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

[Vilya]

I spout to two decimal places; digital sell through saw 5.74% growth in 2017 compared to 2016.

As bruceames in the Home Video Sales thread pointed out, data about disc sales comes out weekly, but digital sell through data is released quarterly. We have to wait a little longer for a new number to spout. All of these blockbuster titles will likely have boosted all ownership numbers.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

I'm sure that number has changed with the recent heavy hitters such as Coco, Thor Ragnarok, Justice League(1 month early) and Star Wars just to name a few.

You've been spouting that same figure for months.

That was end of Q4 last year. Growth was down YOY. Digital HD seems to rely on animated big hitters so let’s see what happens when Disney’s subscription service launches. I think it has very limited growth opportunities now. At this stage, you are investing in a stepping stone to subscription. Seems a bit pointless.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I spout to two decimal places; digital sell through saw 5.74% growth in 2017 compared to 2016.

As bruceames in the Home Video Sales thread pointed out, data about disc sales comes out weekly, but digital sell through data is released quarterly. We have to wait a little longer for a new number to spout. All of these blockbuster titles will likely have boosted all ownership numbers.

No doubt but Digital HD is not where it needs to be right now. I think we can all see the writing on the wall. Even if it does see a boost over the next few months it will probably dip again. It certainly did last year.

I see everything transitioning to subscription (games included) over the next five years. Discs will still be here also though. So will Digital HD but it will be hanging on.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Vilya

If I have learned anything from visiting this thread it is that repetition makes a statement true, so expect to hear this often.

Most definitely, which is why neither of the two physical vs digital champions arguments hold their weight in water.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Most definitely, which is why neither of the two physical vs digital champions arguments hold their weight in water.

I freely admit my preference and my bias, but I can understand the attraction that many have for digital; I just don't share it.

I am more inclined to acknowledge the benefits of a mixture of the two (heavily in favor of disc, naturally) as I can see where anywhere access might be valuable for those who are often away from home, but as a retired homebody that does not apply to me. I can appreciate sharing digital libraries with family, but in my case I have outlived all but one close relative and she collects discs on a much, much smaller scale and streams Netflix for everything else. Plus, she is the only person on the planet who has borrowing privileges from my collection.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Most definitely, which is why neither of the two physical vs digital champions arguments hold their weight in water.

Just let it go man. You have too much time on your hands.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I freely admit my preference and my bias, but I can understand the attraction that many have for digital; I just don't share it.

I am more inclined to acknowledge the benefits of a mixture of the two (heavily in favor of disc, naturally) as I can see where anywhere access might be valuable for those who are often away from home, but as a retired homebody that does not apply to me. I can appreciate sharing digital libraries with family, but in my case I have outlived all but one close relative and she collects discs on a much, much smaller scale and streams Netflix for everything else. Plus, she is the only person on the planet who has borrowing privileges from my collection.

Yep, that's me as well. Although I'm on the opposite of the spectrum. I see the benefits of both and love not having a cable box in my set up. While I don't get to watch or play games as much as I use to. I have 3 Netflix BD's sitting on my table to watch, but real life has been running interference with me. So I usually only have time to watch a show or two before I go to sleep.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Just let it go man. You have too much time on your hands.

I have to wonder who has the higher post count in this thread

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Yep, that's me as well. Although I'm on the opposite of the spectrum. I see the benefits of both and love not having a cable box in my set up. While I don't get to watch or play games as much as I use to. I have 3 Netflix BD's sitting on my table to watch, but real life has been running interference with me. So I usually only have time to watch a show or two before I go to sleep.





I have to wonder who has the higher post count in this thread

Have a good day.

[dcx4610]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Even with DRM-free downloads your control is limited: you can't legally sell or give away downloads. This means that if you didn't buy a certain title while it was officially available you can never legally obtain it.

The used market aleviates this problem with physical media. I can still buy thousands of titles that stopped being officialy offered decades ago.

Unless the laws drastically change, no one will ever have control over any of their digital purchases.

I can't legally give people my FLAC rips but I can legally copy them and transfer them without any DRM restrictions to my personal devices. That's all that matters to me.

Movies are still my biggest concern. Unlike music and MP3 files, I don't think they will ever be DRM free. The movie industry has a stranglehold on their content and I definitely see a digital future coming. They don't want you to own their content, they want to own it and license it to you.

I think MoviesAnywhere is a good start. One of the biggest problems with digital movies is everyone wanted you to use their service and you had collections with different providers. It seems like MoviesAnywhere is catching on as the main place to buy and redeem digital movies. If they can become the Steam of digital movies, that'll be a good thing.

Still, my ISP and many others have bandwidth caps and I see no reason use them up to stream a 4K movie when I can have it on disc with better quality while physically owning what I do with that copy.

Music and games (at least PC) have made a successful transition to digital. Movies, I don't know if they ever will. At least not how us diehards will be happy with. In the end, we won't have much of a choice.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by dcx4610

I can't legally give people my FLAC rips but I can legally copy them and transfer them without any DRM restrictions to my personal devices. That's all that matters to me.

Movies are still my biggest concern. Unlike music and MP3 files, I don't think they will ever be DRM free. The movie industry has a stranglehold on their content and I definitely see a digital future coming. They don't want you to own their content, they want to own it and license it to you.

I think MoviesAnywhere is a good start. One of the biggest problems with digital movies is everyone wanted you to use their service and you had collections with different providers. It seems like MoviesAnywhere is catching on as the main place to buy and redeem digital movies. If they can become the Steam of digital movies, that'll be a good thing.

Still, my ISP and many others have bandwidth caps and I see no reason use them up to stream a 4K movie when I can have it on disc with better quality while physically owning what I do with that copy.

Music and games (at least PC) have made a successful transition to digital. Movies, I don't know if they ever will. At least not how us diehards will be happy with. In the end, we won't have much of a choice.

To become the Steam Of video, they would have to expand to other countries. I don’t see that happening.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Being a bachelor allows me to use all of my space as I see fit. I don't have to make room for a significant other's wardrobe and shoe store.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Same here, tried it didn’t like it!

I love doing my own thing and not feeling suffocated. Living with someone is not for me.

Unlike George Strait, all MY Ex's Don't Live in Texas, but you keep trying till you find the right one. Dr. Malcolm from Jurassic Park was asked, "Are you married?" He answers, "Occasionally."

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Unlike George Strait, all MY Ex's Don't Live in Texas, but you keep trying till you find the right one. Dr. Malcolm from Jurassic Park was asked, "Are you married?" He answers, "Occasionally."

No way do I want to try again. I just love my own company too much. Very close to my family though and I have very long term friends so that’s more than enough for me.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Have a good day.

Cheers

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by evoxturbo

Physical for A/V quality. Although I am now considering backing up my collection on a hard drive. In case something happens to my physical collection. It would just be very time consuming.

I have often contemplated the same thing. It almost is not even worth it with a large collection. You will either need to compress or build a NAS. I am thinking very hard about making Star Wars: TLJ my last physical disc purchase just because when I watch a movie, it is almost always on my computer or tablet, rarely in front of my TV. The only thing keeping me with physical discs is that I have control over the content much more than with digital/cloud purchases.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

My question is, why does it have to be one way or another with some of they physical and digital people? Why not both?

Originally Posted by Dustin44

Good question.

I use physical and digital and love both.

The question of both is not the problem, it's putting one above the other. I say Digital is as good as Disc, maybe at the start of this Thread it was different but that argument has pasted. There is still a question about Audio, but with Providers like Sony Ultra and HDR with the right equipment, set up, and Bandwidth the Audio should be Disc Quality too.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by alchav21

The question of both is not the problem, it's putting one above the other. I say Digital is as good as Disc, maybe at the start of this Thread it was different but that argument has pasted. There is still a question about Audio, but with Providers like Sony Ultra and HDR with the right equipment, set up, and Bandwidth the Audio should be Disc Quality too.

Streaming is not disc quality. This has been gone over again and again in this thread. It's not bashing. It is verifiable fact. That does not mean we cannot enjoy both formats.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by dcx4610

I can't legally give people my FLAC rips but I can legally copy them and transfer them without any DRM restrictions to my personal devices. That's all that matters to me.

Movies are still my biggest concern. Unlike music and MP3 files, I don't think they will ever be DRM free. The movie industry has a stranglehold on their content and I definitely see a digital future coming. They don't want you to own their content, they want to own it and license it to you.

I think MoviesAnywhere is a good start. One of the biggest problems with digital movies is everyone wanted you to use their service and you had collections with different providers. It seems like MoviesAnywhere is catching on as the main place to buy and redeem digital movies. If they can become the Steam of digital movies, that'll be a good thing.

Still, my ISP and many others have bandwidth caps and I see no reason use them up to stream a 4K movie when I can have it on disc with better quality while physically owning what I do with that copy.

Music and games (at least PC) have made a successful transition to digital. Movies, I don't know if they ever will. At least not how us diehards will be happy with. In the end, we won't have much of a choice.

You can't buy on MA, you have to buy from your preferred MA retailer.

I do love the Roku app though, I just wish they had 4K playback as well as a search. I was watching features of Ratatouille last night.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

The question of both is not the problem, it's putting one above the other. I say Digital is as good as Disc, maybe at the start of this Thread it was different but that argument has pasted. There is still a question about Audio, but with Providers like Sony Ultra and HDR with the right equipment, set up, and Bandwidth the Audio should be Disc Quality too.

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

Streaming is not disc quality. This has been gone over again and again in this thread. It's not bashing. It is verifiable fact. That does not mean we cannot enjoy both formats.

See this is what I mean, making a blanket statement without checking the facts. Sony Ultra has the highest Bitrates, and all their Movies are 4K+HDR. So until you or someone else checks this out for themselves that it's not Disc Quality, then you can't really make this statement. Blu-ray Disc Players have a maximum Bitrate of 40Mbps, easily achieved by any top quality Streaming Provider so the Playing Field has been leveled.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Ultra HD Blu-ray has a maximum bitrate of 128Mbps. You'd know that if you checked facts instead of making blanket statements.

Holy moly, that’s some high bitrates, Batman!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

See this is what I mean, making a blanket statement without checking the facts. Sony Ultra has the highest Bitrates, and all their Movies are 4K+HDR. So until you or someone else checks this out for themselves that it's not Disc Quality, then you can't really make this statement. Blu-ray Disc Players have a maximum Bitrate of 40Mbps, easily achieved by any top quality Streaming Provider so the Playing Field has been leveled.

All you are saying is that the bitrate of a 4K streamed title is equivalent to the bitrate from a 1080p blu-ray disc. That is in no way a level playing field and it is a goofy comparison. Saying a 4K stream looks as good as a 1080p blu-ray disc is not something to brag about; a 4K stream should look, and sound, just as excellent as a 4K UHD disc and it objectively and quantitatively does not.