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

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

my guess the same way everyone reacts when something "bad" happens. Grumble about it for a few minutes and go on with their life. The same way people reacted when Netflix raised prices or introduced tiered packages (just to stay with discussion of Netflix)

They did one thing that made me so mad I cancelled and haven't used Netflix since apart from 2 accounts I have access to from others.

That was Qwikster.

So I guess last time I threw money at the billionaires at Netflix was in 2011. Not quite 10 years ago.

The announcement video of Qwickster showed the owners of Netflix as arrogant I decided I didn't like them.

https://youtu.be/c8Tn8n5CIPk

-Brian

[Vilya]

Having trailers shoved in my face doesn't bother me so much. Hell, discs have been doing that for years already. Trailers on disc are easy to skip past, but they are there.

Commercials are the main reason why I will not pay for TV service and instead use an antenna. I refuse to pay to watch 20 minutes of ads per viewing hour, but most people do not seem to mind at all; they are well conditioned to paying more and getting less. I doubt very much that ads on streaming services will ever come anywhere near to being as pervasive as they are on TV.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Both of these shows is where the majority of product introductions and demos occur with our favorite hobby.

Thanks for the info, I'm going to be watching for any new projector introductions.

[Vilya]

If anyone missed out on the opportunity to buy House Of Wax 3D starring Vincent Price, Warner Archives is releasing it again on June 23rd:



https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/House...lu-ray/253892/

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

If anyone missed out on the opportunity to buy House Of Wax 3D starring Vincent Price, Warner Archives is releasing it again on June 23rd:



https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/House...lu-ray/253892/

I bought the German version. Super 3D. One of the best Golden age films in 3D.

[Vilya]

I noticed while redeeming the digital code that accompanied my 4K disc of The Blues Brothers this prohibition:

"Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package."

Pretty much every member on this website with a trading score posted beneath their avatar is in clear violation of these terms, myself included on two occasions. You can click on these trading scores to see the feedback received by that member.

I decided to ask one of the moderators in the trading forum why blu-ray.com allows such trafficking in digital codes when the studios clearly prohibit it. There is nothing ambiguous about the statement printed on these digital code sheets, so why does blu-ray.com allow people to buy, sell, trade, and give away these codes?

Anyway, I do not know how well my question will be received, and what, if any, reply I will get, but I feel that it is a legitimate question. Blu-ray.com historically punishes anyone engaged in, or even just promoting, prohibited means of acquiring copyrighted film content. Why is the trafficking of digital codes permitted?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I noticed while redeeming the digital code that accompanied my 4K disc of The Blues Brothers this prohibition:

"Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package."

Pretty much every member on this website with a trading score posted beneath their avatar is in clear violation of these terms, myself included on two occasions. You can click on these trading scores to see the feedback received by that member.

I decided to ask one of the moderators in the trading forum why blu-ray.com allows such trafficking in digital codes when the studios clearly prohibit it. There is nothing ambiguous about the statement printed on these digital code sheets, so why does blu-ray.com allow people to buy, sell, trade, and give away these codes?

Anyway, I do not know how well my question will be received, and what, if any, reply I will get, but I feel that it is a legitimate question. Blu-ray.com historically punishes anyone engaged in, or even just promoting, prohibited means of acquiring copyrighted film content. Why is the trafficking of digital codes permitted?

Its a legitimate question. A digital copy is meant to be a HD backup file you can play on your devices or allow a VoD provider to stream the same content to you since you bought the media. It is not intended by any studio/content provider to be used separately.

The people that sell digital codes here are only doing it to discount the cost of the physical media they buy. People that buy the digital codes equate this as the same as buying it on a streaming host, nope. Neither is retaining the digital code and selling the media legal either. The last one is tricky to enforce, as if you already claimed the code and sell the media you can't recover the digital code you already redeemed.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Pretty much every member on this website with a trading score posted beneath their avatar is in clear violation of these terms, myself included on two occasions. You can click on these trading scores to see the feedback received by that member.

I never have traded yet I have 2 under my name Vilya, go figure. I guess great advice is a trade?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

I never have traded yet I have 2 under my name Vilya, go figure. I guess great advice is a trade?

The feedback that you received was just their way of expressing their gratitude.

By clicking on your trade score, I can read the feedback that you received and it is obvious that you were not trading in digital codes.

When you click on mine you can see that I bought one code and that I gave another one away for free. My other trade was when I gave away a slipcover.

[Vilya]

The moderator that I asked was unsure as to why trafficking in digital codes is allowed here. He said that this activity predates his time on the forums and he postulates that this website's administration may have decided to allow it at some time before he arrived here. So, basically, he doesn't know the answer to my question.

It is just as well. Had I been the catalyst for the removal of the digital trading forum I would have been hunted by a very angry mob.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The moderator that I asked was unsure as to why trafficking in digital codes is allowed here. He said that this activity predates his time on the forums and he postulates that this website's administration may have decided to allow it at some time before he arrived here. So, basically, he doesn't know the answer to my question.

It is just as well. Had I been the catalyst for the removal of the digital trading forum I would have been hunted by a very angry mob.

If it wasn't for digital codes I don't think a lot here would be using some VoD providers much.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The moderator that I asked was unsure as to why trafficking in digital codes is allowed here. He said that this activity predates his time on the forums and he postulates that this website's administration may have decided to allow it at some time before he arrived here. So, basically, he doesn't know the answer to my question.

It is just as well. Had I been the catalyst for the removal of the digital trading forum I would have been hunted by a very angry mob.

Don’t worry about them, the Steed would shut that shit down!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

If it wasn't for digital codes I don't think a lot here would be using some VoD providers much.

Digital codes were supposed to ease people into Digital HD. They have no purpose now in the U.K. so they are very close to ending. Why are they still going in USA?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Digital codes were supposed to ease people into Digital HD. They have no purpose now in the U.K. so they are very close to ending. Why are they still going in USA?

Because this is where Hollywood studios operate and MoviesAnywhere represents 5 of the biggest studios. The UK/EU has to deal with a lot of local studios so settings up something like to encompass most of that content would be messy. It also has to deal with EU protectionism. This is same reason they don't have MoviesAnywhere in Canada because they don't want to drown out their local productions.

• Disney
• Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
• Universal
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

European Union Launching Movie VOD Platform Similar to ‘Movies Anywhere’ in the U.S.

Dubbed “Lumiere VOD,” the platform — currently in beta rollout — is designed to support European films and filmmakers after an internal study found just 29% of feature films offered on VOD services originate from European countries.

By comparison, European VOD services feature about 50% movies originating from Hollywood studios, according to the EU.

VOD services financially backing Lumiere include Prime Video, Ampere Analysis, Apple, CNC, EuroVOD, FilmDoo, Filmin, Filmtoro JustWatch, Kino Fondas, La Cinetek, La Pantalla Digital, Le Kino.ch, Mediathèque Numérique, Netflix, realeyz, uncut, UniversCiné, VOD Club, VOD.lu and Vodeville.

“Europe is a major player in film production therefore we must ensure that European films and other audiovisual works attract the audience that they deserve,” Mariya Gabriel, commissioner for digital economy and society, said in a statement. “This is yet another important initiative aimed to ensure that European works of art and cultural heritage stay high on the political agenda.

So perhaps if the UK gets away from so much EU rules, something will fly a lot better, where all your local studios can form some alliance for digital codes.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Because this is where Hollywood studios operate and MoviesAnywhere represents 5 of the biggest studios. The UK/EU has to deal with a lot of local studios so settings up something like to encompass most of that content would be messy. It also has to deal with EU protectionism. This is same reason they don't have MoviesAnywhere in Canada because they don't want to drown out their local productions.

• Disney
• Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
• Universal
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

European Union Launching Movie VOD Platform Similar to ‘Movies Anywhere’ in the U.S.





So perhaps if the UK gets away from so much EU rules, something will fly a lot better, where all your local studios can form some alliance for digital codes.

No, what I meant is why are the actual codes still going? Movies anywhere is in place so you can now buy from your desired storefront and have that movie appear in the digital locker. I always thought codes were just a transition phase.

Honestly, I think Digital HD is as good as dead here. While we have Taken Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ to our hearts (not me) I don’t hear or see much talk of Digital HD.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

No, what I meant is why are the actual codes still going? Movies anywhere is in place so you can now buy from your desired storefront and have that movie appear in the digital locker. I always thought codes were just a transition phase.

Honestly, I think Digital HD is as good as dead here. While we have Taken Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ to our hearts (not me) I don’t hear or see much talk of Digital HD.

its because of this:

Digital locker services like Movies Anywhere have been a key part of Hollywood’s strategy to extend the life of the physical disc business. They are also designed to give consumers an incentive to keep buying movies online, as opposed to just renting them, or watching them on Netflix or other subscription services.

So for consumers here in the states this is both advantageous to VoD purchases as well as physical media purchases.

[JayTL]

First Sale Doctrine might trump that disclaimer. If I buy something I can in turn sell it how I see fit.

About the topic, I'd rather have an ad before an HBO movie over Netflix's clunky and ad-ridden (the fact that the Netflix originals are featured so predominantly is still advertising to me) interface

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by JayTL

First Sale Doctrine might trump that disclaimer. If I buy something I can in turn sell it how I see fit.

No matter the example when you buy physical media or online movies you are merely buying a license to view that content. You are not buying the film, the studios/content owners own that. You can't resell online content you bought, but you can sell the physical media with the digital code if it hasn't been redeemed.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Boccaccio

I'm still not so sure about that with Netflix. Apple and HBO MAX are doing it from the beginning. With Netflix it'll be harder to introduce if it wasn't there from the beginning.

If Netflix introduced Ads for paid subscriptions it would gift subscribers to their competitors. I don't see this happening.

There is a huge difference between trailers for their own content and commercial ads for products.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

So for consumers here in the states this is both advantageous to VoD purchases as well as physical media purchases.

IMO, Fake news, the studios would love it if their content was only available via streaming. 100% control. As posted before, they have proved this with lawsuits against Sony and others. Then we had Divx DVD.