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

[dcx4610]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

June 30 was the last day Best Buy sells CD's. Because of the popularity of digital downloads and streaming, the physical disk is being phased out. Reports are going out that Target is next to phase out Music CD's.

I'm afraid we are seeing the early stages of ALL physical media being phased out. Today, it's CD's, tomorrow....DVD'S and Bluray's.

This truly breaks my heart.

http://loudwire.com/today-is-the-las...s-at-best-buy/

Part me is glad. If you are still buying CDs or physical media, you are either from an older generation OR you are passionate and care about quality and physically owning something.

Physical media is turning into a niche product and I'm fine with that. All it does is create a market for actual record/music stores like in the past. We have several dedicated music stores around my parts and one is thriving to the point where they had to buy a bigger location. Vinyl flies off the shelf and they hold in-store concerts.

We also have a fantastic used store that is always packed full of people.

Mainstream B&M stores cater to mainstream people. We aren't mainstream. If they don't want to support us, I don't want to support them. I'll give my money to indie stores and mingle with other people that actually care.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I think Kage is getting mixed up with Amazon exclusives. Some discs are only available to Prime customers unless you go through third party sellers. It’s a business decision to boost Prime customers imo, nothing else.

He could also have just been burned on WB 4k Catalog releases as those are sometimes unavailable for a few weeks after release.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by flyry

He could also have just been burned on WB 4k Catalog releases as those are sometimes unavailable for a few weeks after release.

Warner Brothers is being a pain with not only their 4k releases, but with their 3D releases, also. It is often better to import both of these as they are in stock and better priced overseas. In the U.S., Warner Brothers charges substantially more for the 3D edition than for the corresponding 4K edition- if you can even find them anywhere other than at their direct website, WBshop.com. Their titles are usually priced at, or near, full retail at their website.

I placed on order yesterday, finally, at Amazon.uk for The Matrix 4K at cost of just $21.87 because Warner Brothers titles are in stock there and they are actually cheaper even with shipping costs tacked on.

Whatever game Warner Brothers is playing with their inventory of these particular titles seems to be confined to the U.S. I first noticed these supply problems with the 4K release of the original Blade Runner. It was months before I could actually lay my hands on a copy here in the U.S. I have no trouble finding their 4K/ 3D titles abroad. Domestic availability for their 4K titles usually improves a few weeks, seems like months, after release date.

[Dustin44]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Warner Brothers is being a pain with not only their 4k releases, but with their 3D releases, also. It is often better to import both of these as they are in stock and better priced overseas. In the U.S., Warner Brothers charges substantially more for the 3D edition than for the corresponding 4K edition- if you can even find them anywhere other than at their direct website, WBshop.com. Their titles are usually priced at, or near, full retail at their website.

I placed on order yesterday, finally, at Amazon.uk for The Matrix 4K at cost of just $21.87 because Warner Brothers titles are in stock there and they are actually cheaper even with shipping costs tacked on.

Whatever game Warner Brothers is playing with their inventory of these particular titles seems to be confined to the U.S. I first noticed these supply problems with the 4K release of the original Blade Runner. It was months before I could actually lay my hands on a copy here in the U.S. I have no trouble finding their 4K/ 3D titles abroad. Domestic availability for their 4K titles usually improves a few months after release date.

The Matrix 4K was on sale for $18.99 at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago.

I know people in the Hot Deals thread said they were having trouble finding it at their stores though. (I know I was at my local Best Buy that week and remember seeing a 4K display and the spot for The Matrix was empty.)

I am not sure what is up with Warner Bros. and some of their 4K releases. They are obviously not sending very many copies to stores.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Dustin44

The Matrix 4K was on sale for $18.99 at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago.

I know people in the Hot Deals thread said they were having trouble finding it at their stores though. (I know I was at my local Best Buy that week and remember seeing a 4K display and the spot for The Matrix was empty.)

I am not sure what is up with Warner Bros. and some of their 4K releases. They are obviously not sending very many copies to stores.

That was a great price if you could actually get it for that. I ordered 6 other titles from Amazon.uk yesterday, so I just added the The Matix 4K because they had it in stock. I was happy just to finally get it ordered. I also ordered Disney's The Prestige on 4K for the same price; it, too, has become hard to find at a decent price for some strange reason. I had to get some 3D titles like Black Panther and Coco to round out the order.

[flyry]

The WB funny business for 4k catalog started with Unforgiven

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by flyry

The WB funny business for 4k catalog started with Unforgiven

I still need to upgrade that one. I hear it is a great looking 4K title.

[flyry]

To add to the Best buy discussion many members on reddit and in the retail section of this site are mentioning BB severely shrinking and even removing their movie sections.

take it for what its worth.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=406

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=408

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by flyry

The WB funny business for 4k catalog started with Unforgiven

Originally Posted by Vilya

I still need to upgrade that one. I hear it is a great looking 4K title.

I have upgraded to many UHD 4K Digital, and Unforgiven is one of my favorites. The other ones are the Jurassic Park Movies, I love watching those. Saving Private Ryan in 4K is just Fantastic. I was able to watch Sony Ultra in 4K, but now I can also use Vudu 4K, and I just keep upgrading my favorite Movies in my Collection.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

This just shows a transition to online shopping, not abandonment of physical media. As there continue to be more and more physical releases brick and mortar stores can't possibly compete with the selection of online stores.

There are around fifty new releases on Blu-ray every week, over a hundred on DVD, and a few hundred on CD. Trying to judge which ones will sell in each store was never a sustainable business model. It makes perfect sense for most physical media to be sold exclusively online with only a few really popular titles being shipped to stores.

Not sure why this is so difficult to understand. As a serious collector, I haven’t bought from a store for seven years, yet I still grab 50+ titles a year online. Heck, regular clothes stores/ general stores are closing dong down in my part of the woods. Online shopping has had a huge impact on the high street.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I have upgraded to many UHD 4K Digital, and Unforgiven is one of my favorites. The other ones are the Jurassic Park Movies, I love watching those. Saving Private Ryan in 4K is just Fantastic. I was able to watch Sony Ultra in 4K, but now I can also use Vudu 4K, and I just keep upgrading my favorite Movies in my Collection.

They would look even better on disc. You are not getting the full benefit, a bit like when you leave your winter coat on at home, so when you go back out in the cold, you dont get the full benefit.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Not sure why this is so difficult to understand. As a serious collector, I haven’t bought from a store for seven years, yet I still grab 50+ titles a year online. Heck, regular clothes stores/ general stores are closing dong down in my part of the woods. Online shopping has had a huge impact on the high street.

Only 50+? You need to get serious if you're going to be a serious collector.

I have already purchased and received 143 discs so far this year with another 17 on order. Step up your game and go from serious to zealous.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Only 50+? You need to get serious if you're going to be a serious collector.

I have already purchased and received 143 discs so far this year with another 17 on order. Step up your game and go from serious to zealous.

Yeah, but I’m a single guy working full time with a mortgage I need to pay off and also a keen interest in VR, computing and gaming. Not to mention love of good food and a football team to support!

Of course, Blu-ray gets most of my disposable money!

[Wendell R. Breland]

Best Buy has shuttered all of its mobile stores, Verizon has dumped Go90, HH Gregg has shuttered all of its box stores, Circuit City went by the way side a long time ago, ...........

Been hearing doom and gloom about home entertainment for more than 30 years but here we are with CD’s, DVD’s, BD’s and UHD BD’s just a couple of clicks and days away .

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yeah, but I’m a single guy working full time with a mortgage I need to pay off and also a keen interest in VR, computing and gaming. Not to mention love of good food and a football team to support!

Of course, Blu-ray gets most of my disposable money!

The real world can be a real pain what with the way it interferes with our hobbies; that's why I spend as little time in it as I can. The sky in my world is a pretty shade of blu.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Best Buy has shuttered all of its mobile stores, Verizon has dumped Go90, HH Gregg has shuttered all of its box stores, Circuit City went by the way side a long time ago, ...........

Been hearing doom and gloom about home entertainment for more than 30 years but here we are with CD’s, DVD’s, BD’s and UHD BD’s just a couple of clicks and days away .

There will always be lots of Chicken Littles prophesying...

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Circuit City went by the way side a long time ago, ...........

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/09/circ...e-horizon.html

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Vilya

There will always be lots of Chicken Littles prophesying...

Courtesy of Steedeel

[The_Donster]

Spent the better half of the afternoon playing catch up in the thread from Hawkins, Texas. Currently piggy backing into the home owners WiFi and phone coverage is spotty here if you are on an AT & T cell plan. Family and I made it here about 3 weeks ago, but been preoccupied with finding a new home. Going to be settling in Gilmer, Texas once we get an ETA on a couple of things. Sounds like eTex is king around this area, but haven’t been able to confirm other options at the moment. While having the same reliable internet was important, having a house mortgage free that my wife loved was even more important. Anyway, hope to be back more once we are moved in and operational. Once I am I’ll let you know how things are between Western Washington State and NE Texas

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Spent the better half of the afternoon playing catch up in the thread from Hawkins, Texas. Currently piggy backing into the home owners WiFi and phone coverage is spotty here if you are on an AT & T cell plan. Family and I made it here about 3 weeks ago, but been preoccupied with finding a new home. Going to be settling in Gilmer, Texas once we get an ETA on a couple of things. Sounds like eTex is king around this area, but haven’t been able to confirm other options at the moment. While having the same reliable internet was important, having a house mortgage free that my wife loved was even more important. Anyway, hope to be back more once we are moved in and operational. Once I am I’ll let you know how things are between Western Washington State and NE Texas

Nope, didn’t miss you.