4K Digital Exclusives (these are a problem).

[RJ MacReady]

I wish more companies would take a cue from WB, and release short-run retailer-exclusive UHDs like they did with Shaft 2019 at Best Buy.

[twobelowpar]

Yep, the number of 4K films that are exclusively digital are probably into the dozens now.

[Colson]

Where is Chinatown available in 4K? Is it also in HDR? I neeeeed it.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by zen007

If the quality of digital is good, I have nothing to complain about. I support 4K transfers not the delivery channel. If the transfer is good on disc, I will get it. If it is good on digital, I will get it too.

Nothing beats having a disc and case with cover art/booklet in it though. And ofcourse nothing beats actually owning your own s***!

[overmang5]

Originally Posted by Colson

Where is Chinatown available in 4K? Is it also in HDR? I neeeeed it.

iTunes. Yes, Dolby Vision. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/chinatown/id208600546


Anyway, I only stream movies I'm not 100% sure I'll want to buy. If i know I'll want to buy them, blind, or not. Then I simply don't stream them. I'll wait till I have the physical copy.

If I'm on the fence, I'll stream when they're at an decent price on iTunes. .99 cent rentals are a godsend for some movies.

[redc22]

Originally Posted by DJR662

I'm really starting to think maybe I should stop supporting digital (by "buying" movies that are digital 4K only) instead of supporting it...

I'm with you I don't buy digital, if they don't release movies, at least in blu ray, I won't buy it. I just won't watch it.

[Colson]

Originally Posted by overmang5

iTunes. Yes, Dolby Vision. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/chinatown/id208600546

Ah MAN, awesome. Still looking forward to an eventual physical release, but I am all over this. Thanks!

[overmang5]

Originally Posted by Colson

Ah MAN, awesome. Still looking forward to an eventual physical release, but I am all over this. Thanks!

No problem.

[Undeadcow]

Lionsgate blu-ray releases often (but not always) come with digital codes that redeem for a UHD quality digital exclusive so there's that if you buy the 1080p hard copy.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Nothing beats having a disc and case with cover art/booklet in it though. And ofcourse nothing beats actually owning your own s***!

I agree that those aspects can add to the experience esp. for the favorite films. I can dig for good cover art on a nicely done package (hopefully that also came with iTunes digital) .... Here I am only referring to the quality of the 4k transfers

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Colson

Where is Chinatown available in 4K? Is it also in HDR? I neeeeed it.

Vudu / Dolby Vision as well.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by zen007

I agree that those aspects can add to the experience esp. for the favorite films. I can dig for good cover art on a nicely done package (hopefully that also came with iTunes digital) .... Here I am only referring to the quality of the 4k transfers

But you're not going to get a good quality 4k transfer digitially. Not compared to the disc anyway. Everything needs to be on disc to assure the highest possible quality transfer.

[Patsfan123]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

But you're not going to get a good quality 4k transfer digitially. Not compared to the disc anyway. Everything needs to be on disc to assure the highest possible quality transfer.

4K with HDR digital always beats out a 1080p disc transfer in my book.. unless there's an issue

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Patsfan123

4K with HDR digital always beats out a 1080p disc transfer in my book.. unless there's an issue

That's what this list is for: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=305669

However, with HDR it still becomes a tossup between the UHD and BD in most cases.

[danny24]

It's sad that films like Chinatown and The Hurt Locker the studios won't do a physical UHD for it. I would love to have UHD's for both movies they really deserve it. BHC 1-3 for now is also getting a digital only UHD release.

Originally Posted by awp69

Cotton Club Encore is another Lionsgate title that was released in 4K only on digital this week.

Thanks, just got the Blu-ray from BB and didn't know it had a digital 4K release. I wonder if my DC code will redeem as 4K.

[Undeadcow]

Originally Posted by danny24

Thanks, just got the Blu-ray from BB and didn't know it had a digital 4K release. I wonder if my DC code will redeem as 4K.

Word is that Cotton Club Exchange digital copy codes are redeeming as high definition only; not UHD.
Edit: Thanks to awp69 for iTunes UHD upgrade reminder below.

[awp69]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

Word is that Cotton Club Exchange digital copy codes are redeeming as high definition only; not UHD.

It redeems 4K on iTunes.

[wallendo]

I prefer physical media, and wish more movies were released on the format.
However, if physical media cannot be economically justified, I wish studios would include 4K digital codes with the blu-rays. Although not ideal, this would be an improvement over the current situation where I frequently have a choice of physical or 4K but not both.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

But you're not going to get a good quality 4k transfer digitially. Not compared to the disc anyway. Everything needs to be on disc to assure the highest possible quality transfer.

If the digital 4k transfer is within an acceptable range from the disc's, I would be ok with it.

For discs of a title to come out, it would need to make a stronger business case as there are more nodes in its value chain. Therefore, in the future, we may find more titles available in 4K but only the most in-demand (with stronger business case) on discs

This is not a digital vs disc battle but a digital and disc scenario where titles with a stronger business case will be introduced in both formats. Ones with a relatively weaker business case may see a digital-only release. Where consumers gain is by having more titles in the 4K format (and also having access to 4k titles without having to purchase 4K players) Which is why we have to hope that the quality of digital keeps improving

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Patsfan123

There have been 4K digital exclusives since before UBD.. There are hundreds.. This isn't new or only a 4K problem. There are many HD movies only available digitally as well.

Yep, this isn't a new phenom. Not saying I likes the situation but it's the one we're stuck with, so I'll buy whatever I can on disc and if certain streaming exclusives just mysteriously find their way onto my hard drive then, well, it's a Christmas miracle!