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

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

More support for physical media = more titles released on physical media = more titles that can't ever possibly be modified or removed.

Well, I do all I can.

My streaming has led to more purchases of physical media as I use it to research content of interest before making a purchase decision. If I do decide to buy, I buy it on disc.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Noticed Disney has removed the wording for a digital code refund from Captain Marvel as seen here. I just got the typical run around when I requested a digital code refund from another recent title that did offer a refund .

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Well, I do all I can.

My streaming has led to more purchases of physical media as I use it to research content of interest before making a purchase decision. If I do decide to buy, I buy it on disc.

My entire collection (except catalogue obviously) is blind buys. It ruins it watching on streaming first.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

My entire collection (except catalogue obviously) is blind buys. It ruins it watching on streaming first.

Blind buys have rarely worked out for me. Before I purchase, I have saw a title in the theater, rented via LaserDisc, βetamax, DVD or Blu-ray and in a few cases PPV via DirecTV or Dish when I had those. Have had Netflix disc by mail for a very long time so no need to rent via streaming in the US.

[gotmule]

Curious for us “Disc People” as we have been labeled, what is the most copies of a certain title you own? I am in the process of upgrading the projector and lens in my room to 4K, so have been double dipping and triple dipping a lot lately. It caused me to look at my entire collection to answer this question myself and found a half dozen where I have it on Laser Disc, dvd, Blu-ray, and UHD. I never bought any VHS other than some concerts, so I am up to quadruple dipping. I think the over under is 6 for a couple of folks on this thread. I am sure there are folks who stream as well as buy discs who may be in the same position.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Curious for us “Disc People” as we have been labeled, what is the most copies of a certain title you own? I am in the process of upgrading the projector and lens in my room to 4K, so have been double dipping and triple dipping a lot lately. It caused me to look at my entire collection to answer this question myself and found a half dozen where I have it on Laser Disc, dvd, Blu-ray, and UHD. I never bought any VHS other than some concerts, so I am up to quadruple dipping. I think the over under is 6 for a couple of folks on this thread. I am sure there are folks who stream as well as buy discs who may be in the same position.

Including DVD, Halloween and Alien/Aliens.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Blind buys have rarely worked out for me. Before I purchase, I have saw a title in the theater, rented via LaserDisc, βetamax, DVD or Blu-ray and in a few cases PPV via DirecTV or Dish when I had those. Have had Netflix disc by mail for a very long time so no need to rent via streaming in the US.

I love movie night with a fresh unwatched film. My success rate is around 85%.

Watching a great new film is my drug of choice.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I love movie night with a fresh unwatched film.

Me too, have watched 45 new titles (for me) since the first of the year. Was in Florida for most of February and other distractions so my count is down from my norm, + this years selection is on the thin side.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

My entire collection (except catalogue obviously) is blind buys. It ruins it watching on streaming first.

Watching a movie on streaming first in no way ruins the movie. The movie is what makes or ruins itself.

Streaming is one of the ways that I evaluate movies that I am uncertain about and doing so has saved me from making some bad purchase decisions. As I am likely to watch something that I enjoyed more than once, streaming has led me to make many purchases that I would not have otherwise.

I see watching something with streaming or VOD to be no different than if I watched it on broadcast TV. If I like what I watched, I then buy it on disc.

I do make some blind buys, but this happens when I have a strong reason to believe that I will like the film. I might really like the director, the actors, the genre, the uniqueness of the movie, or any combination of these. An attractive sale price might also motivate me to take a gamble.

I may spend what some think is a lot on this hobby, but I try to make mostly informed choices along with a few risky ones to keep it all interesting.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Me too, have watched 45 new titles (for me) since the first of the year. Was in Florida for most of February and other distractions so my count is down from my norm, + this years selection is on the thin side.

I have found the releases offered this year to be bountiful and varied. I could not be happier about the selection. So much has been released that my wish list has grown substantially; even I can't keep up.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Me too, have watched 45 new titles (for me) since the first of the year. Was in Florida for most of February and other distractions so my count is down from my norm, + this years selection is on the thin side.

My list is at 45 for the year (I buy all my titles in December) I expect it to hover around 55-60 by then. I will always have 52 for each week of the year!

Going to close in on some 3D titles I have been on the fence about. (The Stewardess and Inferno 3D). My most anticipated blind buys are Midsommar, Dragged Across Concrete, Us and John Wick 3. I think IT chapter 2 may come along in January so I may hang on for that as an exception.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Watching a movie on streaming first in no way ruins the movie. The movie is what makes or ruins itself.

Streaming is one of the ways that I evaluate movies that I am uncertain about and doing so has saved me from making some bad purchase decisions. As I am likely to watch something that I enjoyed more than once, streaming has led me to make many purchases that I would not have otherwise.

I see watching something with streaming or VOD to be no different than if I watched it on broadcast TV. If I like what I watched, I then buy it on disc.

I do make some blind buys, but this happens when I have a strong reason to believe that I will like the film. I might really like the director, the actors, the genre, the uniqueness of the movie, or any combination of these. An attractive sale price might also motivate me to take a gamble.

I may spend what some think is a lot on this hobby, but I try to make mostly informed choices along with a few risky ones to keep it all interesting.

Like I say, it works for me. It’s not as exciting watching it before buying. especially on an inferior source.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Like I say, it works for me. It’s not as exciting watching it before buying. especially on an inferior source.

Streaming quality does not equal that of the corresponding disc, but the gap between them is not so immense that the presentation suffers enough to ruin the viewing experience- very far from it. If I can watch a movie on TV and enjoy it then I certainly can do the same with streaming. Streaming often looks better than what TV provides. If I was that demanding of seeing a movie for the first time in the best possible quality, I would make it a point to go to the theater more.

Seeing a movie before, or after, I purchase it does not affect my excitement for it in any way. I would never see another movie at the cinema if that was the case.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

My entire collection (except catalogue obviously) is blind buys. It ruins it watching on streaming first.

The bulk of my movies are blind buys, as well. A lot can have to do with the interest one has. Most of my buys these days are titles not likely to be available through streaming or rental anytime soon. On an average of $15 a title, I don't mind if I only end up watching once for freedom of owning and watching at my convenience.

[dublinbluray108]

The U.S. Army Air Force & Defence Exchange service is to stop selling physical movie/TV show & video game titles by the end of this year by replacing them with digital titles because of falling sales arising from digital downloads & streaming. They had noted that 83% of titles were sold digitally while 17% of them was physical. They will however still continue to sell physical media players & consoles along with their new digital marketplace.

https://www.stripes.com/news/streami...-dvds-1.593537

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by smithb

The bulk of my movies are blind buys, as well. A lot can have to do with the interest one has. Most of my buys these days are titles not likely to be available through streaming or rental anytime soon. On an average of $15 a title, I don't mind if I only end up watching once for freedom of owning and watching at my convenience.

Yep, I’m with you. It feels kind of ruined if I watch first before buying on Blu-Ray. Obviously, the exception is the cinema but I only go around nine or ten times a year. I tend to prefer my HT these days.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by dublinbluray108

The U.S. Army Air Force & Defence Exchange service is to stop selling physical movie/TV show & video game titles by the end of this year by replacing them with digital titles because of falling sales arising from digital downloads & streaming. They had noted that 83% of titles were sold digitally while 17% of them was physical. They will however still continue to sell physical media players & consoles along with their new digital marketplace.

https://www.stripes.com/news/streami...-dvds-1.593537

Actually, that statistic was just for video games:

"Last year, 83% of all computer and video games were sold digitally while only 17% were purchased in physical form,” AAFES spokesman Chris Ward said."

The AAFES gave no specific statistics on physical media sales for movies, only games.

Military personnel are often very mobile; they get transferred frequently and often with very little notice. It is not surprising that they would prefer to buy content that can be easily accessed from wherever their latest assignment places them. Military quarters also tend to be rather small; not a lot of space conducive to accumulating stuff.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have found the releases offered this year to be bountiful and varied. I could not be happier about the selection. So much has been released that my wish list has grown substantially; even I can't keep up.

I agree overall. I should have been more clear, most of what I get from Netflix is new movies (Alita, Hellboy 2019, Shazam, Captain Marvel, etc.) and in this category I find the new releases to be on the slim side.

For me, the audio is half the movie, just removed my first UHD BD (Underworld 2003) and replaced with my original BD because it had a better audio mix. The other Sony titles that have been remixed with Dolby Atmos have been really good.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yep, I’m with you. It feels kind of ruined if I watch first before buying on Blu-Ray. Obviously, the exception is the cinema but I only go around nine or ten times a year. I tend to prefer my HT these days.

I've only been to a cinema no more than 5 times in the last 15 years. Coincidentally, my home theater was finished in 2004. That lets you know my preference for viewing location.

[rikraq]

So you guys would rather spend money buying a lot of possibly crap movies than deign to use streaming first?

You must have money to blow.