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

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I agree. It’s easier to get digital games. My daughter Abzu and it was impossible to get the disc and easy to get the download.

I think that when you own a 4K display and a Uhd player you are more likely to buy UHD Bds.

(And currently Jaws is $9.99!)

Are movies any different?

are you honestly expecting a big sales increase in disc sales due to PS5?

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Are movies any different?

are you honestly expecting a big sales increase in disc sales due to PS5?

Yes

The PS5 is available with and without the UHD BD drive. The premium system has it and UHDBD remains the premium way to watch movies. Over time when people realize there is a difference in quality they will want to upgrade. More releases also drive this because suddenly your favorite film is available in the highest home video quality.

My PS3 came with a Blu Ray and Sony should consider packing in a UHDBD. There will certainly be sales/promotions of system with bundled with discs, that always happens because you can’t discount the system often but you can make bundles to drive sales.

In my own home there now more people because my oldest daughter came home and may not return to college at first. All those people teleconference all the time and I find myself using my own discs much more and using the network bandwidth much less.

The pandemic has caused some steaming services to lower already low quality. There’s really no point in going far with home theater while trying to avoid the better sources of media.

The format won’t be so niche when more homes suddenly have a player.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I am one of those that uses the built-in apps on his TVs to stream; why shouldn't I?

Did you try the various frame rate test via Netflix? If so, results?

Some users really like external video processors like Lumagen (here) or madVR Labs (here) so you would need a external streamer/media player to use these. IIRC, AVS member has the MadVR Envy and a Nvidia Shield Pro. He does not comment much on streaming video, seems to be like me, its just streaming so why be overly concerned with video quality.

[cgpublic]

Some people just can't see the forest for the trees, just as some people can't recognize the future because they are blinded by the past, or on point, their own self-importance.

The future is digital. We all know this to be true, so why argue about the trees, i.e., frame rates, lossless audio, etc.

The future is digital because digital is in the best interests of those whose opinion matters, not the opinion of those posting on a forum.

Every studio will have their own streaming channel or a platform to stream their content because that's what they have determined the future should be, as opposed to manufacturing discs.

Which is why this endless back and forth, pro-physical vs. pro-streaming, is not only pointless and irrelevant, it's also not true.

Physical media is not diminishing because people are pro-streaming, it's diminishing because not only is it convenient, cheaper and features exclusive content that attracts viewership, it's because those who create the content can keep and generate greater revenue and more importantly, value for shareholders.

Pure and simple.

Here's a final thought. Can you imagine if someone at the supermarket confronted you with your choice of milk, organic vs. non-organic, dairy vs. non-dairy, and asked whose 'side' you were on?

Guess what? There is no side. People buy whatever suits them at the moment, and live their lives accordingly.

There's a lesson for all of us.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Yes

The PS5 is available with and without the UHD BD drive. The premium system has it and UHDBD remains the premium way to watch movies. Over time when people realize there is a difference in quality they will want to upgrade.

In my own home there now more people because my oldest daughter came home and may not return to college at first. All those people teleconference all the time and I find myself using my own discs much more and using the network bandwidth much less.

The pandemic has caused some steaming services to lower already low quality. There’s really no point in going far with home theater while trying to avoid the better sources of media.

The format won’t be so niche when more homes suddenly have a player.

My guess is disc sales will see a small temporary boost when the PS5 arrives, but nothing dramatic. The desire to buy and own films will continue to plummet as subscription services continue to take over.

[bhampton]

Or,

People will become disenchanted with online movies and UHD bd becomes much more popular.

The fallout from Walmart selling Vudu is still in progress.

People thought Disney+ would have everything but things still come and go.

Stuff gets yanked, censored, and given disclaimers. You still have to keep an eye on all the things coming and going from your services. And manage several subscriptions.

HBO Max could not have failed much harder than it did. Will it ever get 4K ?


I don’t think steaming can be considered the future when it does not offer full quality now. Or maybe we need to get to that future first.

[Vilya]

I hope that I don't step in the BS for the creature depositing it here. For someone who is a self proclaimed expert on predicting the future, you have been wrong about physical media dying every single year. Being wrong all the time is quite the accomplishment.

Digital distribution is already here and it has been here for a very long time; there's nothing futuristic about it.

Quality matters to many of us, and there is nothing wrong about wanting the best that is possible, so bitrates, codecs, lossless audio, and more are all important to enthusiasts. Causal viewers are already well served and well pleased with the cheap lower quality offerings that cater to them; it is perfectly okay that many of us want better and that we want to truly own what we buy in an unchangeable form that is immune to editing and studio self-censorship.

All opinions matter here; to say otherwise underscores your unrivaled arrogance once again. There are many markets in this world for many products that are not the primary choice of the masses; they exist because they are profitable, they are desired, and the opinions of those that partake of them do matter.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Or,

People will become disenchanted with online movies and UHD bd becomes much more popular.

You might think there is a huge difference in quality between digital and disc. But I'm gonna guess, most people don't see/notice a big difference. And I don't think a slightly softer image is enough to get people to change spending and viewing habits.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

PlayStation 5 will put a million new Uhd bd players in the hands of people with too much money (gamers.)

This from the guy who in another thread says that he can afford to buy the 146" Samsung Wall.

[Wendell R. Breland]

For folks interested in hardware, AVS Sledgehamma member has posted his review of the new Dune Pro 4K II media player here.

Soon I may set out on a quest to procure another Oppo UDP-203 to put in mothballs just in case my current one should die and be un-repairable. IMHO, still one of the best disc and media players around.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Did you try the various frame rate test via Netflix? If so, results?

Some users really like external video processors like Lumagen (here) or madVR Labs (here) so you would need a external streamer/media player to use these. IIRC, AVS member has the MadVR Envy and a Nvidia Shield Pro. He does not comment much on streaming video, seems to be like me, its just streaming so why be overly concerned with video quality.

I forgot about your suggested test. I have spent too much time shopping for those disappearing discs and then watching what I already have.

The underlined part is exactly why I asked you the question. Seeing as streaming has so many limitations, anemic bitrates, visible compression artifacts, and lossy audio, why spend any extra effort or money on it? Whether I use my TVs built-in apps or you use your Nvidia Shield Pro, is the streaming viewing experience improved enough to justify all of this?

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

There's a lesson for all of us.

Here is a lesson for you, click here and look at the number of viewers by each forum section. Many times there are more viewers in the BD 3D section than viewing the Digital Movies section. So take all your negative views and predictions to a place where someone may care.

[bhampton]

For many people buying movies on disc is the spending viewing habits

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

This from the guy who in another thread says that he can afford to buy the 146" Samsung Wall.

Yeah. I just can’t do both.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

You might think there is a huge difference in quality between digital and disc. But I'm gonna guess, most people don't see/notice a big difference. And I don't think a slightly softer image is enough to get people to change spending and viewing habits.

While I see the inclusion of a UHD drive on the PS5 as a positive, I do not expect it to change people's habits by much if at all.

Having the capability to watch a 4K disc may get some to buy their most favorite movies on the format whereas before they would not even consider it. If a significant portion of PS5 owners make such purchases, even just occasionally, it is all a good thing.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Here is a lesson for you, click here and look at the number of viewers by each forum section. Many times there are more viewers in the BD 3D section than viewing the Digital Movies section. So take all your negative views and predictions to a place where someone may care.

While I find him to be a conceited colossal bore who can't make a point in under 500 words, he should be as welcome here as anyone to post his negative opinions and to repeat his tired tread worn prediction. He can even talk about pants for all I care.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Here is a lesson for you, click here and look at the number of viewers by each forum section. Many times there are more viewers in the BD 3D section than viewing the Digital Movies section.

Well, for those members who enjoy BD 3D, by all means, enjoy!

Perhaps you are citing BD 3D because those whose opinions matter, i.e, TV manufacturers and content producers, decided they were done with 3D, and not because a small number of consumers still enjoyed, and were hoping to purchase, BD 3D titles.

I'm glad that you cited this example to support my point, that sometimes a small but dedicated minority of consumers is insufficient to save a platform in the face of overwhelming market and owner forces.

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

So take all your negative views and predictions to a place where someone may care.

This thread is titled 'The Future of Home Video.' We know that digital is the mass market of the future, which we can either choose to acknowledge and accept, or pretend otherwise.

It's up to you, makes no difference to me, as it's nothing personal regarding how a person determines to purchase what is best for them.

That said, I am hopeful and thinking in positive terms regarding the future of physical media to survive and thrive as a micro market, which could be a very exciting time given the opportunity for boutique labels and unreleased films.

So, there's no negativity other than what you perceive to be negative. My advice is to take a deep breath and take a whiff of the future, digital and physical.

[Vilya]

Projectors still support 3D, as do most all blu-ray and 4K disc players. The Sony PlayStation 4 supports 3D along with their virtual reality headset, too.

3D blu-rays still see a handful of releases each year albeit mostly overseas. Even it has just enough of a following that we still get more titles.

I would hate to see home 3D cease to be just because it wasn't embraced by the masses. The masses fail to buy a lot of the things that I enjoy and I am glad that there are markets that cater to special interests.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

This thread is titled 'The Future of Home Video.' We know that digital is the mass market of the future, which we can either choose to acknowledge and accept, or pretend otherwise.

It's up to you, makes no difference to me, as it's nothing personal regarding how a person determines to purchase what is best for them.

That said, I am hopeful and thinking in positive terms regarding the future of physical media to survive and thrive as a micro market, which could be a very exciting time given the opportunity for boutique labels and unreleased films.

So, there's no negativity other than what you perceive to be negative. My advice is to take a deep breath and take a whiff of the future, digital and physical.

Digital and physical media distribution are the past and the present; there is nothing futuristic about either of them.

As for the masses, they spend the lion's share of their home entertainment money on pay TV services with subscription streaming being a very distant second. Most people already use streaming; it is not the future, it is the present.

You do not care one digital bit about what happens to physical media; your long and long winded post history has made that plain. You're just an opportunist looking for closeout prices on physical media should it ever fail. You come here just to annoy those of us that really do care about it.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

No, the future is not digital. Their will continue to be digital and physical in the future because they both remain profitable.

Well, if are speaking of growth as a mass market, the fact remains that support for mass market physical media is dwindling, while the converse is true for mass market digital media, including SVOD.

That's a fact, not an opinion.

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

Is the future of milk organic or non-organic?

The growth, and future, is non-dairy.

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

By stating that "the future is digital" you are very clearly choosing a side. Stating that "there is no side" is inconsistent with the rest of your post.

Not at all, because physical and digital are not mutually exclusive, i.e., there is no reason to not purchase and enjoy both platforms, i.e., there is no side.

None whatsoever.

And that is supported by fact that the majority of homes support physical media, digital media including SVOD, along with cable. However, there's no question where the greatest growth and alignment with future trends exists, and that is digital driven by SVOD.

It's only those who exclusively choose one platform and then choose to expand their decision into some non-sensical litmus test.

What does buying, or streaming, a title on one platform, e.g., physical, and choosing to a different platform, e.g., digital, for another title have to do with another if there are no barriers to both?

The answer is simple. Can you guess?