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

[bhampton]

I remember the stress of the format war between Blu Ray and HD DVD. So many people wanted the inferior format because it was cheaper or seemed like it would be cheaper.

Everyone wants cheap and easy. This is the only reason crap like Microsoft and Buick ever existed.

So, it could be tempting to keep worry-ing the cheapskates will ruin everything but the tide has turned for me. I can afford nice things now and there's plenty of nice things for those who can afford them.

I plan to spend a lot less time focused on what other people do because the world is literally burning and if you enjoy something then now is the time to get on with it.

Be Just and Fear Not

[Show spoiler]or Be Stoned and Fear Nothing

-Brian

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I always redeem my digital copies and have had many of the those upgrade for free in Vudu. I don't use iTunes because I'm not a fan of their ecosystem.

If it's a movie I love, I don't mind buying it again and supporting the rights holder. Plus as I mentioned, many times the upgrades include new special features. The new UHD of Citizen Kane from Criterion is stacked with new features.

I always watch the special features included with my discs and they are an important part of why I love physical media. I only mark a disc "Watched" on this site once I've finished the bonus features as well. Bonus features are hit or miss on digital (mostly miss as in they are not there), so that is another reason I won't support EST.

iTunes movies usually include all the bonus features and extras.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Everyone wants cheap and easy. This is the only reason crap like Microsoft and Buick ever existed.

Buick is the step up from Chevrolet which has always been GM's economy valued car line.

Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac: Good, Better and Best

Years ago it used to be Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Buick is the step up from Chevrolet which has always been GM's economy valued car line.

Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac: Good, Better and Best

Years ago it used to be Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac.

GM had the best strategy, ... Make 8 divisions and they can compete with each other !

I liked Mopar and it's still my favorite cars to see at a car show. I skipped my mid life crisis car and I'm more interested in reliability over all now in cars. I really love adaptive cruise control and AWD.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Admiral

iTunes movies usually include all the bonus features and extras.

Only from studio releases, not from boutique labels that generally have more special features such as Criterion.

[CrowKiller]

I'll never pay for streaming services or pay a premium for a digital movie. If physical dies, I will no longer pay a penny for a movie again and just hit up places like The Bay. Hopefully it doesn't ever come to that but whether it does or not is obviously up to the studios. As long as they release physical, they'll get my money. Not going to pay for multiple streaming services to watch a couple things I may care about when A-holes can just release it on disc and be done with it. Can't imagine seeing a movie I want to watch, paying the fee to watch it. Then down the line paying a fee to watch it again (monthly streaming services). Plus, it's nice being able to sell off your old discs and make a few dollars off them to put toward something else. Can't do that with digital. For the record, all the digital stuff I have listed was 100% free (got a bunch of codes from an old job), or digital codes in physical movies I happened to buy. I'll gladly take digital copies and subscriptions for free, but not pay for it.

Now I can understand digital for rentals. That makes sense. Pay a few dollars and watch a movie. Like a digital Blockbuster. Oh well. We live in a society now where people like paying a lot more for less. A society that hoards and mass consumes as much as possible, as fast as possible, then moves on to the next big poser craze. Nobody cares about preservation. Nobody cares about owning what they pay for. It will get worse as more and more people willingly devalue their own money over time.

[Lee A Stewart]

Criterion Collection 4K UHD BD Citizen Kane Cover

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Criterion Collection 4K UHD BD Citizen Kane Cover

I know a lot of people are complaining about it but I quite like the minimalist design.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by CrowKiller

I'll never pay for streaming services or pay a premium for a digital movie. If physical dies, I will no longer pay a penny for a movie again and just hit up places like The Bay. Hopefully it doesn't ever come to that but whether it does or not is obviously up to the studios. As long as they release physical, they'll get my money. Not going to pay for multiple streaming services to watch a couple things I may care about when A-holes can just release it on disc and be done with it. Can't imagine seeing a movie I want to watch, paying the fee to watch it. Then down the line paying a fee to watch it again (monthly streaming services). Plus, it's nice being able to sell off your old discs and make a few dollars off them to put toward something else. Can't do that with digital. For the record, all the digital stuff I have listed was 100% free (got a bunch of codes from an old job), or digital codes in physical movies I happened to buy. I'll gladly take digital copies and subscriptions for free, but not pay for it.

Now I can understand digital for rentals. That makes sense. Pay a few dollars and watch a movie. Like a digital Blockbuster. Oh well. We live in a society now where people like paying a lot more for less. A society that hoards and mass consumes as much as possible, as fast as possible, then moves on to the next big poser craze. Nobody cares about preservation. Nobody cares about owning what they pay for. It will get worse as more and more people willingly devalue their own money over time.

So sad people in society today can't be patient so they can OWN a physical copy of GI Joe Snake Eyes. Good luck to those who bought digital to sleep soundly at night knowing at any moment the big bad studio could take it away from you.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

So sad people in society today can't be patient so they can OWN a physical copy of GI Joe Snake Eyes. Good luck to those who bought digital to sleep soundly at night knowing at any moment the big bad studio could take it away from you.

Why would the studios jeopardize a $3 billion market by doing what you suggest? Why shoot the goose that lays the golden eggs?

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Why would the studios jeopardize a $3 billion market by doing what you suggest? Why shoot the goose that lays the golden eggs?

Billions or not. It's just business.

If it makes the Studio+ subscription rates rise then the EST will be history.

It's the pay by the minute subscription model that shows promise, right? That's what people like now?

[slimjean]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The difference in that case is they were UPGRADES. The suckers are people switching from disc as they have poorer quality and don’t really own their content. It’s just a kool aid thing, some are gullible while others stick to their guns.

Also what about choosing your upgrade. In the digital only realm do you get to roll back to a version if you don't like upgrade?

Can you pick your Criterion color scheme vs Arrow? Or do you blindly let the supplier tell you what you are allowed to see?

Sounds like the Clockwork Orange ludovico technique to me.

Prison chaplain: “Choice. The boy has no real choice, has he? Self-interest, the fear of physical pain drove him to that grotesque act of self-abasement. Its insincerity was clearly to be seen. He ceases to be a wrongdoer. He ceases also to be a creature capable of moral choice.”

“When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man.”

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by slimjean

Also what about choosing your upgrade. In the digital only realm do you get to roll back to a version if you don't like upgrade?

Can you pick your Criterion color scheme vs Arrow? Or do you blindly let the supplier tell you what you are allowed to see?

Sounds like the Clockwork Orange ludovico technique to me.

Prison chaplain: “Choice. The boy has no real choice, has he? Self-interest, the fear of physical pain drove him to that grotesque act of self-abasement. Its insincerity was clearly to be seen. He ceases to be a wrongdoer. He ceases also to be a creature capable of moral choice.”

“When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man.”

Absolutely. Disc until I die.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Billions or not. It's just business.

If it makes the Studio+ subscription rates rise then the EST will be history.

It's the pay by the minute subscription model that shows promise, right? That's what people like now?

There is absolutely no evidence of what you say to be the truth. And you could just as easily same the same thing about Physical Media, which also wouldn't be the truth. Nothing more than rabid speculations

Don't mistake what WarnerMedia did with their 2021 movie slate as being "normal." Far from it.

Collectors buy content. Casual viewers subscribe to streaming services. Two totally different markets. One has no effect on the other. If you think they do you are 100% wrong.

[bhampton]

Well,....

I'm along for the ride whatever does happen. I share my digital collection with my kids so hopefully nothing will change for the worse.

So many of the seemingly established online movie services vanished maybe it's just better if they all consolidate into one of two options. For some reason UltraViolet wasn't able to survive and then Walmart sold Vudu ... Now, I guess Vudu has ads so maybe they can keep afloat for a while.

My digital copies are all free so I can't complain whatever happens.

-B

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Well,....

I'm along for the ride whatever does happen. I share my digital collection with my kids so hopefully nothing will change for the worse.

So many of the seemingly established online movie services vanished maybe it's just better if they all consolidate into one of two options. For some reason UltraViolet wasn't able to survive and then Walmart sold Vudu ... Now, I guess Vudu has ads so maybe they can keep afloat for a while.

My digital copies are all free so I can't complain whatever happens.

-B

Vudu is now owned by Fandango Media, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal.

Walmart had no business buying Vudu in the first place.

Consolidatons/Mergers/Purchases have to pass muster by the FTC and the Justice Department. The merger of Warner Media and Discovery+ will be a go. The purchase of MGM by Amazon will not.

[avs commenter]

Just use Itunes. They are worth more than every studio combined. They ain't going anywhere

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Just use Itunes. They are worth more than every studio combined. They ain't going anywhere

I do, .... when I have to. Like if I had to travel which thankfully doesn't happen much lately. I have over a thousand iTunes movies and several complete TV series.

It's slumming though compared to my physical media so I'm always glad to be home. The itunes movies don't even have lossless soundtracks. Some of the TV shows (Lost and Weeds in particular) look bad compared to the disc versions. I have the full Game of Thrones in iTunes and Vudu but neither offers 4K yet. Maybe someday.

“Apple contends that ‘[n]o reasonable consumer would believe’ that purchased content would remain on the iTunes platform indefinitely,”

[slimjean]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Just use Itunes. They are worth more than every studio combined. They ain't going anywhere

Kinda easy to be a king when your company is mostly an interface.

For original movie/tv content Warner/Paramount/Sony/Universal/Disney smash them to bits.

People foreget about the artists involved that made their entertainment locker possible.

[bhampton]

iTunes is just a store front

They aren't going anywhere but the content owners can do whatever.

Lots of my content has been reissued so according the the store I don't have it. That's the most annoying thing about iTUnes. If I search for a title it will recommend I buy it or sign up for whoever streams it even though I already own it.