiculous to think that will happen. No matter which side of the pendulum you are on.

All it would take is a mega company like Apple or Amazon buying one of the remaining movie studios to wipe out a big chunk of Blu-ray availability. Especially Apple. They would lock down their newly bought films and make them exclusive to Apple+ or whatever ITunes will become. I don’t think some realise just how close we are to such a knock out blow. But hey, the koolaid was nice, right?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

All it would take is a mega company like Apple or Amazon buying one of the remaining movie studios to wipe out a big chunk of Blu-ray availability. Especially Apple. They would lock down their newly bought films and make them exclusive to Apple+ or whatever ITunes will become. I don’t think some realise just how close we are to such a knock out blow. But hey, the koolaid was nice, right?

You're the only one who has been drinking any, so I guess you would know. Send us a postcard from Guyana before you expire.

I have much better uses for my time than to worry about your endless, depressing, and entirely fabricated what-if scenarios. I am too busy enjoying my library of movies and life in general. It doesn't bother me in the least if you think that I am being naive; I prefer being happy to being needlessly fearful. Your tiresome fretting accomplishes nothing making it doubly pointless.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

All it would take is a mega company like Apple or Amazon buying one of the remaining movie studios to wipe out a big chunk of Blu-ray availability. Especially Apple. They would lock down their newly bought films and make them exclusive to Apple+ or whatever ITunes will become. I don’t think some realise just how close we are to such a knock out blow. But hey, the koolaid was nice, right?

That depends of what you mean by "a big chunk". Even if Apple did buy one of the big studios and make all of their content exclusively digital from now on there would still be hundreds of other companies releasing thousands of other titles on physical media.

A loss of any company's new movies would certainly be disappointing but it's hardly a "knock out blow". No company will ever have the ability to devastate the physical media market because no company will ever control the majority of new content.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

That depends of what you mean by "a big chunk". Even if Apple did buy one of the big studios and make all of their content exclusively digital from now on there would still be hundreds of other companies releasing thousands of other titles on physical media.

A loss of any company's new movies would certainly be disappointing but it's hardly a "knock out blow". No company will ever have the ability to devastate the physical media market because no company will ever control the majority of new content.

So, if as expected, Apple buy Sony or MGM,that wouldn’t leave Blu-ray in a awful position? Think of all the films out there by those studios. Apple (in my opinion) wouldn’t be remotely interested in anything but digital distribution.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So, if as expected, Apple buy Sony or MGM,that wouldn’t leave Blu-ray in a awful position? Think of all the films out there by those studios. Apple (in my opinion) wouldn’t be remotely interested in anything but digital distribution.

Then think of all of the other films by all of the other studios. Losing one studio would not put Blu-ray in an awful position. It would certainly be an unfortunate loss but it's nowhere near devastating.