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

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I believe Vilya is right, a lot of Blu-ray.com members come to this site just for the cheap UV/MA codes that are for sale.

What about the members that are obsessed with slip covers and box art?
I wouldn't call them HT enthusiasts.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

What about the members that are obsessed with slip covers and box art?
I wouldn't call them HT enthusiasts.

I have a different term for that lot.


BUT DIGITAL HD BAD!!!!

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Do any of you remember when Warner announced they would become Blu-ray exclusive and drop the HD-DVD format? Someone posted a video on YouTube that you may get a chuckle from.

WARNING: Adult language in subtitles


The downfall of HD DVD - YouTube

I haven’t seen that in awhile, but it is still damn funny. I remember that was the deciding factor for me to go Blu-ray as I was waiting to see how that was going to play out.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I have a different term for that lot.


BUT DIGITAL HD BAD!!!!

For HT? Sure it’s bad, I stand by that. Inferior picture, inferior audio, just ........inferior. We are going backwards with digital.

All for the sake of (imo) lazy people who can’t get off their arses to pop a disc in.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I believe Vilya is right, a lot of Blu-ray.com members come to this site just for the cheap UV/MA codes that are for sale.

Yeah, it’s sad (imo) what the site has become In that respect. I always presumed going forward, quality would always be a major concern for HT members. I guess not.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

For HT? Sure it’s bad, I stand by that. Inferior picture, inferior audio, just ........inferior. We are going backwards with digital.

All for the sake of (imo) lazy people who can’t get off their arses to pop a disc in.

No one is arguing that digital can match disc in audio and visual.

But the a/v quality on digital is still very good. It's impressive how much better it's gotten over the last few years.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

No one is arguing that digital can match disc in audio and visual.

But the a/v quality on digital is still very good. It's impressive how much better it's gotten over the last few years.

So why desire it then? Why settle for second best when we have 4K and regular Blu-ray? It’s bloody madness.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So why desire it then? Why settle for second best when we have 4K and regular Blu-ray? It’s bloody madness.

It's cheaper
I can watch it on different devices
I don't have or desire to have a lot of space to store physical media
Dolby Vision is not always available on disc but almost always on digital
Exclusive extras
Available 2-3 weeks before physical

Also, Netflix and other streaming services are releasing new films and series in 4K HDR that will never see a physical release. So there is a ton of great content you will miss completely by ignoring digital.

All that said, I still purchase physical discs occasionally.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

It's cheaper
I can watch it on different devices
I don't have or desire to have a lot of space to store physical media
Dolby Vision is not always available on disc but almost always on digital
Exclusive extras
Available 2-3 weeks before physical

Also, Netflix and other streaming services are releasing new films and series in 4K HDR that will never see a physical release. So there is a ton of great content you will miss completely by ignoring digital.

All that said, I still purchase physical discs occasionally.

Nah, none of those reasons are good enough. The extras are a forced thing to try to boost digital sales. It’s a insult and a kick in the teeth to all serious film collectors. Get used to it though, in the digital landscape, they can do what they like, and they will.

I’m done for now.

[avs commenter]

I provide facts. You counter with your opinion. Digital sure is doomed! LOL

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

I provide facts. You counter with your opinion. Digital sure is doomed! LOL

You didn’t provide facts at all. You gave me excuses. Go and check what numbers DVD was doing at the equivalent time in its life. Sell through is living on borrowed time. The genie is out of the bag with subscription and the buffet option. It ain’t going back in.

Anyway, I need a break form this thread. Sick of telling you guys where this will lead us.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

It's cheaper
I can watch it on different devices
I don't have or desire to have a lot of space to store physical media
Dolby Vision is not always available on disc but almost always on digital
Exclusive extras
Available 2-3 weeks before physical

Also, Netflix and other streaming services are releasing new films and series in 4K HDR that will never see a physical release. So there is a ton of great content you will miss completely by ignoring digital.

All that said, I still purchase physical discs occasionally.

Exactly right. That's why I include Digital HD in my media needs. Now if one has unlimited funds and physical space then by all means stick with physical media. I like having a less cluttered home and a fatter wallet due to not overspending on physical media. If I can get it cheaper and faster why wouldn't I get it in that format? Does that mean I will stop buying BD's? Of course not. I will only pick out those titles of upmost importance to me. There's times where it seems someone has a compulsion and they like to reframe it as a hobby. If you're OCD or a hoarder, or whatever, then it obviously goes above just collecting - you have some mental health issues that need addressing.

I cut the chord years ago and think streaming platforms and a la carte services fulfill my media needs. I will never go back to cable television. It's much cheaper to stack streaming services than it ever was to overpay for a bunch of crappy channels.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Exactly right. That's why I include Digital HD in my media needs. Now if one has unlimited funds and physical space then by all means stick with physical media. I like having a less cluttered home and a fatter wallet due to not overspending on physical media. If I can get it cheaper and faster why wouldn't I get it in that format? Does that mean I will stop buying BD's? Of course not. I will only pick out those titles of upmost importance to me. There's times where it seems someone has a compulsion and they like to reframe it as a hobby. If you're OCD or a hoarder, or whatever, then it obviously goes above just collecting - you have some mental health issues that need addressing.

I cut the chord years ago and think streaming platforms and a la carte services fulfill my media needs. I will never go back to cable television. It's much cheaper to stack streaming services than it ever was to overpay for a bunch of crappy channels.

Lol. You honestly think it’s going to remain cheaper than cable? Don’t know what to say to you.ALSO WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON ASSOCIATING MENTALHEALTH WITH SERIOUS COLLECTORS? I mean, seriously.

It’s the same tired claims of hoarders etc.. It isn’t hard to store discs neatly in a couple of display cabinets either side of my HT. Neat, efficient and far from a hoarders place.

I can’t read any more stupidity.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I agree except I would never lump in SVOD with physical or digital sales and rentals revenue. I know DEG does this and IMO they do this to make that group look good.

Subscription VOD should be reported like all other subscription video. Linear pay TV is the one losing to SVOD as seen here. The real question is how profitable is SVOD. Hulu has always lost money (by design?), Netflix is now in debt for > 8 billion $ and obligated for > 16 or 17 billion $ and Amazon won't say because Prime includes shipping.

I agree that SVOD, like any other type of rental, does not really belong in a "sales" category, but I would also be naive to deny its growth and I do believe it does impact sales, both physical and digital. It also impacts cable TV subscriptions.

SVOD offers really inexpensive access to a lot of content and that is clearly appealing. I do not know how many times I have heard someone say that they will just wait for a movie to come to Netflix instead of buying it- on disc or digital. They pay their their monthly fee and that is all they want to spend on movies or TV shows. Cheap, convenient, decent enough quality and their customers are happy.

The debt burdens you mention for Hulu and Netflix sound problematic, but no matter how that plays out I am confident that SVOD will remain a part of the home entertainment landscape.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

You didn’t provide facts at all. You gave me excuses. Go and check what numbers DVD was doing at the equivalent time in its life. Sell through is living on borrowed time. The genie is out of the bag with subscription and the buffet option. It ain’t going back in.

Anyway, I need a break form this thread. Sick of telling you guys where this will lead us.

Take the L. Go to your safe space and cuddle up next to your precious slip covers and steel books.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Exactly right. That's why I include Digital HD in my media needs. Now if one has unlimited funds and physical space then by all means stick with physical media. I like having a less cluttered home and a fatter wallet due to not overspending on physical media. If I can get it cheaper and faster why wouldn't I get it in that format? Does that mean I will stop buying BD's? Of course not. I will only pick out those titles of upmost importance to me. There's times where it seems someone has a compulsion and they like to reframe it as a hobby. If you're OCD or a hoarder, or whatever, then it obviously goes above just collecting - you have some mental health issues that need addressing.

I cut the cord years ago and think streaming platforms and a la carte services fulfill my media needs. I will never go back to cable television. It's much cheaper to stack streaming services than it ever was to overpay for a bunch of crappy channels.

I am glad you make some physical purchases; a little support for physical is better than none at all.

As a sizable collector myself, I do bristle a little at mental health issues being mentioned as a cause behind collecting behavior. I am not a hoarder because I have a lot of movies on disc anymore than a digital collector is one because they have a lot of digital titles. We are both just enjoying a hobby in the manner of our choosing. Naturally, I feel my choice is the better one, but I am not offended by you making a different one.

In my limited experiences, I have found that most people collect something, from cookie jars to guns. I have only met one person whom I would truly call a minimalist. This person sells his house about once every decade and most everything in it, which was never much in the first place, and then starts again anew with a mostly empty house. Is that mental illness or just a different view on the importance of material objects? I am not qualified to say, but he seems to be happy and he is wealthy by most measures.

I cut the cord as far as cable TV is concerned back in 2014. I don't miss it at all. I now have an over the air antenna instead and between it and the free IPTV channels I get, I am very satisfied. I rent from Vudu occasionally and I cyclically subscribe to Netflix, cancelling and resubscribing as the desire for it waxes and wanes.

I use both services to sample content that I am curious about, but if I like what I watch I then buy a physical copy. Thanks to having a region free player, I can shop worldwide for my discs and that has improved title availability substantially.

I think digital will continue to grow and that physical will decline to a point where it will eventually plateau. I believe there will always be enough people to support it to ensure that it remains a choice for those who value what it alone offers.

At the rate that digital purchases are growing now, they will overtake physical purchases inside of two years time if that growth rate is sustained and if disc purchases continue to decline at the rate that they have been. I am not happy about this probable outcome, but I am confident that physical media will remain viable.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Take the L. Go to your safe space and cuddle up next to your precious slip covers and steel books.

Won’t get much warmth, I only own 5 steelbooks and I throw the slips away.

Is it national **** day on this thread today?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I can’t read any more stupidity.

You are on an internet forum. You can't help but read stupid comments, especially when you are the author of many of them yourself. I contribute my share as well, so don't feel too badly.

I do not know why you take this so personally. I am not bothered by the choices that other people make for themselves. I spend my time enjoying my life in the way that I choose to live it. My happiness is not dependent upon what other people choose to do; I make my own.

I enjoy talking about this subject, and at great length obviously, but when I log off I have many other hobbies that I also pursue. I like talking to people with different opinions because it is far more interesting than just sitting in an echo chamber where everyone just sings the same praises over and over. I also learn new and interesting things occasionally by being willing to listen.

I never leave here upset. I enjoy my time here, but if you are unhappy, then step away for a bit and come back when you feel better. This website is a great source of information for our hobby; don't allow it to become a source of anxiety instead.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Anyway, I need a break form this thread. Sick of telling you guys where this will lead us.

It’s the same song with different verses. In the 80's we had βeta/VHS vs LaserDisc with LaserDisc being much better A/V quality but that did not really matter because you could record on video cassette. Renting and copying onto VHS SLP cassette’s became big business and the justification: less cost (cheaper). IMO, convenience and less cost will always win over quality.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

It’s the same song with different verses. In the 80's we had βeta/VHS vs LaserDisc with LaserDisc being much better A/V quality but that did not really matter because you could record on video cassette. Renting and copying onto VHS SLP cassette’s became big business and the justification: less cost (cheaper). IMO, convenience and less cost will always win over quality.

I would change that last sentence a little bit, though. Convenience and economy will always be dominant, but quality remains for those who value it.

Most, if not every, product and service category offers an affordable choice and a premium one. The fact that most people will choose the former has never eliminated the latter.

DVD heralded the death of laserdisc, not VHS. DVD was better quality, took up far less space, and was vastly more affordable; laserdisc could not compete with all of that. Prior to DVD, laserdisc had its own comfortable niche driven by the quality minded consumer despite the huge cost difference between it and VHS. Laserdisc players never attained a consumer friendly price point, nor did the laserdiscs themselves, but they found their market just the same.