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

[bhampton]

Think EST really has a future ?

Media companies want to make the subscription thing work at least until it breaks even. I think EST's days are almost up.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Emmett L Brown

It's one thing to discuss the pros and cons of streaming and discs, but it's another thing to come to a website and forum dedicated to discs and, at least how it appears to me, troll and disparage others for their choice of hobby. If you have to resort to insults or demeaning language, you're probably not winning any discussions...

Emmett you appear to be a new member, if so, a big welcome here!! Look forward to more post from you.

As to negative post:

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Its been wash, rinse and repeat since the early days of LaserDisc. Just replace LaserDisc with Blu-ray, replace RCA CED, video cassette, HBO, Showtime with EST, SVOD, AVOD and SMART and you have essentially the same back and forth. Back then it was via private BBS's and CompuServe.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Well Wendell - I really think my dick is bigger than yours.

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

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by bhampton

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

Ah Brian - how you love to take things out of context. As a matter of fact - you're an expert at it. Congrats!

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Think EST really has a future ?

Yep. It's outlook at this point is much better than disc.

Media companies want to make the subscription thing work at least until it breaks even. I think EST's days are almost up.

With disc dropping 20+% a year and EST holding it's own, I'm surprised you said that. Maybe you got the Blind Hatred Syndrome.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Yep. It's outlook at this point is much better than disc.

I guess time will tell. Thankfully things change quickly lately.

When I read that iTunes app is being replaced by the ATV app I kind of figured Apple was getting out of EST soon. Most of what they have done with ATV+ original content has been exceptional and now that studios have their own services I think they will keep things separated and more exclusive going forward.

Ultraviolet failed and it was nearly a standard for EST. Everyone put faith in Vudu because Walmart owned it but then Walmart didn't.

[Vilya]

When I bought this blu-ray 15 years ago, I foolishly got rid of my DVD special edition. Both are long out of print with no signs of that changing anytime soon. It is not available to stream, either, not even as a digital purchase according to justwatch.com.

I was very lucky to find, and get, on ebay in like new condition for just $18. This 2 disc DVD set has a wealth of extra features exclusive to it that I wanted to have in my collection once again. The blu-ray is a little skimpy on extras by comparison.

I made a point to back-up that blu-ray, too, just in case. I will do the same for the DVD extra features disc.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I guess time will tell. Thankfully things change quickly lately.

When I read that iTunes app is being replaced by the ATV app I kind of figured Apple was getting out of EST soon. Most of what they have done with ATV+ original content has been exceptional and now that studios have their own services I think they will keep things separated and more exclusive going forward.

In 2021 the total worldwide sales of EST was $42.5 billion. The two big players are Prime Video and Apple. Do you really believe they will abandon that kind of payday? Remember they get 15%, so Prime and Apple are splitting $6.375 billion.

Ultraviolet failed and it was nearly a standard for EST. Everyone put faith in Vudu because Walmart owned it but then Walmart didn't.

It failed because not all the studios supported it mainly Disney. And it wasn't that easy to use.

Do you remember that in the beginning days of DVD there wasn't 100% studio support either. Some wanted the pay as you go format from Circuit City of all places. But that format died quickly and DVD took off.

[Vilya]

Seven more delivered this afternoon:



and

I already own , but the MGM edition has an excellent extra feature that did not carry over to the Criterion edition called: Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (SD; 1:01:21)

"This vintage featurette is a treasure trove of information, and features tons of great interviews with a number of the cast and crew, several of whom have since gone on to their reward."

This extra is worth the $9.99 all by itself.

I love this hobby!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Yep. It's outlook at this point is much better than disc.



With disc dropping 20+% a year and EST holding it's own, I'm surprised you said that. Maybe you got the Blind Hatred Syndrome.

Holding its own? It’s a damp squib, at least disc has done blockbusters in the past. EST has never really got going.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

In 2021 the total worldwide sales of EST was $42.5 billion. The two big players are Prime Video and Apple. Do you really believe they will abandon that kind of payday? Remember they get 15%, so Prime and Apple are splitting $6.375 billion.



It failed because not all the studios supported it mainly Disney. And it wasn't that easy to use.

Do you remember that in the beginning days of DVD there wasn't 100% studio support either. Some wanted the pay as you go format from Circuit City of all places. But that format died quickly and DVD took off.

42.5 billion? Are you not including subscriptions with that?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

42.5 billion? Are you not including subscriptions with that?

Well, the Digital Entertainment Group said that EST sales for 2021 totaled $2.423 billion for the U.S.



EST sales for 2022 were up 1.65% for a total of $2.513 billion.

If what he is saying is true for the 2021 worldwide totals of EST (Electronic Sell Through), then EST must be damn smoking hot in other countries.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Holding its own? It’s a damp squib, at least disc has done blockbusters in the past. EST has never really got going.

software screenshot

Page 13:

https://www.motionpictures.org/wp-co...port-FINAL.pdf

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Well, the Digital Entertainment Group said that EST sales for 2021 totaled $2.423 billion for the U.S.



EST sales for 2022 were up 1.65% for a total of $2.513 billion.

If what he is saying is true for the 2021 worldwide totals of EST (Electronic Sell Through), then EST must be damn smoking hot in other countries.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

software screenshot

Page 13:

https://www.motionpictures.org/wp-co...port-FINAL.pdf

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

That is strictly EST. No streaming money. See above ^^

Try again.

From your link, see footnote 11:

"Includes online video (EST, iVOD), Pay TV EST/SVOD/VOD for TV and Movie genre consumer spending. Also includes Online Subscription Revenue (Multiscreen, N/A (Others) and Online Channel) for movie and TV genre, excluding Virtual Pay TV. Previous years’ estimates may be updated based on changes made by source."

That chart excludes U.S. revenue, also mentioned in footnote 11, but even adding the figures from the DEG report won't get global EST alone to $42.5 billion when the U.S. only generated $2.423 billion in EST for 2021.

EST, by itself, did not generate anything close to $42.5 billion wordwide in 2021.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Try again.

From your link, see footnote 11:

"Includes online video (EST, iVOD), Pay TV EST/SVOD/VOD for TV and Movie genre consumer spending. Also includes Online Subscription Revenue (Multiscreen, N/A (Others) and Online Channel) for movie and TV genre, excluding Virtual Pay TV. Previous years’ estimates may be updated based on changes made by source."

That chart excludes U.S. revenue, also mentioned in footnote 11.

We have been talking about just EST and EST did not generate anything close to $42.5 billion wordwide in 2021.

OOPS! My bad. You are correct. They do include subscriptions (SVOD/AVOD) and VOD. I will try to get just the EST numbers though where . . .???

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

OOPS! My bad. You are correct. They do include subscriptions (SVOD/AVOD) and VOD. I will try to get just the EST numbers though where . . .???

I suspect that your same source could break that figure down to its individual components, but whether they would share that info is another matter.

Still, if we can extrapolate and guesstimate the worldwide results from how well EST did in the U.S. market for 2021 ($2.423 billion), then I think that it is safe to say that EST is a far, far cry from being $42.5 billion globally.

As I understand it, digital purchases are nowhere as common abroad as they are here, but I am not certain about that. Maybe our international members can speak, at least anecdotally, to the popularity of EST in their countries?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Well, the Digital Entertainment Group said that EST sales for 2021 totaled $2.423 billion for the U.S.



EST sales for 2022 were up 1.65% for a total of $2.513 billion.

If what he is saying is true for the 2021 worldwide totals of EST (Electronic Sell Through), then EST must be damn smoking hot in other countries.

EST does absolutely nowhere near what Lee is claiming. It’s barely been up YOY for the last several years.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

EST does absolutely nowhere near what Lee is claiming. It’s barely been up YOY for the last several years.

I don't know why he is using 2021 when 2022 data is available. It tells a totally different story for EST:

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I suspect that your same source could break that figure down to its individual components, but whether they would share that info is another matter.

Still, if we can extrapolate and guesstimate the worldwide results from how well EST did in the U.S. market for 2021 ($2.423 billion), then I think that it is safe to say that EST is a far, far cry from being $42.5 billion globally.

As I understand it, digital purchases are nowhere as common abroad as they are here, but I am not certain about that. Maybe our international members can speak, at least anecdotally, to the popularity of EST in their countries?

In the U.K., last I read, it was Amazon, Apple and Google (Google play and YouTube movies) that were dominating. I believe Sky store was in 4th place with its movie downloads (our top pay tv service).

Digital lockers are non existent. The last remaining one was a farce of a service and folded a few years back.

I believe SVOD is way more popular than EST in the U.K. Netflix is the most popular, followed by Amazon. Disney and Sky’s internet offering NOW tv bring up the rear.

We don’t get Max until 2025 due to Warner licensing their HBO content to Sky.