Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

[StarFuryG7]

Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

[pixote]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

There is a difference that wasn't touched on in the article. The record someone bought in 1963 has the same sound quality, and sometimes better, than the same album re-released in 2023. You can't say that about film. Nobody is comparing their 1986 VHS tape to a BD or 4k disc in regards to picture quality. The problem with Blu-Ray's, 4k, DVD, VHS is there's always an upgrade as TV's are always being upgraded. Vinyl doesn't have to fight this endless upgrade battle, it just has it be itself.

[meremortal]

Not sure. Most adults probably do not watch the same movie twice and most likely do not want to collect physical copies. There's also no youth movement towards movie collecting as far as I know. Vinyl has a certain ritual, prestige and so forth that I just don't see with blu and 4k. I also don't think the overwhelming majority of consumers care about extras, unfortunately.

[lupinskitten]

I don't see people upgrading again to 4K. At least I won't be. BluRay looks pretty damn good, and I already doubled dipped on most of my collection.

[latweek]

Originally Posted by pixote

There is a difference that wasn't touched on in the article. The record someone bought in 1963 has the same sound quality, and sometimes better, than the same album re-released in 2023. You can't say that about film. Nobody is comparing their 1986 VHS tape to a BD or 4k disc in regards to picture quality. The problem with Blu-Ray's, 4k, DVD, VHS is there's always an upgrade as TV's are always being upgraded. Vinyl doesn't have to fight this endless upgrade battle, it just has it be itself.

Consider that just like vinyl, there are timelines involved here as well. Scarcity is the basis for physical sales, audio or video.

Physical media for video may have its day not in 2024 of course, but at some future point down the road when the lemmings discover their subscription costs are skyrocketing, the content they want is distributed over fragmented/competing subscription services, is only available in new "so called improved versions" or not available at all, and they finally grasp that they ensnared themselves in a trap of their own making, with no way back due to shutdown of physical media manufacturers and the lack of sufficient market interest to ramp up again. Its clear the studios {or whatever investment companies that will buy them}cannot get to sub fast enough and they will have no interest in starting up the model again.

Thats when physical media for video will become valuable again, scarcity. Whether anyone has any interest in watching quality content at that time is a separate debate altogether. Im not so sure it will matter to the tik tok generation anyways.

Lastly, coming from someone who has lived and worked for the studios in Hollywood since the mid 90's, the traditional content owners are in crisis and techtonic shifts are inenvitable. It will be a tumultuous decade for content, I would not anticipate business as usual. Where it all ends up has never been more uncertain. Im just glad I now own what I wanted to own.


Oh, and Happy New year!

[Thomas Veil]

People have been trying to put a fork in physical media for years, meanwhile I spent more this year than any other.

Streaming has lost billions, my hope is companies embrace the extra revenue at a time of leaking money.

[latweek]

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

People have been trying to put a fork in physical media for years, meanwhile I spent more this year than any other.

Streaming has lost billions, my hope is companies embrace the extra revenue at a time of leaking money.

To have an informed viewpoint, its important to understand the difference between a personal experience relative to the market in order to remove one's own interpretive bias.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.ph...&id=1676045374

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by latweek

To have an informed viewpoint, its important to understand the difference between a personal experience relative to the market in order to remove one's own interpretive bias.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.ph...&id=1676045374

I'm informed, thanks for the snooty comment though. I've read these very same articles for years, with similar numbers but yet here we are with multiple new labels coming out this past year. It's a niche now for sure but it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Someday it's going to end like everything else but why panic now and act like the sky is falling.

[surfinhank]

Originally Posted by lupinskitten

I don't see people upgrading again to 4K. At least I won't be. BluRay looks pretty damn good, and I already doubled dipped on most of my collection.

But what sucks is the number of films only getting a restoration on 4K disc. The Hitchcock films, The Natural, The Italian Job, Batman Begins... the majority of 4K releases from the big studios just include a recycled blu-ray with the older transfer (a noticeably dated transfer - usually riddled with DNR and EE). Fortunately the boutique labels are great about including a remastered blu-ray with their release.

[Darylbcool]

My fingers are crossed for the good and future of Blu Ray!!!

[Telemachus]

Lost me at Joblo.com

Is a digital format the new analog format btw

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by surfinhank

But what sucks is the number of films only getting a restoration on 4K disc. The Hitchcock films, The Natural, The Italian Job, Batman Begins... the majority of 4K releases from the big studios just include a recycled blu-ray with the older transfer (a noticeably dated transfer - usually riddled with DNR and EE). Fortunately the boutique labels are great about including a remastered blu-ray with their release.

Duel 4K Blu-ray Review

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

Streaming has lost billions, my hope is companies embrace the extra revenue at a time of leaking money.

Streaming has lost money because of content creation, not because people aren't watching streaming services. Theatrical, broadcast, cable TV and physical media have all dropped by a huge measure, while streaming is approaching numbers to compare with those mediums at their peaks. Physical media is an ancillary market. The cost of production isn't factored in to its bottom line like it is with streaming.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by pixote

There is a difference that wasn't touched on in the article. The record someone bought in 1963 has the same sound quality, and sometimes better, than the same album re-released in 2023.

Wrong. Unless it's a bad remix, 90% of the time the newer vinyl formulations and modern mastering techniques will make it superior.

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Streaming has lost money because of content creation, not because people aren't watching streaming services. Theatrical, broadcast, cable TV and physical media have all dropped by a huge measure, while streaming is approaching numbers to compare with those mediums at their peaks. Physical media is an ancillary market. The cost of production isn't factored in to its bottom line like it is with streaming.

WTH with this thread...I never said...never said...it was because people werent watching streaming. Of course its because content creation. I said from the begining they couldn't sustain the spending. My point is people gave been saying physical media is dead with facts and figures for years now....still waiting. Do I have to freaking repeat every time I know its a niche and a small niche at that but it will be here for at least another five years or so and by then we'll have most of what we want. Steaming is pulling titles left and right and to have something you can play anytime I want is awesome.

Im done posting and will just lurk for occasional info. Tired of having posts misread and crapped on. Why dont we just make this a streaming info site. Too much negativity and they keep kicking out all the interesting guys like Joel anyway.

[Phillip c. Niethe]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

Do not, I repeat do not play your Blu-ray Discs on your turntables…it leaves huge scratches…

[stvn1974]

I read somewhere, I will try to find it later, that more than half of the vinyl that has been sold in the last few years was bought by people who don't even own a turntable.

I can see buying the LP and keeping it sealed or even opening it and looking at the jacket and lyrics if included and just streaming the music. Of course I can also imagine people streaming movies and TV shows after they bought the discs because of the shiny slipcover.

[Phillip c. Niethe]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

I read somewhere, I will try to find it later, that more than half of the vinyl that has been sold in the last few years was bought by people who don't even own a turntable.

I can see buying the LP and keeping it sealed or even opening it and looking at the jacket and lyrics if included and just streaming the music. Of course I can also imagine people streaming movies and TV shows after they bought the discs because of the shiny slipcover.

I think some people put them in glass frames for the wall, I have a turntable but I admittedly went and purchased all of Radiohead’s albums specifically to hang them on the wall. I listen to others and have broken into a moon shaped pool a couple of times (aside from my CD)

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Streaming has lost money because of content creation, not because people aren't watching streaming services. Theatrical, broadcast, cable TV and physical media have all dropped by a huge measure, while streaming is approaching numbers to compare with those mediums at their peaks. Physical media is an ancillary market. The cost of production isn't factored in to its bottom line like it is with streaming.

Streaming is becoming more about who produces what, and oh, will you subscribe to their platform because...it's better. So people have to pick and choose, unless they're wealthy or are television and movie gluttons. Not everyone can afford to pay a monthly fee for all of the platforms out there. Add to that the fact that many people lead busy lives and wouldn't have the time for all of it anyway.

Oh, and, what exactly is so bad about one having their own physical library of titles to watch when they feel like it? Where exactly is the downside to that for people that like, if not even prefer, that option?

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

WTH with this thread...I never said...never said...it was because people werent watching streaming. Of course its because content creation. I said from the begining they couldn't sustain the spending.

And inevitably, most if not all of them will add commercials, like Prime, beginning this month, which will ruin the exclusivity of streaming for pretty much everyone. Their overspending has led to this inevitability, aside from which, advertising dollars are like crack cocaine to an addict. Once they get a taste, they want more and simply will not turn off the spigot.

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

Im done posting and will just lurk for occasional info. Tired of having posts misread and crapped on. Why dont we just make this a streaming info site. Too much negativity and they keep kicking out all the interesting guys like Joel anyway.

Joel who?