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

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by veritas

My Godzilla minus one arrived with the 4k disc loose. It also freezes in multiple spots toward the end of the film. From a qc perspective 4k really is a failure. It should never have been released without a tolerance for damage that blu rays and dvds have. Then we have companies stacking discs to save pennies on a product that’s already to fragile.

I’m surprised 4k has done as well as it has with its qc problems.

This irritates me so much. I'm sorry yours got treated with such little care. I pre-ordered the Japanese Deluxe Collector's Edition, I want to say over last summer and had zero issues. Then again, I think I paid like $75 for it too.

I don't know why that Mexican pressing plant can't get their shit together. Even discs that show no signs of abuse, offgassing or scratches I've had skip. For me, it was my player (LG UBK90). My BP350 was a pile of junk too, now I'm just using my Xbox with zero problems.

I think I have a couple discs made in Germany from Paramount and those ones seem like they're made better.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

This irritates me so much. I'm sorry yours got treated with such little care. I pre-ordered the Japanese Deluxe Collector's Edition, I want to say over last summer and had zero issues. Then again, I think I paid like $75 for it too.

I don't know why that Mexican pressing plant can't get their shit together. Even discs that show no signs of abuse, offgassing or scratches I've had skip. For me, it was my player (LG UBK90). My BP350 was a pile of junk too, now I'm just using my Xbox with zero problems.

I think I have a couple discs made in Germany from Paramount and those ones seem like they're made better.

It’s ironic that the consoles (specially PS5) are more reliable than most budget to mid priced dedicated players.

[crutzulee]

I guess for me, the discs only need to be read flawlessly once in my son's supercomputer...

[veritas]

Ya that’s an interesting thing it could be my player which has a smaller tolerance. But if I bought something new I would rather play it with the lower tolerance player anyway and return it if it failed that bar. If one player works and another player doesn’t then it also means that disc is boarder line playable to unplayable.

How many other products can you think of that work some of the time new when used as intended?

[veritas]

I just find it hard to believe that 4k could pass much of any reliability testing considering just how fragile it can be and the percent of failed discs we get new is qc disaster.

[the-pi-guy]

I always find it a bit surprising how many issues people seem to have.

I think I've had about 3 bad discs out of probably ~130. Which I guess I personally don't view as a horrible number.

I also always kind of wonder if I'm lucky when it comes to shipping too or if there are different shipping areas that are just worse. I mean they usually just come in one of those plastic shipping bags, but I think out of like 200 orders, I've only had like 4 cases that were broken. 1 was a steelbook that I don't think was really a shipping issue.

[gotmule]

Vilya update…

Our friend was released and has been resting and recovering while staying with Warren, who is his friend and chauffeur. As you might imagine, the cardiac ward is not a quiet one. Combine that with a lot of visits and attention from the medical staff, and you have one tired Vilya. He visits St Louis next week for a follow up and to initiate conversation of a transplant.

Hopefully he is up to posting in the near future, as he truly does appreciate the well wishes, concern, and messages sent his way.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I guess for me, the discs only need to be read flawlessly once in my son's supercomputer...

That's a good way to know the disc is not defective in time to initiate an exchange.

I have been having good luck with UHD but sometimes a disc is simply bad. It's worse when it's in a box set and worse still when you don't find out right away.

I can remember 4 discs that were defective out my nearly 900 UHD BDs. So, for me I have had good luck so far.

[stonesfan129]

So I noticed that WB is releasing a 4KBD of Lethal Weapon, which will include both the theatrical and director cuts. But it is exclusively 4KBD+DIGITAL. Are we starting to see studios abandoning standard BD?

[CV19]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

So I noticed that WB is releasing a 4KBD of Lethal Weapon, which will include both the theatrical and director cuts. But it is exclusively 4KBD+DIGITAL. Are we starting to see studios abandoning standard BD?

Well I really hope not. Personally I don't have all that many 4K titles, but I noticed the other night that my 4K disc of The Shining had a couple of freezing issues. Thankfully there is a regular blu-ray included so at least I can watch that, but I bought this mainly because it was the extended cut of the film as opposed to the theatrical cut which my old blu-ray featured.

[bhampton]

I would rather them abandon DVD.

I do buy some shark movies on DVD but I can't see buying a Series on DVD that I am paying to access in 4K on steaming. Cobra Kai and Severance for examples.

[Anthony P]

Keep strong Vilya, speedy recovery.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

So I noticed that WB is releasing a 4KBD of Lethal Weapon, which will include both the theatrical and director cuts. But it is exclusively 4KBD+DIGITAL. Are we starting to see studios abandoning standard BD?

Originally Posted by bhampton

I would rather them abandon DVD.

For me Combos are not really needed. be it adding digital, DVD or BD

[veritas]

Originally Posted by the-pi-guy

I always find it a bit surprising how many issues people seem to have.

I think I've had about 3 bad discs out of probably ~130. Which I guess I personally don't view as a horrible number.

I also always kind of wonder if I'm lucky when it comes to shipping too or if there are different shipping areas that are just worse. I mean they usually just come in one of those plastic shipping bags, but I think out of like 200 orders, I've only had like 4 cases that were broken. 1 was a steelbook that I don't think was really a shipping issue.

If the fail rate is 5% then the odds of a set having an issue is massive. the harry potter set has like a 44% chance of a problem and an 80% chance of an issue with a set like the game of thrones set. The thing is 5% is a massive failure rate for a new product. I buy used bd and dvd and I expect to run into problems less then 1% of the time (with basic visual inspection).



Really its a compounding of issues. bad packaging, not properly built cases, shippers who don't care and toss packages and a format that was not very well thought out on a qc and reliability level.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

So I noticed that WB is releasing a 4KBD of Lethal Weapon, which will include both the theatrical and director cuts. But it is exclusively 4KBD+DIGITAL. Are we starting to see studios abandoning standard BD?

I doubt it, I think it’s just a way of adding more value to a 4K only release.

Warners are releasing Sinners on 4K and Blu-ray for example, so new releases seem fine.

[stonesfan129]

I feel like a lot of collectors are feeling a squeeze from both ends. As fewer people buy discs, studios print fewer copies. Smaller runs mean higher per-unit costs, which they pass on to consumers. Studios are steering serious collectors toward 4K UHD—but the discs often cost $30–$40+ (sometimes more with steelbooks or box sets). Regular Blu-rays are sometimes dropped or only included as part of a 4K bundle. Physical editions now often need to justify their existence with special packaging, bonus content, or restoration—which increases production costs. Some boutique labels (Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, etc.) limit print runs, which drives up aftermarket prices and encourages a FOMO culture.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I feel like a lot of collectors are feeling a squeeze from both ends. As fewer people buy discs, studios print fewer copies. Smaller runs mean higher per-unit costs, which they pass on to consumers. Studios are steering serious collectors toward 4K UHD—but the discs often cost $30–$40+ (sometimes more with steelbooks or box sets). Regular Blu-rays are sometimes dropped or only included as part of a 4K bundle. Physical editions now often need to justify their existence with special packaging, bonus content, or restoration—which increases production costs. Some boutique labels (Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, etc.) limit print runs, which drives up aftermarket prices and encourages a FOMO culture.

Over here, I’m still seeing the option of Blu-ray or 4K for most releases.
I’m not concerned about the cost, this is how things work with a very mature format, I will budget for it.

The biggest change for me has been the need to pre order a lot more, back in the day I just made two huge batch purchases of around 30 discs each n October and December. Now, I just buy as they become available lest I miss out.

It’s worth it for me, quality is king in my mind.

[Lord-Oakbeard]

Sending my salutations and very best thoughts and wishes to Vilya from my creaky old castle in foggy olde England.

If your reading the forum, you are an amazing bloke so keep fighting and be positive, you can do it.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by veritas

If the fail rate is 5% ... The thing is 5% is a massive failure rate for a new product.

and if the fail rate is 100% ... The thing is 100% is a massive failure rate for a new product.

even if we go with the OPs numbers

Originally Posted by the-pi-guy

I think I've had about 3 bad discs out of probably ~130.

that would be around 2.5%

the harry potter set has like a 44% chance of a problem and an 80% chance of an issue with a set like the game of thrones set.

that is not how probability works.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

that would be around 2.5%

He also said his shipping was good and didn't have issues which is one hell of an outlier. personally I feel like 5% is a more fair median for problems. I have my own sample size after all which i admit is more biased by my recent failure rate being like 25%. It also matters I suppose what you consider as unacceptable. amazon has been breaking tons of cases lately which while not a critical failure of the product would suck to pay new prices for.

Originally Posted by Anthony P

that is not how probability works.

That is in fact how probability works. like objectively why don't you try and do the probability with a 5% failure rate its not hard. 30 discs with each has a 5% failure rate probability that they all work will be 21.5%.
I just wanted to make an example of how a low failure rate with many chances to fail compounds more then people think to the point where people fail at math when confronted by it.

You are the QED proof of that .