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

[unberechenbar]

It's been one year since I first started collecting with the UHD of Tenet. With Hell or High Water that makes it 130 discs in a year. It'll be interesting to see how many titles I will have in another year.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

It's been one year since I first started collecting with the UHD of Tenet. With Hell or High Water that makes it 130 discs in a year. It'll be interesting to see how many titles I will have in another year.

They have a way of growing on you.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Bragging that you own a HDX digital copy in light of the news of a 4K disc release is like me bragging that I own it on DVD. My DVD and your silly ephemeral digital copy won't be able to hold a candle to the 4K disc.

Lets hope they get it right this time. The BD and HDX versions look very little better than the DVD with the audio much worse in terms of surround* than the DVD.

Similar audio problems for the UHD BD of The Sword and the Sorcerer. The picture is much better than the DVD.

There are some that rip a DVD and BD and remux the audio from the DVD with the video from the BD. At some point I will learn how to do this myself.

*For some older titles there may exist all the audio stems (dialogue, music, Foley, effects, etc.) and using these elements a new re-recording can be done. For some titles there may be only the two track Dolby Stereo, Dolby Stereo SR, Ultra Stereo available. This appears to be the case for the titles mentioned and that would be OK except they have panned the L & R together ruining the surround sound. Worse, they take this track and pass it through a decoder and call it 5.1 sound.

Really wish they would provide the unmolested original two track mix, that way I could use Dolby Pro Logic IIx and hear as intended.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Bragging that you own a HDX digital copy in light of the news of a 4K disc release is like me bragging that I own it on DVD. My DVD and your silly ephemeral digital copy won't be able to hold a candle to the 4K disc.

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Lets hope they get it right this time. The BD and HDX versions look very little better than the DVD with the audio much worse in terms of surround* than the DVD.

That's why I say enjoying Movie watching is all Subjective, and very dependent on your setup and equipment. I'm sure that people with State of the Art equipment will enjoy it the most, but when you start coming down on setup and equipment doesn't mean you're going to enjoy it any less.

As Studios and Distributors start cutting their budgets, putting out a Quality Disc can be very costly. With the Average Revenue price of a BD at around $20 there doesn't seem to be that much slack in Profits!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

That's why I say enjoying Movie watching is all Subjective, and very dependent on your setup and equipment. I'm sure that people with State of the Art equipment will enjoy it the most, but when you start coming down on setup and equipment doesn't mean you're going to enjoy it any less.

As Studios and Distributors start cutting their budgets, putting out a Quality Disc can be very costly. With the Average Revenue price of a BD at around $20 there doesn't seem to be that must slack in Profits!

How much anyone enjoys anything is subjective. Duh. That in no way equates the A/V quality of a HD stream, a DVD, or a 4K disc. The movie should be the same, sure, but the A/V quality of the presentation is not.

Your underlined statement contradicts itself. If people "coming down on equipment" enjoy a movie no less than someone with state of the art gear then people with state of the art gear do not "enjoy it the most." They enjoy the movie the SAME. What they enjoy differently is the quality of the presentation.

Stop trying to understand how the studios run their business because you haven't a clue. The fact that they offer physical media on three formats is all the evidence that you need that it remains a profitable endeavor for them. The studios aren't masochists after all unlike those of us that read your comments.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by alchav21

As Studios and Distributors start cutting their budgets, putting out a Quality Disc can be very costly. With the Average Revenue price of a BD at around $20 there doesn't seem to be that must slack in Profits!

Why would you, someone that scours the net for low cost movie codes, rips rented disc to HDD's and/or blank media be concerned about the cost of a movie on disc? The studios profit from collectors like myself and many others here.

An example, with the purchase of the new UHD BD of the Godfather trilogy will make 6th or 7th time I have purchased this set. I and others have purchased the same titles on LaserDisc, DVD, D-VHS, Blu-ray (and HD DVD for some) and now UHD Blu-ray. People like us are very profitable for the studios, people like you, you are costing the studios.

You will get more 's if you post about titles you like and other topics and refrain form subjects about which you have no knowledge of, i.e., disc profits.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

An example, with the purchase of the new UHD BD of the Godfather trilogy will make 6th or 7th time I have purchased this set. I and others have purchased the same titles on LaserDisc, DVD, D-VHS, Blu-ray (and HD DVD for some) and now UHD Blu-ray. People like us are very profitable for the studios, people like you, you are costing the studios.

It is a comfort to me that my being a slow learner enriches others.

[cheez avenger]

For those that want to test the waters over at Paramount+ they are offering a 25% discount with the code SPRINGSAVINGS for first time subscribers. Works on ad-free plans, too.

Spring is in the air, and when you're not out enjoying the nice weather Paramount Plus wants to you be checking out all of their new and existing content with a brand new "Spring Savings" deal.

Using the code "SPRINGSAVINGS" consumers can get a Paramount Plus annual plan (12 months) at a 25% discount. So for a limited time you can sign up for a full-year of Paramount Plus, normally $49.99 for the ad-supported version, for about $35.

The Paramount Plus Spring Savings deal will be available consumers until May 5, 2022.

FYI

[Steedeel]

Looks like HBO Max is coming to U.K.

In 2025!

[Steedeel]

Looks like HBO Max is coming to U.K.

[Show spoiler]In 2025!

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Looks like HBO Max is coming to U.K.

[Show spoiler]In 2025!

Damn. Whatever will you do until then?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Damn. Whatever will you do until then?

Pine away for them.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Pine away for them.

I have HBO Max; we could have a watch party together!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have HBO Max; we could have a watch party together!

Ha bloody ha!

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Vilya

How much anyone enjoys anything is subjective. Duh. That in no way equates the A/V quality of a HD stream, a DVD, or a 4K disc. The movie should be the same, sure, but the A/V quality of the presentation is not.

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Why would you, someone that scours the net for low cost movie codes, rips rented disc to HDD's and/or blank media be concerned about the cost of a movie on disc? The studios profit from collectors like myself and many others here.

At least we agree that enjoying a Movie is Subjective, and even though the Quality can be different the enjoyment is the same. Many people have the false understanding that in order to enjoy a Movie the presentation has to be on Disc.

As for scouring the Net for coders or ripping rented Movies that is old news. People don't put up new codes, and ripping rented Movies is not the thing anymore. I have Subscription and buy Digital, that's how Movie and TV Show watching is done now.

Studios and Distributors will continue to put out Discs, but if they become too costly and the budgets shrink they will cut back to a Trickle . It's not Show Friends it's Show Business!

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have HBO Max; we could have a watch party together!

Could my daughter watch euphoria S2

Her friends want her to watch it on pirate but I guess using your account wouldn’t be much better. I think I should make it clear to my kids I’ll get them access to whatever. I try to respect IP.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by alchav21

At least we agree that enjoying a Movie is Subjective, and even though the Quality can be different the enjoyment is the same. Many people have the false understanding that in order to enjoy a Movie the presentation has to be on Disc.

!

Let me clarify my position. I watched Child’s Play on my phone last night. Because I was on a plane. The plane had Spider-Man No Way Home but I’m waiting till I get home to watch on Disc when I see it for the first time
.

If Joe has an $800 phone and enjoys watching movies on it then I’m all for that. Do with what you have. I’m happy if you enjoy whatever.

I wouldn’t have watched something on the plane thing but I snooped some looks at what others were watching.

I’ve been enjoying movies all my life and at home I put together something good with Panasonic UB9000 and JVC laser projector. I don’t need something to be on disc to enjoy it but it sure helps me relax knowing I am most likely getting a first class presentation.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by alchav21

At least we agree that enjoying a Movie is Subjective, and even though the Quality can be different the enjoyment is the same.

Dead wrong, again!! That is why I keep a few DVD titles because the sound track is better than the BD or streaming version.

Many people have the false understanding that in order to enjoy a Movie the presentation has to be on Disc.

Many people understand that in most cases the home presentation of a movie is best served on disc or the alternative Kaleidescape. You either get it or you don’t.

As for scouring the Net for coders or ripping rented Movies that is old news. People don't put up new codes, and ripping rented Movies is not the thing anymore. I have Subscription and buy Digital, that's how Movie and TV Show watching is done now.

Subscription is just pay TV, in very recent times have EST equaled or slightly exceeded disc sales. IIRC EST sales were down Q4 2021 as much or maybe more than disc sales. The majority way of watching continues to be broadcast and cable.

Studios and Distributors will continue to put out Discs, but if they become too costly and the budgets shrink they will cut back to a Trickle . It's not Show Friends it's Show Business!

What stupid statements for someone that is clueless to make. Thought about asking Jason Rosenfeld (member here) of Scenic Labs to weigh in on disc manufacturing cost but have not done so.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

It is a comfort to me that my being a slow learner enriches others.

Doubt very many any slower than myself.

I/we have enjoyed all our home entertainment expenditures. Thrilling was LD with digital two channel sound and later with DD 5.1, Beta & VHS with Hi-Fi sound, DVD with 5.1 sound, D-Theater with DD/DTS 5.1 sound. At work really got a kick from showing T2 in HD to folks that visited my office. For many it was their first time to see a 1.78 display and a home movie in HD.

[Show spoiler]

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Dead wrong, again!! That is why I keep a few DVD titles because the sound track is better than the BD or streaming version.

Bless his widdle ; he's just conflating things as usual. For his edification I will try putting it this way:

A movie can be enjoyed upon its own merits, but the overall viewing experience is very much impacted by the quality of the presentation.

I had a great time watching Blade Runner with a Hi-Fi VCR and a 19" tube TV with stereo sound circa 1987. Later, I watched Blade Runner on laserdisc with a 32" tube TV and still with stereo sound and so on until now I can watch it on 4K disc with a 85" 4K TV and a 9 speaker surround sound set-up. The movie stayed the same, but the presentation sure improved and along with it the overall viewing experience.