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

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Admiral

It also means that people are not downloading it for free.

Both Netflix and Amazon Prime replaced our cable TV subscription. The combined subscriptions cost half of what we paid for cable, have better content, no commercial breaks and better video quality. I don't really understand the hate for Netflix etc.

Better picture quality? I get 4K Satellite, I highly doubt that. It looks a darn sight better than 4K streams I have witnessed on Netflix.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Better picture quality? I get 4K Satellite, I highly doubt that. It looks a darn sight better than 4K streams I have witnessed on Netflix.

It absolutely is better picture quality compared to our old cable subscription. I’m not sure why you would doubt that unless you had seen it first hand.

We always get great picture quality through Netflix 4K streams.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Admiral

It absolutely is better picture quality compared to our old cable subscription. I’m not sure why you would doubt that unless you had seen it first hand.

We always get great picture quality through Netflix 4K streams.

You might. To me, Sky 4K looks better. I’m not saying Netflix looks bad, it’s just not particularly great either.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Just thought I would post a update as some of you guys were incredibly kind and also sent me PM’s regarding my sister.
She was back in hospital for more surgery to her kidney last week and developed sepsis for the fourth time. She is better now but awaiting news of whether the stones are out or not. She had 100 fragments of stones in there and we think having to use a catheter combined with stents has contributed to the sepsis. As you all know, she had serious complications from COVID so that delayed things further.
If the stones are finally gone after a scan, she will have several months recovery before (hopefully) the final procedure to remove her non functioning kidney.

Wishing your sister a speedy recovery.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I agree that streaming subscriptions are superior to cable. But their both inferior to physical media.

We all go round and round on this subject. I think people should be setup to access any Video Source they want. If they want to view PM or Streaming, their equipment should be setup for this. My BD Player is still connected, I just don't access it anymore. It's all IPTV and Streaming for me, and I view all that I want!

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Admiral

The combined subscriptions cost half of what we paid for cable, have better content, no commercial breaks and better video quality.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Better picture quality? I get 4K Satellite, I highly doubt that. It looks a darn sight better than 4K streams I have witnessed on Netflix.

It helps if posters know more about what they are making reference to. Admiral, was your cable content analog or digital? If digital, do you know how it was encoded?

In the US my cable co. is still using H.262 (MPEG-2) and cramming 4 to 10 program streams on each channel (as sub channels) and it looks awful. HD with using H.262 and 18 to 19 Mbps can look decent but looks pretty bad when using 4 to 7 Mbps.

[Wendell R. Breland]

For distribution reference, in the US PBS uses one satellite transponder for a single TS (transport stream), within the TS there are 4 HD PS's (program stream) and one SD PS. The data rate varies between about 67 Mbps to about 121 Mbps.

[Show spoiler]

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I agree that streaming subscriptions are superior to cable. But they're both inferior to physical media.

Its a easy fit in between heavy compressed cable/satellite and physical media for streaming to exist. For most part streaming subscriptions are used not as a provider substitute but as a substitute for the lack of content diversity to cable. Who really wants to be dictated you when you can see content or have to DVR broadcast/cable. Yes there is a lot less digital artifacts with improved color watching show episodes via a network streaming app. It just illustrates how bad cable is. Still need the cable provider or like to authorize playing that content on most apps. If you want the same content a bit better, then go for the media.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Better picture quality? I get 4K Satellite, I highly doubt that. It looks a darn sight better than 4K streams I have witnessed on Netflix.

FYI only some of Netflix’s content is 4K, a lot is merely HDR/DV HD content. Still depending on your setup it can look and sound impressive compared to the usual cable/satellite setup in the states. I watched a animation called Yasuke last night. Wired write up.

Not much is known about the first Black samurai in feudal Japan. And spoiler alert here, he apparently did exist. And he's now the center of a new anime series on Netflix that introduces his story to an American audience.

Hey you thought 300 was bloody, this is slice and dice gore full on at times. Anyway the CGI artwork at times was gorgeous, and audio effects was amazing for a streaming example.

[bhampton]

Started watching The Bad Batch new star wars show and didn't like it.

[The_Donster]

Hey gang, how goes things? I can’t remember the last time I bought anything. I’m still watching movies via Netflix BD rental, but catch streaming services when I visit a friend. Still living at a place that I can’t get internet. Which sucks at times because I’d really love to play some Xbox games in my off time. Not that I’ve had much of that. I had to get some stomach bug to get any time off from work. I’ll try and pop in more when I can. Best to everyone and I hope your sister has a speedy recovery Steedeel.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

It helps if posters know more about what they are making reference to. Admiral, was your cable content analog or digital? If digital, do you know how it was encoded?

In the US my cable co. is still using H.262 (MPEG-2) and cramming 4 to 10 program streams on each channel (as sub channels) and it looks awful. HD with using H.262 and 18 to 19 Mbps can look decent but looks pretty bad when using 4 to 7 Mbps.

It was digital. I don't know how it was encoded. We cancelled several years ago after getting Netflix.

[cheez avenger]

So Army of the Dead is getting an extremely limited release out here on just 600 theaters nationwide. It's playing at my local iPic Theaters. Scored a couple of tickets and will be watching in cinemas.

iPics are pricey but oh so freakin' nice!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Hey gang, how goes things? I can’t remember the last time I bought anything. I’m still watching movies via Netflix BD rental, but catch streaming services when I visit a friend. Still living at a place that I can’t get internet. Which sucks at times because I’d really love to play some Xbox games in my off time. Not that I’ve had much of that. I had to get some stomach bug to get any time off from work. I’ll try and pop in more when I can. Best to everyone and I hope your sister has a speedy recovery Steedeel.

Thanks Donster, hopefully you can get sorted with internet.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I’m still watching movies via Netflix BD rental, but catch streaming services when I visit a friend.

Good to see you still kicking. Been doing Netflix disc by mail since 2006 and plan to keep as long as available. Sometime back did switch to Blockbuster by mail for a couple of years.

Still living at a place that I can’t get internet.

May not be much longer till Starlink will be available to you. Last I saw was $500 for the hardware and $100 per month.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

So Army of the Dead is getting an extremely limited release out here on just 600 theaters nationwide. It's playing at my local iPic Theaters. Scored a couple of tickets and will be watching in cinemas.

iPics are pricey but oh so freakin' nice!

I would have bought that on Blu-ray/UHD

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Admiral

It was digital. I don't know how it was encoded. We cancelled several years ago after getting Netflix.

Have you checked the speed of Netflix content in Singapore? In the US many shows stream at less than half the speed they did a few years ago.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I would have bought that on Blu-ray/UHD

It's a Netflix Original, so I don't see it getting a 4K disc stateside. Maybe an import, but it's gonna be a streaming exclusive here for the most part.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

It's a Netflix Original, so I don't see it getting a 4K disc stateside. Maybe an import, but it's gonna be a streaming exclusive here for the most part.

Yeah, that’s what I mean mate.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Have you checked the speed of Netflix content in Singapore? In the US many shows stream at less than half the speed they did a few years ago.

I hadn’t checked this for a long time. Just now tried Ozark and it’s streaming 4K at 15.25 Mbps.