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

[Krizzle1]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well hope it was a Panasonic or Sony, and more on the high end. You started this Thread and it's taken a life of it's own. It's going on for 4 years, and things have changed dramatically. We can see where things are going, and the best position to be is to have both Digital and Physical. I know the Physical people will disagree, but it should be obvious by now. Both Panasonic and Sony should have good Streaming Apps, and that should give both Digital and Physical the best options. That's what got me started Streaming from my Panasonic Blu-ray Player, with the Graphics Chip and the HDMI connection the Streams were Disc like. So to get the best Streaming experience you need Solid Bandwidth, a good set up, and top of the line equipment

I bought a Sony S6700 connected to a 50" Sony (Bravia i think) TV, no audio equipment (yet) but while I dont have a proper set up like most of you here, i can immediately tell the difference. I stuck in Infinity War and skipped through to the scene on Titan, and my God, did it look beautiful

Yes, digital seems to be growing at an alarming rate, but its sooo good not having to rely on an internet connection and not waiting for something to buffer, to receive the highest quality end product. I feel like digital is probably for the majority of the general public, they're okay with a "good enough" end product, and that's okay, because thats what probably works for "most" people i think

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Krizzle1

I bought a Sony S6700 connected to a 50" Sony (Bravia i think) TV, no audio equipment (yet) but while I dont have a proper set up like most of you here, i can immediately tell the difference. I stuck in Infinity War and skipped through to the scene on Titan, and my God, did it look beautiful

Yes, digital seems to be growing at an alarming rate, but its sooo good not having to rely on an internet connection and not waiting for something to buffer, to receive the highest quality end product. I feel like digital is probably for the majority of the general public, they're okay with a "good enough" end product, and that's okay, because thats what probably works for "most" people i think

Subscription is growing at an alarming rate. Digital HD is most certainly not.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Krizzle1

I bought a Sony S6700 connected to a 50" Sony (Bravia i think) TV, no audio equipment (yet) but while I dont have a proper set up like most of you here, i can immediately tell the difference. I stuck in Infinity War and skipped through to the scene on Titan, and my God, did it look beautiful

Yes, digital seems to be growing at an alarming rate, but its sooo good not having to rely on an internet connection and not waiting for something to buffer, to receive the highest quality end product. I feel like digital is probably for the majority of the general public, they're okay with a "good enough" end product, and that's okay, because thats what probably works for "most" people i think

Well looking at the Hardware Thread I see there are many levels of Quality even for the Physical people. Listening to Robert Zohn and Vincent Teoh, "Good Enough" applies to the Physical people too. With the big Blu-ray Player shake out, taking out Oppo and Samsung leaving Panasonic UB9000 as the Premium Player, you have to have deep pockets just to keep up. For a good high end set up, 75" OLED, UB9000, A/V System you are talking about $10K easy! Streaming is sounding better and better.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well looking at the Hardware Thread I see there are many levels of Quality even for the Physical people. Listening to Robert Zohn and Vincent Teoh, "Good Enough" applies to the Physical people too. With the big Blu-ray Player shake out, taking out Oppo and Samsung leaving Panasonic UB9000 as the Premium Player, you have to have deep pockets just to keep up. For a good high end set up, 75" OLED, UB9000, A/V System you are talking about $10K easy! Streaming is sounding better and better.

Just to you.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Just to you.

All I'm saying is don't put down Digital Streaming unless you guys clean up your act. Physical Standards have gone up with 4K, so unless you have the proper equipment calibrated you will also get Artifacts and Degradation. Don't be quick to judge with poor equipment or not set up properly. Also if your Streaming is poor, tell us your Bandwidth and set up.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Subscription is growing at an alarming rate.

What's alarming about it? I thought things like Netflix were harmless. You know, just another TV channel.

[Dreamliner330]

Most people will choose convenience. Even if shown the quality difference they will still choose what is easiest. Look at CD's, higher quality disc audio never took off and people chose Spotify and whatever else. I know someone who rips music off YouTube at the lowest quality because "it's faster".

If I cannot own it, I will not buy it (unless it is absurdly cheap).

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by octagon

What's alarming about it? I thought things like Netflix were harmless. You know, just another TV channel.

Just copying what the guy said. Ask him?

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Subscription is growing at an alarming rate. Digital HD is most certainly not.

Digital HD should be compared to disc sales, not subscriptions services. Also, any statement on Digital HD's success or growth rate is speculation at best right now.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Also, any statement on Digital HD's success or growth rate is speculation at best right now.

Not true, DEG reports every Q. If EST was anywhere near expectations the studios would not be shutting down Ultra Violet, Sony and Paramount stores would not have closed, etc. EST sales should have exceeded physical sales long ago based upon the number of devices EST is available on. As an example, click here for a PDF of devices that support Google Play.

As I stated earlier, the studios focus is shifting to their own brand of subscription that guarantee's a certain level of monthly income. This year it will be Disney+. Who will be next?

IMO, Disney will devalue the Disney and Fox vaults when it make those titles available on its streaming service. It will end the 7 year cycle of selling classic titles at a hefty price.

[avs commenter]

Digital's problem is they had too many outlets like Sony and Paramount stores. Itunes is the major player in digital. Now with Itunes and MA as the main players I expect more stability.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Digital's problem is they had too many outlets like Sony and Paramount stores. Itunes is the major player in digital. Now with Itunes and MA as the main players I expect more stability.

iTunes and DMA (now just MA) has been around for years. The focus now is on Disney+ for Disney and Apple is bringing on Apple TV Channels and AppleTV+. Don't be surprised if iTunes and MA disappears.

[avs commenter]

Those channels are going to be more focused on original content and not movies that were in theaters 3 months earlier. MA and Itunes are not at risk at all right now. And I don't know anyone who used UltraViolet, Sony Store or Paramount store (?), so I'm not putting much weight into the fact they closed.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Those channels are going to be more focused on original content and not movies that were in theaters 3 months earlier. MA and Itunes are not at risk at all right now. And I don't know anyone who used UltraViolet, Sony Store or Paramount store (?), so I'm not putting much weight into the fact they closed.

Just shows how little you know. At last report UV had 30 million accounts worldwide, 20 million for USA, MA has only 6 million accounts for USA, 0 accounts in other countries. Disney+, they have stated what they plan to include, look it up.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Just shows how little you know. At last report UV had 30 million accounts worldwide, 20 million for USA, MA has only 6 million accounts for USA, 0 accounts in other countries. Disney+, they have stated what they plan to include, look it up.

Sure, people signed up for UV, but no one actually used it. Which is why it's no longer around. People use Itunes ALL THE TIME.

And yes, I know Disney+ will include all their theater content, but as far as we know, there will still be a 3-5 month gap like now, from when it's available on digital to purchase to when it's available to stream on a subscription. That window is still very lucrative and not going away. Come on Wendell, you're smarter than this

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Sure, people signed up for UV, but no one actually used it. Which is why it's no longer around. People use Itunes ALL THE TIME.

Well I am glad they do because I have quite a few shares of Apple stock. But the fact remains EST still lags way behind physical in terms of revenue so it makes little difference how people access their purchased content.

And yes, I know Disney+ will include all their theater contents

You just posted they were focusing on original content. I posted what they were doing:

Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger’s announcement that the studio would abandon its long-standing “vault” strategy for its upcoming subscription streaming service is perhaps one of the most shocking shifts in an industry rocked by change.

At the March 7 shareholder meeting in St. Louis, he said that the studio would pull movies from its vault and offer them all on the pending Disney+ service.


“At some point fairly soon after launching, [Disney+] will house the entire Disney motion picture library,” Iger said. “So, movies that have traditionally been kept in the vault, and basically been brought out every few years, will be on the [streaming] service.”

I said nothing about release windows.

[avs commenter]

Disney+ will need original and exclusive content to be successful. Which is what they are currently spending big bucks on.
That's going to be the main selling point of the service. Not that you can stream movies that were released in theaters and also available on Itunes and blu ray...etc

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

But the fact remains EST still lags way behind physical in terms of revenue...

Does it? Isn't it somewhere around ~$2B vs ~$4B?

Given their respective ages that doesn't seem that far behind to me.

[Steedeel]

The more I read about it, the more I’m convinced AR glasses are going to replace the tv set. Looks like I’m going to be right guys.

The evidence is pointing towards Apple releasing AR glasses in 2020. They will be powered by the smartphone apparently. So they will be just as thin as regular glasses. I understand multiple glasses can connect to the SAME video which is a big deal. Where is the value of a tv set or projector for the mainstream (not disc collectors like us) when these things hit their peak and they overtake the smartphone? In 10 years, the tv could be gone.

[avs commenter]

I don't like to wear glasses, or do I want to get rid of my TV. But in 10 years, I'll do both because you are always right about this kind of stuff.