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

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Well, if you still watch Blu-Ray you must have a DVD player?

On your point of tv, I wouldn't dream of watching something like Hannibal or GOT in anything less than bluray quality. (In terms of ownership)

Anyway, it boils down to two things. If you care about movies enough you will buy the disc. If you don't you will go digital.

I know DVDs and CDs are playable on a Blu-ray player (I rarely use it for DVDs) but I just meant I got the rid of them. I use to have disc changers for my music in the late 90s and early 2000s, I never had a single CD player, wouldn't want to change the disc every hour or so. (what's the point of owning a CD player if you don't have any compatible disc)

I'm not buying as many Blu-rays as I used to since I kind of like the practical side of digital but I still do because I like collecting them for some reason, I guess I'm addicted as I used to be with CDs and DVDs.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

I know DVDs and CDs are playable on a Blu-ray player (I rarely use it for DVDs) but I just meant I got the rid of them. I use to have disc changers for my music in the late 90s and early 2000s, I never had a single CD player, wouldn't want to change the disc every hour or so. (what's the point of owning a CD player if you don't have any compatible disc)

I'm not buying as many Blu-rays as I used to since I kind of like the practical side of digital but I still do because I like collecting them for some reason, I guess I'm addicted as I used to be with CDs and DVDs.

Thanks for your reply.

I will be devastated the say I can't collect films anymore. Digital (or streaming) is just not the same.

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Thanks for your reply.

I will be devastated the say I can't collect films anymore. Digital (or streaming) is just not the same.

I think it's a phase, it will pass. In the early 2000s I was a CD forever kind of guy and today I wouldn't buy one even if it would be cheaper than digital. (it may be and I don't even know) I'm a HUGE music fan, my albums collection is significantly larger than my movie collection. (1500 albums+)

I use to think that I was being ripped off if I couldn't hold in my hands what I paid for, I don't think like that anymore. As I previously said I still like to collect physical movies but it will most likely change 5 or 10 years from now.

[Mr Kite]

Remembering also that sales of Vinyl records are on the up and up. As long as there are boutique labels and people who care about PQ there will always be a place for physical media.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

I think it's a phase, it will pass. In the early 2000s I was a CD forever kind of guy and today I wouldn't buy one even if it would be cheaper than digital. (it may be and I don't even know) I'm a HUGE music fan, my albums collection is significantly larger than my movie collection. (1500 albums+)

I use to think that I was being ripped off if I couldn't hold in my hands what I paid for, I don't think like that anymore. As I previously said I still like to collect physical movies but it will most likely change 5 or 10 years from now.

It's not a phase, trust me.

[Rixx]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

I think it's a phase, it will pass. In the early 2000s I was a CD forever kind of guy and today I wouldn't buy one even if it would be cheaper than digital. (it may be and I don't even know) I'm a HUGE music fan, my albums collection is significantly larger than my movie collection. (1500 albums+)

I use to think that I was being ripped off if I couldn't hold in my hands what I paid for, I don't think like that anymore. As I previously said I still like to collect physical movies but it will most likely change 5 or 10 years from now.

No, I prefer physical copies. Going all the way back to VHS in the 80s & 90s, DVD last decade and now blu-ray for the last 6 years. I have no plans on going digital.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Where do you live.....Texas?

I can't speak for him, but I live in Illinois in one of the suburbs of Chicago (roughly an hour drive from the city), and there is a drive in theater within reasonable driving distance of where I live.

[jradford]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Anyway, it boils down to two things. If you care about movies enough you will buy the disc. If you don't you will go digital.

So because i don't buy physical media I don't care about movies enough? Gonna have to disagree my friend.

That's like saying you don't care about cars if you don't buy a Bugatti Veyron.

I love movies...more than most. My circumstances have changed the way i purchase/collect movies...doesn't mean i love movies any less.

[Mr Kite]

Originally Posted by jradford

So because i don't buy physical media I don't care about movies enough? Gonna have to disagree my friend.

That's like saying you don't care about cars if you don't buy a Bugatti Veyron.

I love movies...more than most. My circumstances have changed the way i purchase/collect movies...doesn't mean i love movies any less.

I think he might have been meaning PQ on BR.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by jradford

Originally Posted by Steedeel:
Anyway, it boils down to two things. If you care about movies enough you will buy the disc. If you don't you will go digital.


So because i don't buy physical media I don't care about movies enough? Gonna have to disagree my friend.

That's like saying you don't care about cars if you don't buy a Bugatti Veyron.

I love movies...more than most. My circumstances have changed the way i purchase/collect movies...doesn't mean i love movies any less.


Originally Posted by tele1962:
I think he might have been meaning PQ on BR.

I know some of these guys like Steedeel take their love for BD Movies too far. Granted PQ of Blu-ray is superior to Digital Streaming, but you also have to have the best equipment to really tell the difference from HDX. My Wife loves to watch Movies, but to her DVD Quality is good enough. So Quality has nothing to do with your Love for Movies. I also wonder what the average size of HDTV here on this Forum, because if it isn't 55" or greater you really can't tell the difference either between Blu-ray and HDX.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I know some of these guys like Steedeel take their love for BD Movies too far. Granted PQ of Blu-ray is superior to Digital Streaming, but you also have to have the best equipment to really tell the difference from HDX. My Wife loves to watch Movies, but to her DVD Quality is good enough. So Quality has nothing to do with your Love for Movies. I also wonder what the average size of HDTV here on this Forum, because if it isn't 55" or greater you really can't tell the difference either between Blu-ray and HDX.

quality has everything to do with movies. Films like The Revenant for example? Amazing experience projected or on a large tv. 4K is even better I hear and I will be going that route soon.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by neoz

All but Disney movies, I believe those still can't be shared on Vudu irrc.

This is true. Disney is connected to DMA not UV, so they don't transfer to those who are linked to my UV account.

Speaking of Vudu, I tried Disc-to-Digital for the first time today. That was awesome. I got 22 movies for $25 (two of them were from DVDs)! I limited myself to $25 this first time, but I wanted to keep going. It was disappointing when I'd put a disc into the drive that turned out to be ineligible, but the majority of the movies I grabbed worked fine, like the Lord of Rings extended trilogy and Matrix trilogy. It really is the best way to effectively convert/duplicate your collection to digital. If more people knew about this, I think Vudu could dominate iTunes.

But back to what is being discussed at this moment...

My TV is 65", so I can tell the difference between HDX and BD. I'd be curious to see how it looks on a 40" or smaller TV. It still looks quite good on my TV, but then there are moments when you're reminded of its flaws, like compression in darker areas of the frame. If you watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Vudu, notice how the shadowy details on Snoke's face look like blobs of darkness. Then again, watch as Rey climbs the mountain at the end of the movie, and notice how well-defined every stone and plant looks. It's picture perfect. So I recognize the flaws of digital, while appreciating its beauty as well.

And nobody can say that I don't love movies. I may not buy everything on Blu-ray. I may have started to purchase quite heavily in the digital arena this year, but to even suggest that Blu-ray is for movie lovers and digital isn't, that's not fair or true. We're all allowed to enjoy different things or enjoy the same things differently.

I may be judgemental towards people who haven't upgraded past DVD, but even that isn't fair. Just because they don't choose to watch it in HD doesn't mean they can't still appreciate the movie itself in a meaningful way. I'm not an audiophile, but that doesn't undermine my fandom. It just means I don't obsess over that aspect of movies. That's great that others do.

Yes, this website is known as Blu-ray .com. When it was first founded, streaming was nowhere near as good as it is today. Nobody here is suggesting we change the name of the website to DigitalHD .com. It's just that some of us appreciate that format. You can still collect digital copies. I know you can't display them around your house like steelbooks, but they both serve the same purpose. They delivery you a movie at home.

I like that this discussion hasn't ended. It's fun to discuss. But let's not forget that we're all movie lovers here, and we'll get along just fine. Heh

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

This is true. Disney is connected to DMA not UV, so they don't transfer to those who are linked to my UV account.

Speaking of Vudu, I tried Disc-to-Digital for the first time today. That was awesome. I got 22 movies for $25 (two of them were from DVDs)! I limited myself to $25 this first time, but I wanted to keep going. It was disappointing when I'd put a disc into the drive that turned out to be ineligible, but the majority of the movies I grabbed worked fine, like the Lord of Rings extended trilogy and Matrix trilogy. It really is the best way to effectively convert/duplicate your collection to digital. If more people knew about this, I think Vudu could dominate iTunes.

But back to what is being discussed at this moment...

My TV is 65", so I can tell the difference between HDX and BD. I'd be curious to see how it looks on a 40" or smaller TV. It still looks quite good on my TV, but then there are moments when you're reminded of its flaws, like compression in darker areas of the frame. If you watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Vudu, notice how the shadowy details on Snoke's face look like blobs of darkness. Then again, watch as Rey climbs the mountain at the end of the movie, and notice how well-defined every stone and plant looks. It's picture perfect. So I recognize the flaws of digital, while appreciating its beauty as well.

And nobody can say that I don't love movies. I may not buy everything on Blu-ray. I may have started to purchase quite heavily in the digital arena this year, but to even suggest that Blu-ray is for movie lovers and digital isn't, that's not fair or true. We're all allowed to enjoy different things or enjoy the same things differently.

I may be judgemental towards people who haven't upgraded past DVD, but even that isn't fair. Just because they don't choose to watch it in HD doesn't mean they can't still appreciate the movie itself in a meaningful way. I'm not an audiophile, but that doesn't undermine my fandom. It just means I don't obsess over that aspect of movies. That's great that others do.

Yes, this website is known as Blu-ray .com. When it was first founded, streaming was nowhere near as good as it is today. Nobody here is suggesting we change the name of the website to DigitalHD .com. It's just that some of us appreciate that format. You can still collect digital copies. I know you can't display them around your house like steelbooks, but they both serve the same purpose. They delivery you a movie at home.

I like that this discussion hasn't ended. It's fun to discuss. But let's not forget that we're all movie lovers here, and we'll get along just fine. Heh

Well, Digital HD has grown just 4% this year so far. It was double figures at the same stage last year. That is not healthy. If Digital does eventually win out, it won't be a collectors market. It will be rental with a few hangers on. Think I will stick with Blu-Ray thanks.

[Rocket Richard]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Granted PQ of Blu-ray is superior to Digital Streaming, but you also have to have the best equipment to really tell the difference from HDX. I also wonder what the average size of HDTV here on this Forum, because if it isn't 55" or greater you really can't tell the difference either between Blu-ray and HDX.

I find Netflix looks great on my 80” TV. Not as great as Blu-ray, but still a great experience.

We all know it’s a matter of time till 4k streaming will be the norm, it’s already on Netflix.

[Rocket Richard]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Well, Digital HD has grown just 4% this year so far. It was double figures at the same stage last year. That is not healthy. If Digital does eventually win out, it won't be a collectors market. It will be rental with a few hangers on. Think I will stick with Blu-Ray thanks.

I’ll have my few faves on Blu-ray, but if 4k, or 8k Blu ray comes along, I doubt very much, I’ll start over again collecting, but I understand your passion, nothing wrong with it.

[Zu Nim]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Well, Digital HD has grown just 4% this year so far. It was double figures at the same stage last year. That is not healthy. If Digital does eventually win out, it won't be a collectors market. It will be rental with a few hangers on. Think I will stick with Blu-Ray thanks.

Digital has already won. Growth is still growth. In 2012, physical revenue was $8.5B and digital revenue was $5.2B ($800M in sales, $2B in VOD, and $2.4B in subscriptions). In 2015, physical revenue was $6.1B and digital revenue was $8.9B ($1.9B in sales, $1.9B in VOD, and $5.1B in subscriptions).

Physical sales have lost $2.4B while digital has gained $3.7B. In three years. There's no indication that trend is changing.

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Digital has already won. Growth is still growth. In 2012, physical revenue was $8.5B and digital revenue was $5.2B ($800M in sales, $2B in VOD, and $2.4B in subscriptions). In 2015, physical revenue was $6.1B and digital revenue was $8.9B ($1.9B in sales, $1.9B in VOD, and $5.1B in subscriptions).

Physical sales have lost $2.4B while digital has gained $3.7B. In three years. There's no indication that trend is changing.

I don't think the end of physical is near (CDs still exist!!! ) but digital will keep getting bigger year after year and soon the stores movie selection will be as small as their music selection, some folks around here just don't want to believe it but it's coming.

[Zu Nim]

Soon? When I visit Walmart, there are a few dozen recent releases and a dump bin... if I'm lucky.

Music revenues in 2015 were 29% physical, 68% digital (split between sales and subscription - there's no rental). If movie physical shrinks from 2015's 41% to 29% in three more years - which is conservative based on the trend - that would mean physical sales would be $4.7B while digital grows even more to $11.7B. If physical drops 13%/year over the next three years, that means $2.7B instead of $4.7B. Ouch. Movies won't have a resurgence of VHS tapes like music has vinyl.

Physical isn't going away, but digital won already. That ship has sailed.

[PCFan]

I'm now all digital with console games and PC games because the quality is the same as a physical game (digital games are not compressed further in graphics/audio than physical games) and I don't have to swap discs between games. It's been almost a year since I bought my last CD but that's only because I'm very selective in what CDs I buy but if I want an album I still buy the CD because of the audio quality. I also rip my CDs to WAV format on my hard drive so I get a full quality digital copy of my CD I own and no disc swapping when I want to listen to music at my computer. I prefer blu-ray over any digital streaming service only because of the audio/video quality, not counting streaming 4k. If I ever go 4k I think I might be going the 4k Blu-ray route, not 4k streaming route.

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Zu Nim

Soon? When I visit Walmart, there are a few dozen recent releases and a dump bin... if I'm lucky.

Music revenues in 2015 were 29% physical, 68% digital (split between sales and subscription - there's no rental). If movie physical shrinks from 2015's 41% to 29% in three more years - which is conservative based on the trend - that would mean physical sales would be $4.7B while digital grows even more to $11.7B. If physical drops 13%/year over the next three years, that means $2.7B instead of $4.7B. Ouch. Movies won't have a resurgence of VHS tapes like music has vinyl.

Physical isn't going away, but digital won already. That ship has sailed.

Vinyls are back because it's the purest sound you can get not because people like getting old stuff. Of course cassettes (audio or video) won't do a comeback they're crap. There will always be physical medias around it'll be less year after year until it's as marginal as music is now, CDs aren't dead (yet) but sales aren't doing good.