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

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

No question. But their support is not going to remain the same. The smaller the market, the less support. How many Disney owned catalog titles have been released on UHD-BD in the last 6 months?

Disney released around 100 of their most popular titles on UHD-BD over the last two years. It should come as absolutely no surprise that releases have slowed down. That would have happened even if UHD-BD was a lot more popular.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yeah, I love films. Many don’t. I get that. I love seeing said films (and owning them) in the best quality for my HT. average Joe doesn’t even want to own films, that’s what you are missing out of the conversation.

Nope - I covered that a few times already.

As Disney+ becomes more established, can you see the average consumer rushing out to buy Marvel, Disney, Pixar and Lucasfilm? (Star Wars) EST is a very unstable format and HT enthusiasts know this.
People who do care about ownership and quality will go for disc. Blockbusters will always sell on disc.

Disney makes bupkus on Star Wars PM, EST & VOD compared to Merchandising. THAT is where Disney makes the BIG BUCKS. Not from Home video.

Sure collectors buy PM. So on the subject of Disney: since they bought 20th Century Fox, are they releasing lots of back catalog Fox titles on PM?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

No question. But their support is not going to remain the same. The smaller the market, the less support. How many Disney owned catalog titles have been released on UHD-BD in the last 6 months?

To be fair, we don’t know if UHD is going to be a success or not yet. Certainly, the PS5 AND Xbox having playback capability will be a big plus. Given a normal year, things may be good.

I know that doesn’t play into your disc is dead, cinemas are dead story but there you go.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

The international disc market is dropping at 18% a year. Same - % for NA too.

I am arguing that physical media is superior. You are arguing that digital media is more popular and more profitable. Those aren't opposite sides, they are separate arguments.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Disney released around 100 of their most popular titles on UHD-BD over the last two years. It should come as absolutely no surprise that releases have slowed down. That would have happened even if UHD-BD was a lot more popular.

The Last 6 Months - that's where the goalposts are standing.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

The Last 6 Months - that's where the goalposts are standing.

Why?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I am arguing that physical media is superior. You are arguing that digital media is more popular. Those aren't opposite sides, they are separate arguments.

But it only became more popular this year: Q2. Prior to that PM has outsold EST every quarter and every YTD. Is it a new trend or just another anomaly due to the pandemic?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Why?

I asked a question. Do you have the answer? You seemed to be very well informed. Information at your fingertips.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

But it only became more popular this year: Q2. Prior to that PM has outsold EST every quarter and every YTD. Is it a new trend or just another anomaly due to the pandemic?

That's impossible to know. People may be buying EST instead of seeing movies in theaters. People may be buying EST because they have extreme fears about contact so they won't even buy physical media online. Old people who collect physical media may be dying and young people who are just starting to buy movies may be buying EST. Or some people may be finding they prefer convenience and don't care about control.

Statistics can't tell us people's motivations.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

To be fair, we don’t know if UHD is going to be a success or not yet. Certainly, the PS5 AND Xbox having playback capability will be a big plus. Given a normal year, things may be good.

UHD-BD was released almost 5 years ago: February 2016. It is a niche within a niche. That's what was expected of it.

I understand the new game consoles don't support either Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos for UHD-BD. I don't see that as a big selling feature do you? This isn't the PS3. The UHD-BD market is well established with players costing 60% less than a game console that do support DV and DA. I don't see an major uptick in UHD-BD sales due to game console sales.

I know that doesn’t play into your disc is dead, cinemas are dead story but there you go.

Ah - you have mistaken me for someone else . . . again. I don't preach that disc is dead. I say disc is dying. Not the same. Cinemas are CTD: Circling The Drain. Will they disappear? Of course not. There will just be less of them under new management.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Ah - you have mistaken me for someone else . . . again. I don't preach that disc is dead. I say disc is dying. Not the same.

The implication with "dying" is that death will happen soon. Is a healthy person in their 50s dying? They will likely be dead in a few decades.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

That's impossible to know. People may be buying EST instead of seeing movies in theaters. People may be buying EST because they have extreme fears about contact so they won't even buy physical media online. Old people who collect physical media may be dying and young people who are just starting to buy movies may be buying EST. Or some people may be finding they prefer convenience and don't care about control.

Statistics can't tell us people's motivations.

But you like to speculate! This could happen . . . that might happen. We all know people's buying habits have changed. Like work habits. Look how many jobs have changed from office to working at home.

We have at least another 6 months (if not more) of all the restrictions and fears that the pandemic has forced upon us.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

We have at least another 6 months (if not more) of all the restrictions and fears that the pandemic has forced upon us.

Personally I buy all of my physical media online so the pandemic has done absolutely nothing to change my buying habits.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

The implication with "dying" is that death will happen soon. Is a healthy person in their 50s dying? They will likely be dead in a few decades.

Dying is the voyage. Death is the final destination.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Dying is the voyage. Death is the final destination.

Do you think that physical media will be dead soon? If not then it's a stretch to say that it is dying.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

But you like to speculate! This could happen . . . that might happen.

My posts weren't about speculation. They were about things that could happen with EST that can't happen with physical media.

The studios and stores can remove titles from your digital collection.
The studios and stores can't remove titles from your physical collection.

Do you dispute either of those statements?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Personally I buy all of my physical media online so the pandemic has done absolutely nothing to change my buying habits.

That's an anecdote - a personal story having nothing to do with facts of the matter.

Here are the facts of the matter:

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

But you like to speculate! This could happen . . . that might happen.

My posts weren't about speculation. They were about things that could happen with EST that can't happen with physical media.

The studios and stores can remove titles from your digital collection.
The studios and stores can't remove titles from your physical collection.

Do you dispute either of those statements?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

That's an anecdote - a personal story having nothing to do with facts of the matter.

Here are the facts of the matter:

Facts in a pandemic may not be fs ta come 2021-2022.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Do you think that physical media will be dead soon? If not then it's a stretch to say that it is dying.

It's sales are decreasing at a rate of 18% per year and have been for quite some time. I would call that type of market shrinkage: Dying

But I can understand why none of you will say that. Not with 'Discs For Life" slogans on your posts.