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

[Texan26]

Originally Posted by veritas

I do wonder how they are going to sell movies in a digital format that are not new and in the limelight. With physical you can put a new remaster on a disc and get it on the shelf of a store for people to walk by. with digital it wont be nearly as easy to get people to randomly buy decade old films. I mean I dont buy things from itunes or vudu so idk but do people browse digital the same way they browse physical (I know people code deal hunt but I mean digital store front browsing and buying).

VUDU has a lot of weekly and monthly sales that highlight old catalog titles. I always buy up a lot of catalog titles this way. Especially in October, when they have horror movie sales.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by whipnet

Tangible items will always be with us and may even make a comeback. There's something about touching an item you've paid for and/or collect. To me at least.

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Again, for NEW movies, possibly. But formats in the past had catalog titles to supplement. Some could look at the lack of catalog releases to also lead to a lower yearly average for physical media. I know it doesn't account for a majority of $$ spent but it always helps. They're hurting themselves.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by veritas

I do wonder how they are going to sell movies in a digital format that are not new and in the limelight. With physical you can put a new remaster on a disc and get it on the shelf of a store for people to walk by. with digital it wont be nearly as easy to get people to randomly buy decade old films. I mean I dont buy things from itunes or vudu so idk but do people browse digital the same way they browse physical (I know people code deal hunt but I mean digital store front browsing and buying).

Originally Posted by Texan26

VUDU has a lot of weekly and monthly sales that highlight old catalog titles. I always buy up a lot of catalog titles this way. Especially in October, when they have horror movie sales.

It's all Digital, and Amazon, Vudu, Netflix, or any other Provider has Movies, TV Shows, Video that you can Browse, Rent, or Sales. Then if you like something, you look for the best price. My Collection is around 500 of my favorite Movies or TV Shows, so I am caught up. I still have some old DVD's that haven't gone Digital yet. Then now with the new 4K Format they are going back to some older Movies. So it just never ends, but Digital HD will be the same as Disc. You look, Price, and Buy!

[huskerbear]

Originally Posted by veritas

I do wonder how they are going to sell movies in a digital format that are not new and in the limelight. With physical you can put a new remaster on a disc and get it on the shelf of a store for people to walk by. with digital it wont be nearly as easy to get people to randomly buy decade old films. I mean I dont buy things from itunes or vudu so idk but do people browse digital the same way they browse physical (I know people code deal hunt but I mean digital store front browsing and buying).

If I saw half of something on cable I might buy the film to see it without commercials or to catch the rest of the film but with Netflix I literally look at some stuff and go should I buy it well I would but I can watch it anytime on Netflix anyway so no thanks. It just seems like the further we move towards digital the further at least I move from impulse buying.

I actually browse and buy more now with digital than with discs. It's just so much easier and, better than walking store isles or digging thru bins. Instead of reading the back of a disc case you press a button and watch the trailer, one more click and you buy it, or move on....so much better than the old way imo.

[PCFan]

I don't think I'm completely digital in my movie purchases yet, but I'm transitioning gradually to all digital for movie purchases. I prefer iTunes for a digital provider and I'm gradually building up my digital movie collection there. I still don't want to spend more than $8 for a digital movie, for example, I bought Good Morning Vietnam for $5.99 on blu-ray instead of buying it through iTunes for $9.99. I still have my blu-ray collection of about 300 titles to fall back on just in case I decide to go back to fully physical for movies and stop buying/watching digital.

[whipnet]

If I am looking for a movie more than a year old, 95% of the time I can find a blu-ray+digital for 1/2 the price of digital only. (Exception being Disney)

The only straight-up EST's I ever do are from Bing/Google rewards or free VUDU credits. Vapor money for vapor movies.

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[bandit29]

Originally Posted by veritas

I do wonder how they are going to sell movies in a digital format that are not new and in the limelight. With physical you can put a new remaster on a disc and get it on the shelf of a store for people to walk by. with digital it wont be nearly as easy to get people to randomly buy decade old films. I mean I dont buy things from itunes or vudu so idk but do people browse digital the same way they browse physical (I know people code deal hunt but I mean digital store front browsing and buying).

If I saw half of something on cable I might buy the film to see it without commercials or to catch the rest of the film but with Netflix I literally look at some stuff and go should I buy it well I would but I can watch it anytime on Netflix anyway so no thanks. It just seems like the further we move towards digital the further at least I move from impulse buying.

People aren't browsing stores anymore. Anytime I go into Best Buy, Walmart etc. the movie sections are dead. Even the 4K area. Everyone is looking at TVs or streaming devices. Fry's used to be an awesome place to browse for movies, not anymore.

For now, physical will continue to exist for the enthusiasts. Same way music still does.

[bandit29]

Originally Posted by meremortal

Yup. It's usually only the vinyl sections around here that appear to regularly attract a lot of attention. The cd aisles are definite graveyards, while the movie sections seem to usually be moms looking for kids movies.

I have more CDs than the Best Buy near my house does. CD section there is less than 6 feet long with a sign on it telling people to shop online. Or go check out the vinyl (which isn't much) on the other side of the store lol

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by bandit29

People aren't browsing stores anymore. Anytime I go into Best Buy, Walmart etc. the movie sections are dead. Even the 4K area. Everyone is looking at TVs or streaming devices. Fry's used to be an awesome place to browse for movies, not anymore.

For now, physical will continue to exist for the enthusiasts. Same way music still does.

Originally Posted by bandit29

I have more CDs than the Best Buy near my house does. CD section there is less than 6 feet long with a sign on it telling people to shop online. Or go check out the vinyl (which isn't much) on the other side of the store lol

We should take the Sign from Horse Racing, Cloud Computing is the Clear Winner! I keep telling you guys, if you are Hard Wired with Fiber right into The Cloud, you'll get the most Consistent Bandwidth. No need for Discs anymore, you'll have access to any Movie, TV Show, or Video ever made. With your UHD TV connected properly, no other box is needed all the Apps are right there at your finger tips!

[whipnet]

Originally Posted by alchav21

No need for Discs anymore, you'll have access to any Movie, TV Show, or Video ever made.

Cool. I can't wait to go buy some great classics online like 'The Abyss' (James Cameron) or 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' or 'Pink Floyd The Wall'

...oh wait!

[stonesfan129]

Discs are better. Better A/V quality and there is still plenty of stuff on DVD (director's cuts, special editions, rare stuff) that isn't available digitally. Digital is just more convenient. Will discs quit selling? I don't think any time soon. CDs are still selling 35 years later, vinyl records have even made a comeback. Who knows, maybe in a few years, Laserdiscs or VHS will come back.

[tobz]

Im curious, for the people who buy blu-rays, do you actually watch them off the disc or do you put them on a home server i.e Plex and watch from there?

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by tobz

Im curious, for the people who buy blu-rays, do you actually watch them off the disc or do you put them on a home server i.e Plex and watch from there?

I'm old-fashioned so I still enjoy putting the disc into the player.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by tobz

Im curious, for the people who buy blu-rays, do you actually watch them off the disc or do you put them on a home server i.e Plex and watch from there?

Originally Posted by jetthead

I'm old-fashioned so I still enjoy putting the disc into the player.

Another good question, is how many people are going to buy a new UHD Blu-ray Player. I guess you can get some cheap ones of around $200, but a good Oppo or Panasonic is over $500. Now you can Stream UHD with just a UHD TV, so I wonder if most people are doing this.

[BlakkMajik3000]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Another good question, is how many people are going to buy a new UHD Blu-ray Player. I guess you can get some cheap ones of around $200, but a good Oppo or Panasonic is over $500. Now you can Stream UHD with just a UHD TV, so I wonder if most people are doing this.

I'm definitely buying a UHD BD player, but not until I am forced to upgrade my 1080p display. Blu-Ray looks so good, it's really hard to justify upgrading displays/equipment at this point.

Not a chance I'm streaming UHD. I have the speed/bandwidth needed, but I'd rather just watch the disc. Here recently, I've even just started popping in a blu-ray instead of defaulting to VUDU. I really only use VUDU for movies I don't already have on disc.

[huskerbear]

Originally Posted by BlakkMajik3000

I'm definitely buying a UHD BD player, but not until I am forced to upgrade my 1080p display. Blu-Ray looks so good, it's really hard to justify upgrading displays/equipment at this point.

Not a chance I'm streaming UHD. I have the speed/bandwidth needed, but I'd rather just watch the disc. Here recently, I've even just started popping in a blu-ray instead of defaulting to VUDU. I really only use VUDU for movies I don't already have on disc.

I do just the opposite lol. I just wish all the movies I own on disc were available on my digital collection.

[whipnet]

I don't stream UHD because of my 1TB data cap. I live in the 4th largest city in the nation, have 150mbs down, but limited to how much I can use. Doesn't look good for the future of streaming. 8K? With 100gb movies, looks like I'll be busting out the disk for a while to come unless Comcast comes off some of that greed.

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[alchav21]

Originally Posted by whipnet

I don't stream UHD because of my 1TB data cap. I live in the 4th largest city in the nation, have 150mbs down, but limited to how much I can use. Doesn't look good for the future of streaming. 8K? With 100gb movies, looks like I'll be busting out the disk for a while to come unless Comcast comes off some of that greed.

It sounds like you need Symmetrical GigaBit Fiber, and the 4th Largest City puts you in Houston, TX. So AT&T should be your Telco, and they have GigaPower. Get your HOA to contact AT&T, and see if your Community can be upgraded. You will need at least 75% of your Community to commit. Then you can get rid of Comcast with their Caps.

[whipnet]

Originally Posted by alchav21

It sounds like you need Symmetrical GigaBit Fiber, and the 4th Largest City puts you in Houston, TX. So AT&T should be your Telco, and they have GigaPower. Get your HOA to contact AT&T, and see if your Community can be upgraded. You will need at least 75% of your Community to commit. Then you can get rid of Comcast with their Caps.

AT&T has data caps.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

It sounds like you need Symmetrical GigaBit Fiber, and the 4th Largest City puts you in Houston, TX. So AT&T should be your Telco, and they have GigaPower. Get your HOA to contact AT&T, and see if your Community can be upgraded. You will need at least 75% of your Community to commit. Then you can get rid of Comcast with their Caps.

Originally Posted by whipnet

AT&T has data caps.

U-Verse or FTTC has Caps, also 1TB but their FTTH GigaPower does not, it's Unlimited. With U-Verse you can also pay extra to get Unlimited. Caps are put in to control usage when the Infrastructure calls for it.