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

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

New Disney price plan for November in U.K. keeps the same £7.99 for the standard no ads plan BUT removes the 4K!
The 4K will be reserved for the premium no ads package costing £10.99.

Disney is doing a promotion in the US:

Disney+ is offering its ad-supported basic tier option to new subscribers for $1.99 monthly through Sept. 20 — down from its normal $7.99 fee. Thereafter, the promotional fee reverts back to the standard price until canceled. Disney is also pushing its $9.99 Bundle Duo Basic package, which includes ad-supported versions of Disney+ and ESPN+.

Until one or more SVOD providers comes up with something really compelling we will not resub to any of them. If Amazon offered shipping without Prime video that is what I would opt for.

Got my new library card yesterday and will check out Kanopy soon.

[bhampton]

Picked up an autographed edition of the new Olivia Rodrigo Guts CD.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Got my new library card yesterday and will check out Kanopy soon.

Kanopy isn't 4K DV or something but it's a great way to check stuff out esp stuff that's hard to find elsewhere.

Or stuff you aren't too sure about but wouldn't mind looking into.

I've seen quite a bit of stuff on there.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Disney is doing a promotion in the US:
Until one or more SVOD providers comes up with something really compelling we will not resub to any of them. If Amazon offered shipping without Prime video that is what I would opt for.

Got my new library card yesterday and will check out Kanopy soon.

Don't forget that if your library system subscribes to Hoopla Digital, you can also watch films and media via the app, as well.

[Vilya]

I've been staying indoors today; it seems like the sky is falling around here again.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Disney is doing a promotion in the US:
Until one or more SVOD providers comes up with something really compelling we will not resub to any of them. If Amazon offered shipping without Prime video that is what I would opt for.

Got my new library card yesterday and will check out Kanopy soon.

They are doing it here too.

[cheez avenger]

Just made a jumbo GRUV order with the added 20% discount.

Got the 3 for $30 4K discs:

King Arthur 4K
Skull Island 4K
Meg 4K



Then pre-ordered:

Duel 4K
Meg 2 4K
American Graffiti 4K
Alfred Hitchcock Vol 3 4K


My Fall and Halloween season is set!

I also placed an order on eBay for some Family Guy sets on DVD. Also snagged a used copy of Beastie Boys criterion dvd for $8. Criterion is having a sale on that one for $20 new, but why pay new prices for it when it's been out since forever. $8 is good enough for me.

[stonesfan129]

Picked this up from Amazon:



I was asking around on Reddit about it, and apparently there is some issue where the discs freeze/skip about halfway through. I had the issue in my Xbox One S. I tried my LG UBK90 and it wasn't as bad but still skips. Not sure if it's worth writing to Criterion who I guess will replace them with working discs.

Anyway, watched As Tears Go By last night, really liked the movie. Tonight, I will probably watch Chungking Express. Really happy with the set other than the playback issue above.

[t-mel]

https://deadline.com/2023/09/writers...st-1235541351/

Here again the legacy companies want to reach an agreement. It is the new kids on the block (i.e. the companies whose investments in the industry is predominantly through streaming) who don't.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

Picked this up from Amazon:

Not sure if it's worth writing to Criterion who I guess will replace them with working discs.

If there is a replacement program in my opinion it's worth getting the replacement.

(I will say though ... there was a replacement program for Psycho UHD and universal sent me several Blu Ray copies for some reason and never sent the replacement UHD .. I just gave up on whatever the issue was. So I should say - it's worth trying )

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Here is an update about my situation

I am extremely sorry to hear this. I still wish you the best of luck with everything. Never lose hope.

[bhampton]

I was reading Mac Life and on page 5 there was a breakdown of the numbers in the immortal battle between Mac/PC. Along with some spin and suggestion of the best way to take the data out of context.

This had me thinking about all the bitter feuds we see today - Coke/Pepsi, Apple/PC, Playstation/Xbox, Consoles/Gaming computers. Look at almost any thing and you may see it's deadlocked in competition with something else.

And, the results - It's generally good for BOTH sides.

How long did it take for the bitter wars between Coke and Pepsi to reveal it was all a scam sponsored by the American Dental Association to sell fillings and root canals? How many people banished Bud Light in favor of Modelo without considering anheuser-busch owned them both?

Someone once told me digital picture frames are getting so cheap no one will use printed pictures anymore. The amount this was off the mark can't be quantified.

I don't want to fall for it anymore. Yes, I love physical media and it's my favorite but the existence of other forms of media takes nothing from it. On the contrary, it's still the highest quality and best ownership and will most likely always be.

If something as daft as Kaliedescape can survive, I have no fear for the longevity of physical media.

Those who think streaming is the only future can spin whatever they think will help the people desperate to make money from streaming and no doubt they will. They have chosen a horse in the race and I wish them luck regardless. Maybe someday streaming will be profitable. Feel free to hold your breadth if it means that much to you. I feel great and can't deny things are only getting better for me.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by t-mel

https://deadline.com/2023/09/writers...st-1235541351/

Here again the legacy companies want to reach an agreement. It is the new kids on the block (i.e. the companies whose investments in the industry is predominantly through streaming) who don't.

Of course they don’t, in my opinion, they don’t want to be transparent about streaming profits/numbers. I think it will blow a hole in the landscape if transparency is ever achieved.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I was reading Mac Life and on page 5 there was a breakdown of the numbers in the immortal battle between Mac/PC. Along with some spin and suggestion of the best way to take the data out of context.

This had me thinking about all the bitter feuds we see today - Coke/Pepsi, Apple/PC, Playstation/Xbox, Consoles/Gaming computers. Look at almost any thing and you may see it's deadlocked in competition with something else.

And, the results - It's generally good for BOTH sides.

How long did it take for the bitter wars between Coke and Pepsi to reveal it was all a scam sponsored by the American Dental Association to sell fillings and root canals? How many people banished Bud Light in favor of Modelo without considering anheuser-busch owned them both?

Someone once told me digital picture frames are getting so cheap no one will use printed pictures anymore. The amount this was off the mark can't be quantified.

I don't want to fall for it anymore. Yes, I love physical media and it's my favorite but the existence of other forms of media takes nothing from it. On the contrary, it's still the highest quality and best ownership and will most likely always be.

If something as daft as Kaliedescape can survive, I have no fear for the longevity of physical media.

Those who think streaming is the only future can spin whatever they think will help the people desperate to make money from streaming and no doubt they will. They have chosen a horse in the race and I wish them luck regardless. Maybe someday streaming will be profitable. Feel free to hold your breadth if it means that much to you. I feel great and can't deny things are only getting better for me.

The thing is, regardless of the future, I have had 23 years of pure enjoyment from collecting discs. That’s a long time and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
You can’t put a price on a passion like film and collecting. If anything, the decreasing profits have only made me more determined to boost my collection further.

Even if discs were stopped tomorrow, I have enough to watch one film per week for the next 18-19 years at least!

[bhampton]

Agree with that.

If for some reason physical media went away I would have value what I have all the more. There's no way they will improve streaming. It only gets worse and more expensive at the same time.

When people see a movie on my setup they think I'm a magician and I love it.

-Brian

[crutzulee]

Streaming is profitable for some and will be for others at some point... after most of the current providers have dropped out or merged...

Streaming is not going anywhere, cinemas are not going anywhere and physical media is not going anywhere...We are living in a golden age of home presentation and things will only get better...

On a related note, Toronto is one of the best cities in the world to be a movie fan, and it's only getting better...

https://www.blogto.com/film/2023/09/...drome-toronto/

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I don't want to fall for it anymore. Yes, I love physical media and it's my favorite but the existence of other forms of media takes nothing from it. On the contrary, it's still the highest quality and best ownership and will most likely always be.

agree and don't forget most people here (in this trhead) use both. But let's be honest lively discussion is more fun.

If something as daft as Kaliedescape can survive, I have no fear for the longevity of physical media.

don't just look at K, look at LD, records..... IMHO if something has a real advantage ( some people liked that LD had better quality compared to VHS, some people like the sound of records....) it will continue existing because there is demand and c0omapnies will continue supporting it

Maybe someday streaming will be profitable. Feel free to hold your breadth if it means that much to you.

I think it will be profitable for all those companies one day, but the question is at what cost?

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Streaming is not going anywhere, cinemas are not going anywhere and physical media is not going anywhere.

fully agree

We are living in a golden age of home presentation and things will only get better...

Streaming is profitable for some and will be for others at some point... after most of the current providers have dropped out or merged...

yes some are profitable. But the two paragraphs are a bit contradictory and I don't agree with you on them.

1) there is a reason Disney has Disney +, Hulu and ESPN+
they can charge for each of them (and so the person only has access to the content on that banner) or pay for all three (with a small discount so the person looks like he is getting a deal.

All subscription streaming packages are like an all you can eat buffet now so if you have a salad bar, desert bar, sushi bar... and each one has a separate cost there is a benefit since you can limit the food in each one (restaurants costs) and get people to pay for all of them


2) the only way to get to profitable is to reduce costs (less content for the price) and raise revenue (raise price or add more adds) from a consumer pouint of view I don't think any of them would be qualified as getting better. Enjoy the benefits now but I really don't see how things can get better.

[crutzulee]

I don't see a contradiction in what I wrote..

This industry is not static... theaters, streaming and physical media are all competing for the same dollars....

Newer tech comes in and changes the landscape and things fall out of equilibrium... Greatly improved home presentation has meant that many theaters need to close.. that segment will contact until it reaches its new level...it will not disappear...

Improvements in internet bandwidth and compression have meant tat we can now receive audio and video quality better than what used to be considered the best (DVD)...

Players rush into the new market hoping to cash in... everyone suffers non sustainable losses and the pretenders fall away..hangers on try to cut corners and those with deep pockets eventually hold on until they are shaken loose...

The 2 or 3 players left will then have to truly compete on quality... which, believe it or not, will eventually exceed today's best..

There will always be the bleeding edge, currently UHD (Kaleidescape?) , that will be for afficianados willing to pay the price of admission...

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I
This industry is not static... theaters, streaming and physical media are all competing for the same dollars....

yes and no. If I roll a dice it will either be a 6 or not but that does not mean the chances of me rolling a 6 is 50/50 because there are is 0only one 6 and 5 that are not. It is not random if I (or anyone else) goes to watch a film in theater or buys it or rents it or any other option. We all have our priorities that end up dictating how we watch it. So they are not in competition that way and neither to the studio (they make money no matter where we watch it)

Newer tech comes in and changes the landscape and things fall out of equilibrium.

agree

Players rush into the new market hoping to cash in... everyone suffers non sustainable losses and the pretenders fall away..hangers on try to cut corners and those with deep pockets eventually hold on until they are shaken loose...

no, there is a reason there re a lot of "pretenders" as you put it. there is practically no costs of entry into the space. We might be focused on the big guys here but there are many small players on the market and there are always some that shut down while new ones open up to replace them. all someone needs is access to content and accessible content will always exist.

If you have Content and Netflix says "I will cut your content at the end of the month when the lease expires to replace it with something else that might drive more viewers" will you sit on the content which is the only way to lose or try and find some other provider willing to pay you something for it? Once the company gets the contracts the rest is outsourced (most of the big guys, Netflix, Disney use AWS) so one even easier contract

The 2 or 3 players left will then have to truly compete on quality... which, believe it or not, will eventually exceed today's best..

I am afraid that is wishful thinking.
1) look at what is happening now, is anyone saying "we will offer a better quality stream to out compete?" no they are saying we will offer an ad based tear or a three month 1.99$ offer . Most people don't care about quality and so better quality, unfortunately for all of us, won't move the needle in subscribers.

2) don't forget improving the A/V by 1mbs is small change on us the consumer side but if there are 10M people streaming at the same time it means 10tbps more BW that is needed (and I am sure there are more then 10M users at the time and 1mbs won't make much of a difference in quality)

There will always be the bleeding edge, currently UHD (Kaleidescape?) , that will be for aficionados willing to pay the price of admission...

1) there is a reason K does not offer streaming even to someone that can DL the film in 5 minutes

2) there is a reason that K content is expensive (compared to other options)

Maybe one day someone will offer a high quality ultra expensive stream that is better quality. Then what is available today on UHD BD/K I really wish that for everyone that can afford it. But now we are talking about a small niche format that will be extremely expensive (if we are still talking subscription streaming.