Blu-rays are 8 years old and DVDs still cling to them like a cancerous tumor. Why?

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Thanks all! Playing devils advocate here, so I can get some compelling responses, reasons or just a different outlook for a response I'm writing (for somewhere else, not here).
I could care less that DVDs are still here. Just because I don't want em, and started the thread poll "Would you rather a blu-ray for $15.99 or blu-ray/DVD combo for $19.99", doesn't mean I don't care if others do want em.
True, if DVD isn't dead, then surely blu-ray isn't (just for the sole reason that all the hardware we find online and in stores is suited for HD (BLU-RAY PLAYERS, LED 1080P TVs).

However, an interesting point was brought up; if blu-ray fans want away from DVD because its old tech, does that mean blu-ray fans will be against blu-ray discs when 4K Ultra Blu-ray is available?
That, to me, isn't the same.
Maybe its because even less titles will be available on 4K blu-ray, and we know this, so we are going into 4K with the knowledge that we're not going to be replacing our entire library with 4K blus. Hell, I still need 7 more blu-ray discs to replace my DVD library.
Good discussion guys.
Stay sexy

5 years from now when every major new release is available in UHD Blu-ray and a sizable back catalog is available as well, blu rays will be dead to me. FORTUNATELY, the quality difference between Blu-ray and UHD Blu-Ray while sizable isn't as huge as between DVD and Blu-ray.

I watch Blu-rays on my 4K tv all the time and they're stunning, DVDs hurt my head they're so bad.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Selaboc

I haven't seen a vinyl record player or vinyl record in a major retail store in decades (granted I haven't exactly been looking for them either), but I could still easily find VHSes and VHS players in my local major retail stores in 2005/2006. Even in the present day, I've seen VHS players in major stores near me (granted the only reason I've seen them is because they are "DVD/VHS combo" players, but still they are available despite the blinders you have about the format).

i saw one in barnes and noble the other day with tons of records both brand new and old..almost tempted me to buy one

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

As long as physical media sticks around, I don't care that Blu-ray hasn't taken over DVD. It has in my house a long time ago and that's all that matters to me these days.

Exactly the way to look at things, Dylan34. With streaming raising its ugly head and poor quality to boot, we should remain positive about physical media continuing to be relevent. So long as the 2-Disc Blu-Ray + DVD releases keep on being churned out it will keep physical media alive and well. So what if I don't watch the DVDs. If I have a choice I will always grab the stand alone Blu-Rays.

[Coenskubrick]

As far as I can tell, the biggest thing that needs to happen to make blu rays more popular is to just STOP MAKING DVD PLAYERS.

Not DVDs, just the players. There's no need. If they only make blu ray players the public will no longer be under the misconception that they don't play DVDs (they will have to find out the truth) and will actually have a chance to see a blu ray and decide if the extra quality is worth it over getting the DVD. Many people these days are just afraid of the change from DVD and simply haven't TRIED blu ray because they don't want to get a blu ray player (often because they think they can't play DVDs on it) so have no way to see it.

I love my blu rays, but for the longest time I never bought one because I only had a DVD player and didn't know if it was worth the upgrade. It is.

P.S. the reason this matters to me is I want the format to survive and to see more titles get a blu ray release. There are so many which just get skipped, at least in my region, and blu rays are always about a quarter of the movie stock in stores, when they could have so much more variety if they took up, say, 1/2 or more of the store.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Agree 100%. There is no need to continue making regular DVD players.

That being said, are regular DVD players even readily available anymore? I bought my first Blu in December 2012, and at that time I don't remember seeing many - if any - regular DVD players for sale @ retail stores.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

Agree 100%. There is no need to continue making regular DVD players.

That being said, are regular DVD players even readily available anymore? I bought my first Blu in December 2012, and at that time I don't remember seeing many - if any - regular DVD players for sale @ retail stores.

True.
Blu-ray players are inexpensive enough, even with the Smart technology. What would a DVD player cost? I'd imagine they'd pay YOU to take a DVD player out of their storage

[bluearth]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

Agree 100%. There is no need to continue making regular DVD players.

That being said, are regular DVD players even readily available anymore? I bought my first Blu in December 2012, and at that time I don't remember seeing many - if any - regular DVD players for sale @ retail stores.

My local Walmart has a stack of about 200 $20 DVD players in front of the electronics isle.

Sad.

[spectre08]

I was at Movie Trading Company last night just browsing for pre-owned blus. There were about 7 other people in the store all looking at DVDs, I really wanted to ask them WHY!?

I live in a nice neighborhood, all of the cars in the parking lot were nice cars. The woman in front of me in line walked out with 3 DVDs of new release films, and got into a hummer!

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by spectre08

I was at Movie Trading Company last night just browsing for pre-owned blus. There were about 7 other people in the store all looking at DVDs, I really wanted to ask them WHY!?

I live in a nice neighborhood, all of the cars in the parking lot were nice cars. The woman in front of me in line walked out with 3 DVDs of new release films, and got into a hummer!

So that begs the question, if DVD is coexisting peacefully (or ignorantly) with blu-ray, will DVD coexist with 4k blu-ray discs? Which means, will DVD and blu-ray coexist with 4k blu-ray discs? Will we have all three coexisting?

[Grayson]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

So that begs the question, if DVD is coexisting peacefully (or ignorantly) with blu-ray, will DVD coexist with 4k blu-ray discs? Which means, will DVD and blu-ray coexist with 4k blu-ray discs? Will we have all three coexisting?

If blu-ray didn't stop people from buying DVD why do you think they'd start caring about 4K BD?

[Selaboc]

Originally Posted by spectre08

I was at Movie Trading Company last night just browsing for pre-owned blus. There were about 7 other people in the store all looking at DVDs, I really wanted to ask them WHY!?

I live in a nice neighborhood, all of the cars in the parking lot were nice cars. The woman in front of me in line walked out with 3 DVDs of new release films, and got into a hummer!

WHY!? for the same reason you were browsing pre-owned blus. People want "bargins", even when that bargin means compromising on quality. To many people DVD means cheap and blu means more expensive with quality not even factoring into their decision making.

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Selaboc

WHY!? for the same reason you were browsing pre-owned blus. People want "bargins", even when that bargin means compromising on quality. To many people DVD means cheap and blu means more expensive with quality not even factoring into their decision making.

I get that, you're partially correct. Although I will defend that I don't browse pre-owned blus for a bargain, more just to buy ok films that I wouldn't buy otherwise.

[jscoggins]

This thread is 72 pages long, and DVD still sells better than BD.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

This thread is 72 pages long, and DVD still sells better than BD.

DVD still sells better because the majority of titles released on physical media get DVD only releases. Kind of hard for blu-ray to compete against DVD when it doesn't have an equivalent release.

When individual titles are compared the the two formats sell equally well with DVD selling better in some cases and blu-ray in others.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

DVD still sells better because the majority of titles released on physical media get DVD only releases. Kind of hard for blu-ray to compete against DVD when it doesn't have an equivalent release.

When individual titles are compared the the two formats sell equally well with DVD selling better in some cases and blu-ray in others.

On average, DVD still outsells Blu-ray on like titles by nearly a 3:2 margin (units sold). At least that's the case on the Top 20 selling list. Below that it's probably more lopsided in favor of DVD (of those which they have in common). And the bad news is that that ratio hasn't changed at all over the last two years.

But yeah, it doesn't hurt DVD's cause that it gets so many more releases. And think about it, if Blu-ray really sold just as well on titles they have in common, then why aren't they releasing everything on Blu-ray as well?

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

But yeah, it doesn't hurt DVD's cause that it gets so many more releases. And think about it, if Blu-ray really sold just as well on titles they have in common, then why aren't they releasing everything on Blu-ray as well?

Releasing on two formats requires more time, effort, and money but it probably doesn't help that blu-ray licensing fees and manufacturing costs are more than DVD. In terms of the latter, manufacturing costs can decrease over time and DVD has been around for twice as long. Licensing fees only decrease if the license holders choose to lower the entry fees.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

On average, DVD still outsells Blu-ray on like titles by nearly a 3:2 margin (units sold). At least that's the case on the Top 20 selling list. Below that it's probably more lopsided in favor of DVD (of those which they have in common). And the bad news is that that ratio hasn't changed at all over the last two years.

But yeah, it doesn't hurt DVD's cause that it gets so many more releases. And think about it, if Blu-ray really sold just as well on titles they have in common, then why aren't they releasing everything on Blu-ray as well?

Are they counting the DVD in those numbers when we buy the blu-ray but it comes with a DVD (the blu-ray / DVD combo pack)?

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Releasing on two formats requires more time, effort, and money but it probably doesn't help that blu-ray licensing fees and manufacturing costs are more than DVD. In terms of the latter, manufacturing costs can decrease over time and DVD has been around for twice as long. Licensing fees only decrease if the license holders choose to lower the entry fees.

I thought that the higher sales price of Blu-ray is supposed to cover that? That's like saying DVDs are more profitable (which they actually may be in many cases).

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Are they counting the DVD in those numbers when we buy the blu-ray but it comes with a DVD (the blu-ray / DVD combo pack)?

No, which makes the real DVD sales deceptively low, since some people who do buy the combo pack, would have chosen the DVD-only SKU, if they were forced to choose (keep in mind the real-world opinion about including DVDs in combos is not at all accurately reflected on the consensus in Blu-ray.com).

[mredman]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

This thread is 72 pages long, and DVD still sells better than BD.

yeah but BD sell way better than DVD for new releases most of the time just check out Interstellar with 70% percentage for Blu Ray. You can guess how small the percentage for the DVD is for that title