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

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I think it’s going to be an exclusives war. Disney will have some pretty big hitters coming to their subscription service and they have a lot of pull. I wouldn’t be surprised if they squeeze the cinema chains and threaten to go direct to consumers with some of their very biggest hitters in the future. Maybe that model would be risky now but the landscape will look very different in a few years. Amazon and Netflix are already going that route. Apple will absolutely go the exclusive route and money won’t be a problem.
The likes of Vudu need to differentiate or they won’t keep up. Again, exclusives and a direct to consumer subscription will be needed. The film buying community is shrinking for discs AND Digital, Vudu I understand only have a very small slice of the pie, so going forward they will need something special lest they lose out completely.

LOL.

I don't see greedy Disney ever opting out of their billion dollar theatrical gross plan.

They'll put their straight to video type movies on their service but they are also too greedy to have new flicks available for streaming for a small subscription.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Oppo having to stop selling their Players is a big surprise to me, I ranked them up there with Panasonic Players. You Disc people have to start to wonder the future of Discs. I think this is a big blow to their longevity. We discussed on this Thread Disc Quality in Streaming has been equaled, and the only remaining goal was UHD 4K. The max Bitrate Disc Quality for Blu-ray was a mere 40Mbps and UHD 4K came in at 128Mbps. You're right people are always looking for the best deals, but also the best product money can buy.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Wishful thinking on your part. Disc quality has not been equalled by the way. 4K discs are a thing now and trust me, you won’t be matching that in the foreseeable future. As for Blu-ray, I still say backgrounds are far more solid and artefact free than even the best 4K streaming. Although you guys have bug living rooms in the US, you sit about seven-ten feet away from your screens. No the wonder you don’t see artefacts.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Not streaming though and UHD Disc goes to 128 Mbps compared to Kaleidoscope’s 100 Mbps so even if you want to take an extreme example, disc is still capable of higher bit rates

I don't know why we are still discussing Streaming Disc Quality, when the facts point to Bitrate. Blu-ray Disc Quality should be a thing of the past with 40Mbps the max for their Players. Now for UHD 4K Players going up to 128Mbps, their Disc Quality is in questions. Kaleidoscope does a 1:1, but with the latest Codec and Adaptive Streaming, Bitrates close to 100Mbps is sufficient for UHD Streaming. You keep quoting artifacts in dark scenes from old information, and compressed downloads Streaming to Mobile Devices. Disc Quality in Streaming has been achieved, and you have to come up with some new opposition.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I don't know why we are still discussing Streaming Disc Quality, when the facts point to Bitrate.

Because it has been well established that you have very selective "facts" that even many others on the pro-digital distribution side have called you out on.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Disc Quality in Streaming has been achieved

It has not been achieved and your repeating this falsehood does not make it so. The pq has come close, the audio lags behind, and close does not mean "achieved."

The youtube video that reviewed and compared Apple's 4K streaming to that of 4K UHD specifically mentioned artifacts during dark scenes at the 9:50 mark.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=7716

Before you call this ancient, the video was posted Oct. 21, 2017.

Kaleidescape is a download service, not a streaming service.

"Movies and TV shows purchased from the Kaleidescape Movie Store are collection-grade. 4K HDR and 4K Ultra HD titles are delivered with audio and video quality that is far better than conventional streaming options. Blu-ray quality and DVD quality downloads are delivered with audio and video quality that matches that of a Blu-ray Disc or DVD."

For 4K playback you need the Kaleidescape Strato: "The Kaleidescape Strato, introduced in 2015, is the first product in a new line of players that support 4K HDR and 4K Ultra HD playback, as well as ultra high-definition user interfaces. It is compatible with all downloads from the Kaleidescape Movie Store. An HDR-compatible display connected to a Kaleidescape Strato is required to playback 4K HDR downloads."

It has a MSRP of $4,495- so rush out and get yours now.

https://store.kaleidescape.com/help#disc_free_download

If you have to make stuff up, at least make up new stuff.

[huskersports]

Originally Posted by Destinys Memory

What is with this awful (new?) trend of charging $19.99 for digital copies?

The Post? $19.99.

Jumanji 2017? $19.99. Same price as the 4K physical version for a digital version in HD. What, Sony wasn't satisfied with a BILLION for Jumanji? Gotta get an extra fiver outta everybody?

Here is how this is supposed to work, studios: Digital version, $14.99, released 2 weeks to a month before physical.

Physical version, $5 to $8 more than digital, releases significantly later than digital.

You are not Disney. I'm not shelling out $20 for a digital version of Jumanji / The Post / Nearly any non-Disney title. Your movie isn't that important. Stop it.

Just guessing, but The Post is probably $19.99 because you're getting all of the bonus features that the physical disc has on it. I'll probably go the digital route on this film and get the disc, maybe, when it drops below $10.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by huskersports

Just guessing, but The Post is probably $19.99 because you're getting all of the bonus features that the physical disc has on it. I'll probably go the digital route on this film and get the disc, maybe, when it drops below $10.

The 4K UHD of The Post is only $24.96, the blu-ray edition is $19.96, and both editions include the digital copy. If you buy the $19.99 Digital Only and then buy the blu-ray for about $10 later when deeply discounted, you will have spent $29.99 total, which is more than what either of the disc editions cost right now.

The blu-ray edition with the digital copy is 3 cents cheaper than what the digital alone costs. If you want both disc and digital, buying either disc combo pack is a better value.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

LOL.

I don't see greedy Disney ever opting out of their billion dollar theatrical gross plan.

They'll put their straight to video type movies on their service but they are also too greedy to have new flicks available for streaming for a small subscription.

You are presuming box office doesn’t drastically drop over the next few years. No one wanted people to be able to stream millions of songs for free with adverts or £10 per month but it happened. The industry didn’t want 99p singles to be more popular than albums but they were.
Anyway, I didn’t specifically say it would be included in the subscription. It may be a added cost. Maybe subscribers get the early releases included as a extra tier.
Some may just wait for the big hitters to hit the normal subscription service. Exclusives like Toy Story 4, live action The Lion King, Frozen 2 etc..

[bessetmath]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The 4K UHD of The Post is only $24.96, the blu-ray edition is $19.96, and both editions include the digital copy. If you buy the $19.99 Digital Only and then buy the blu-ray for about $10 later when deeply discounted, you will have spent $29.99 total, which is more than what either of the disc editions cost right now.

The blu-ray edition with the digital copy is 3 cents cheaper than what the digital alone costs. If you want both disc and digital, buying either disc combo pack is a better value.

You can find the code for about 5-6$ on websites, facebook, google groups and forum.

[huskersports]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The 4K UHD of The Post is only $24.96, the blu-ray edition is $19.96, and both editions include the digital copy. If you buy the $19.99 Digital Only and then buy the blu-ray for about $10 later when deeply discounted, you will have spent $29.99 total, which is more than what either of the disc editions cost right now.

The blu-ray edition with the digital copy is 3 cents cheaper than what the digital alone costs. If you want both disc and digital, buying either disc combo pack is a better value.

That's true. But if I decide NOT to buy the blu-ray combo pack, I've still only spent 19.99 and have all of the bonus features.

[Dustin44]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The 4K UHD of The Post is only $24.96, the blu-ray edition is $19.96, and both editions include the digital copy. If you buy the $19.99 Digital Only and then buy the blu-ray for about $10 later when deeply discounted, you will have spent $29.99 total, which is more than what either of the disc editions cost right now.

The blu-ray edition with the digital copy is 3 cents cheaper than what the digital alone costs. If you want both disc and digital, buying either disc combo pack is a better value.

Or he could just buy the code from someone on this website or on Google+ for between $5-$8.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Dustin44

Or he could just buy the code from someone on this website or on Google+ for between $5-$8.

And shrink the buyers market further and devalue films. Great.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Dustin44

Or he could just buy the code from someone on this website or on Google+ for between $5-$8.

Perhaps so; they might even be able to get a code for free on these forums, but I was responding because the person posting expressed a desire to possibly own both disc and digital and indicated they were willing to spend $19.99 on the digital alone.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by huskersports

That's true. But if I decide NOT to buy the blu-ray combo pack, I've still only spent 19.99 and have all of the bonus features.

Even so, for $19.96 you can have both and gift the disc to someone if you decide you have no need for it. Essentially, you can have both disc and code for the same price as just the code alone. The best value seems clear to me.

[Dustin44]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Even so, for $19.96 you can have both and gift the disc to someone if you decide you have no need for it. Essentially, you can have both disc and code for the same price as just the code alone. The best value seems clear to me.

Yeah, it looks like you can get the disc + digital for $19.96 now on Vudu.

So if he wants to watch it now, that would be his best bet. He can watch the digital now and get the disc on release day and then decide to keep or sell the disc.

So that's his best bet, if he wants to watch the movie right now.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

You are presuming box office doesn’t drastically drop over the next few years. No one wanted people to be able to stream millions of songs for free with adverts or £10 per month but it happened. The industry didn’t want 99p singles to be more popular than albums but they were.
Anyway, I didn’t specifically say it would be included in the subscription. It may be a added cost. Maybe subscribers get the early releases included as a extra tier.
Some may just wait for the big hitters to hit the normal subscription service. Exclusives like Toy Story 4, live action The Lion King, Frozen 2 etc..

Disney blockbusters are almost the only thing people are flocking to the theaters for. Disney owns 5 of the top 10 all-time worldwide grossers. and 8 of the top 15. Most of those in the last 3 years alone.

[peep6543]

Originally Posted by flyry

Disney blockbusters are almost the only thing people are flocking to the theaters for. Disney owns 5 of the top 10 all-time worldwide grossers. and 8 of the top 15. Most of those in the last 3 years alone.

Just for the sake of conversation, how much do you feel those more recent numbers are inflated due to rising ticket prices? Is there a statistic to measure overall traffic volume instead of total sales? A Saturday evening ticket to see Titanic when it was new was $7 and now a 3D ticket to Ready Player One is $17.

I certainly don't disagree they are raking in cash, but I wonder if that statistic alone is reflective of overall theater traffic trends.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by peep6543

Just for the sake of conversation, how much do you feel those more recent numbers are inflated due to rising ticket prices? Is there a statistic to measure overall traffic volume instead of total sales? A Saturday evening ticket to see Titanic when it was new was $7 and now a 3D ticket to Ready Player One is $17.

I certainly don't disagree they are raking in cash, but I wonder if that statistic alone is reflective of overall theater traffic trends.

Couldn't you just take the box office total for Titanic and use an inflation calculator to convert that amount to 2018 dollars and then compare it to Ready Player One?

Titanic's box office (1997) was $2.17 Billion; in 2018 dollars that is equal to $3.37 Billion. Domestic box office for Ready Player One is at $64.34 Million as of April 3, 2018.

In 1997, the average movie ticket price was $4.59. In 2018, that average is estimated at $9.18.

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm

[peep6543]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Couldn't you just take the box office total for Titanic and use an inflation calculator to convert that amount to 2018 dollars and then compare it to Ready Player One?

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Maybe, but I proposed it as a topic of conversation. I was curious how others felt on the topic.

[echopulse]

BoxOfficeMojo has a list of top grossing movies, adjusted for inflation. Disney only has one in the top ten.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm

[flyry]

Originally Posted by peep6543

Just for the sake of conversation, how much do you feel those more recent numbers are inflated due to rising ticket prices? Is there a statistic to measure overall traffic volume instead of total sales? A Saturday evening ticket to see Titanic when it was new was $7 and now a 3D ticket to Ready Player One is $17.

I certainly don't disagree they are raking in cash, but I wonder if that statistic alone is reflective of overall theater traffic trends.

Of course inflation plays a factor, I don't need a chart to tell me that less people are going to the movies these days. My eye test does that for me.

But if it was just inflation, then why aren't everyone else's movies breaking records like Disney?

Why are Paramount and Sony (minus Jumanji) flopping all the time?

We're talking about a company that used to make us buy the 3D copy just for a digital version. They're not gonna debut Toy Story 4 on a streaming device.