Differences in Digital Copy Sources?

[St. John Smythe]

Maybe I’m missing it here, but is there a list that covers the diffences in video quality betweeen different providers? I’m mostly referring to catalog titles. My two recent examples are:

1. The Longest Day - iTunes, Amazon, and MA don’t have it in the original aspect ratio. Only Vudu does.
2. The Maltese Falcon - iTunes, Amazon and Vudu all use an older, dirtier print, only MA appears to use the master from the Blu-ray.

Obviously, this is pretty frustrating, but nice that at least MA gives you all the sources, but you don’t want to find out later that you’ve been watching a poorer quality version. The wild card here is really Paramount, you won’t know which version you may be getting.

[crackedknee]

Yes, there are definitely differences, not just aspect ratio, but differing scans.

As far as aspect ratios go, check this thread. It tells you movies in Vudu that are incorrect, but I have done a cross-reference list of various items that I own, that says where the aspect ratio is correct (last and second to last page of the thread). In every case, the scan that is in the correct aspect ratio looks remarkably sharper/more film-like.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=228440

[Kage]

Originally Posted by crackedknee

Yes, there are definitely differences, not just aspect ratio, but differing scans.

As far as aspect ratios go, check this thread. It tells you movies in Vudu that are incorrect, but I have done a cross-reference list of various items that I own, that says where the aspect ratio is correct (last and second to last page of the thread). In every case, the scan that is in the correct aspect ratio looks remarkably sharper/more film-like.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=228440

That list hasn't been updated over a year. Its not the fault of the services providers that have the wrong aspect ratio, its the movie studios that send the content to the service providers.

[dunnbluray]

This would definitely be a great list. I’ve noticed several movies on Movies Anywhere which have a superior print/source of the movie.

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by Kage

That list hasn't been updated over a year. Its not the fault of the services providers that have the wrong aspect ratio, its the movie studios that send the content to the service providers.

Yes, I know it hasn't been updated, which is why on the last few pages I did my own meager updates.

And yes, studios provide those scans, but the fact that a correct scan is present in other services (for example, MA having the only working aspect ratio for a certain movie), then why does Vudu not request the corrected scan? Because they (the management) don't care, and because their tech department is understaffed (both a problem ultimately with management, which keeps itself separate from the daily functions of the company).

[St. John Smythe]

I find it odd that the way media has changed to more of a digital download platform, we don't get the same review sites, like we had for DVD and Blu-Ray.

I'm afraid to buy White Christmas digitally, becauase I can see Netflix used an old HD master from the DVD, which had bad strobing, but the blu-ray looks awesome, who knows which version I'll get.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by crackedknee

Yes, I know it hasn't been updated, which is why on the last few pages I did my own meager updates.

And yes, studios provide those scans, but the fact that a correct scan is present in other services (for example, MA having the only working aspect ratio for a certain movie), then why does Vudu not request the corrected scan? Because they (the management) don't care, and because their tech department is understaffed (both a problem ultimately with management, which keeps itself separate from the daily functions of the company).

Maybe not enough complaints from customers about the wrong aspect ratios.

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by PCFan

Maybe not enough complaints from customers about the wrong aspect ratios.

Oh, they get plenty of complaints, if you ever look at the internal Vudu threads complaining about aspect ratios, there is a constant stream. Some "tech" person always posts they will look into it immediately. Then nothing happens. Answer: use another service where it IS correct.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by crackedknee

Oh, they get plenty of complaints, if you ever look at the internal Vudu threads complaining about aspect ratios, there is a constant stream. Some "tech" person always posts they will look into it immediately. Then nothing happens. Answer: use another service where it IS correct.

I meant complaints directly to Vudu's customer service by phone or email, not in a forum.

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by PCFan

I meant complaints directly to Vudu's customer service by phone or email, not in a forum.

I tried complaining by email and once by phone. What you get is this:
1. email response
2. follow-up email response, saying they will respond in short order (about 2 or 3 weeks later)
3. closing of the ticket email, in which they mark the matter as "solved" (about 3 or 4 weeks after complaint was opened)

Offensive is the fact that they never contact you after number 2, because they obviously don't want to fix anything. But they go on to number 3, and claim the matter was "solved". Once or twice they sent me a $5 Vudu credit in compensation.