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

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

My argument has never been about picture quality. I have Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Grace & Frankie on DVD (there are no Blu-ray versions); they are both available in 4K on Netflix. I have no doubt the streaming versions look much better than the DVDs but that doesn't make them better overall.

No matter how big of difference in picture or audio quality between the streaming and physical media versions I will always choose physical media. The difference in ownership rights is far more important.

I know that the studios can never take away any of the thousands of discs they've already printed for each title nor can they prevent anyone from reselling them or giving them away. If you think the same is true of streaming or downloads you're in denial.



It'll only become standard if people have already adjusted to it. The studios can't force anyone to accept streaming; they'll only drop physical media if people stop buying physical media. The customers have all the power here but you and all the other digital supporters are causing streaming to become standard.

Nothing about a digital-only world is inevitable unless you and the other digital supporters cause it to be.

If you can buy a digital UV HDX code for around $3 from someone and the blu-ray was $15 that came with the digital code, and you wanted to see the movie but were not sure if it would be a movie you want to own, would you buy the digital code? This is assuming that Redbox did not have the blu-ray available for rent.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by PCFan

If you can buy a digital UV HDX code for around $3 from someone and the blu-ray was $15 that came with the digital code, and you wanted to see the movie but were not sure if it would be a movie you want to own, would you buy the digital code? This is assuming that Redbox did not have the blu-ray available for rent.

No. I can easily sell the movie if I don't want to keep it. A movie I didn't want to watch more than once has never cost me more than $3.

Plus if the digital code is selling for $3 when you can't find the Blu-ray for less than $15 doesn't that show how little people value digital copies? Obviously most people aren't willing to pay for convenience... they love digital because it's cheap.

[PenguinMaster]

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

[PCFan]

I bought a few movies directly through Vudu, but spent no more than $7.99 on a movie there and usually I bought them when they were on sale and I'm talking about $3.99-$7.99 sales. There were no digital codes for those movies that I bought directly through Vudu. I also did D2D through Vudu with many of my own blu-rays. I also bought a few movies through iTunes as well back when I was using iTunes for only 3 months and most of them I paid between $4.99-$6.99 from the discount sales. I won't pay full price for a digital movie and just wait for codes or a good sale. Blu-rays is a different story for me though. I recently bought the Carrie (Collector's Edition) for $21.99 and Midnight Run (Shout Factory) for $19.99. I don't usually pay that much for a blu-ray though, but I was waiting like a year for those two blu-rays to go on sale but they never did or at least I never caught a sale on them. However, I have no problems paying over $7.99 for a blu-ray. Over $14.99 I will usually wait for a sale. I could never justify paying over $7.99 for a digital movie.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by PCFan

I could never justify paying that much for a digital movie.

I think that's the general trend, even among digital supporters. Yet plenty of people are predicting that physical media is going to disappear. Why would the studios stop offering physical media when no one is willing to pay high prices for anything else?

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

Well I shop for the best price on UV HDX, and here on Blu-ray.com they still have some good prices. For Recent Releases they have been going up in price, but I compare with the Digital Stores. Combo Packs are good, but it's getting harder to sell the Blu-rays and make your money back. People want to pay only a couple of bucks, even you said $5 is the going rate for Blu-ray. $3 for a Code are older Movies, it's all about Supply and Demand. Movies like Rogue One are selling for around $13. Rentals are around $5 or $6, but if you want to see it early you pay the price for the UV. I use to Rent from Red Box, but their Movies take too long to come out. I've already seen Moana, Passengers, Live by Night, Office Christmas Party, and tonight Miss Sloane. So you Disc people are still waiting, and it will be a while till they get down to $5.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I've already seen Moana, Passengers, Live by Night, Office Christmas Party, and tonight Miss Sloane. So you Disc people are still waiting, and it will be a while till they get down to $5.

4 out of 5 of those movies are already out on disc. The movie that you're bragging about watching tonight came out on Blu-ray 3 days ago. And I've already seen Moana and Passengers for less than $1 each (via Redbox).

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

I buy directly from iTunes simply for the fact that I don't have time to search for cheap codes. But, I just tend to wait sometimes when the price hits $10, which always happens either around the time the Blu Ray is released or a week or two after.

[randian]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

I buy combos if I can, but I do buy direct from iTunes when they have a good sale. I usually wait until a title is $4.99. I like to have both a BD and a DC if possible. I've bought cheap codes for titles I wasn't sure I was interested in buying on blu-ray, and some good bundle deals like the 10 for $10 deal iTunes ran a little while ago. Sometimes a title was never released on Blu-ray so digital is the only way to get an HD version, like 24 or Bend It Like Beckham.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

I do both, but I buy directly digital more than combos these days when they're cheaper and/or offer the same special features.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

My argument has never been about picture quality. I have Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Grace & Frankie on DVD (there are no Blu-ray versions); they are both available in 4K on Netflix. I have no doubt the streaming versions look much better than the DVDs but that doesn't make them better overall.

No matter how big of difference in picture or audio quality between the streaming and physical media versions I will always choose physical media. The difference in ownership rights is far more important.

I know that the studios can never take away any of the thousands of discs they've already printed for each title nor can they prevent anyone from reselling them or giving them away. If you think the same is true of streaming or downloads you're in denial.



It'll only become standard if people have already adjusted to it. The studios can't force anyone to accept streaming; they'll only drop physical media if people stop buying physical media. The customers have all the power here but you and all the other digital supporters are causing streaming to become standard.

Nothing about a digital-only world is inevitable unless you and the other digital supporters cause it to be.

And then they will have the audacity to complain when interactive film replaces regular film with constant social interaction and button pressing every few minutes. Digital means Millenials and advertising to the industry IMO, they won't rest until both scenarios are in full force and stuff the rest of us. Look how quick they were to abandon 3D.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well I shop for the best price on UV HDX, and here on Blu-ray.com they still have some good prices. For Recent Releases they have been going up in price, but I compare with the Digital Stores. Combo Packs are good, but it's getting harder to sell the Blu-rays and make your money back. People want to pay only a couple of bucks, even you said $5 is the going rate for Blu-ray. $3 for a Code are older Movies, it's all about Supply and Demand. Movies like Rogue One are selling for around $13. Rentals are around $5 or $6, but if you want to see it early you pay the price for the UV. I use to Rent from Red Box, but their Movies take too long to come out. I've already seen Moana, Passengers, Live by Night, Office Christmas Party, and tonight Miss Sloane. So you Disc people are still waiting, and it will be a while till they get down to $5.

I pay full price (£9-£15) and I blind buy around 60 discs per year. I am delighted to do so as I believe I am supporting the film industry. I value quality A/V above all else and I love the idea of a pyshical collection.

all good things come to those that wait.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

My argument has never been about picture quality. I have Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Grace & Frankie on DVD (there are no Blu-ray versions); they are both available in 4K on Netflix. I have no doubt the streaming versions look much better than the DVDs but that doesn't make them better overall.

No matter how big of difference in picture or audio quality between the streaming and physical media versions I will always choose physical media. The difference in ownership rights is far more important.

I know that the studios can never take away any of the thousands of discs they've already printed for each title nor can they prevent anyone from reselling them or giving them away. If you think the same is true of streaming or downloads you're in denial.



It'll only become standard if people have already adjusted to it. The studios can't force anyone to accept streaming; they'll only drop physical media if people stop buying physical media. The customers have all the power here but you and all the other digital supporters are causing streaming to become standard.

Nothing about a digital-only world is inevitable unless you and the other digital supporters cause it to be.

It's all about brainwashing. Marketing and bullshit articles (IMO) have declared the CD dead for fifteen years yet it's still there. Same with the desktop PC. It is easier than ever to convince the easily lead (generally not talking about any individual) what they should think and what they should watch.

Remember guys MP3 music downloads are the future! Oh wait, maybe not. Em, ummmmmm, Streaming music is the future!

[huskerbear]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

At first all I did was add movies with the UV sheet in the bluray discs I purchased. Then I started buying codes to add catalog and new releases to build my library. Now I purchase directly from Vudu, I think it's a natural transition. Over the holidays I purchased around 150 movies directly from Vudu (great sales) Super convenient and picture quality make it a winner imo.

[Texan26]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

I buy both. I do buy the blu-ray combos just for the codes and then resell the blu-ray. And yes, if blu-rays would stop including the codes, I would stop buying blu-rays. Before blu-rays included codes, I always waited for a price drop to the $10 range before buying the movie. I preordered Rogue One directly from Vudu for $19.99 with a $3.00 coupon code for a future purchase. I plan on buying Logan directly from Vudu since it's priced at $14.99. Maybe 50% of my digital movie collection came from using Vudu's disc to digital conversion.

Vudu also has a lot of $4.99, $6.99, and $9.99 sales so I've been buying a lot directly from them.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

When I want an older movie or one that doesn't have a UV code digitally I buy VUDU credits from some guy and get the movie for a third of the price

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by flyry

When I want an older movie or one that doesn't have a UV code digitally I buy VUDU credits from some guy and get the movie for a third of the price

Hence quickening the pace that we move to subscription services because Digital is not providing the required income.

Which then begs the question, is it worth a restoration if folk won't spend money on the older title?

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Hence quickening the pace that we move to subscription services because Digital is not providing the required income.

Which then begs the question, is it worth a restoration if folk won't spend money on the older title?

Well I refused to pay $31.99 for the Enter the Dragon 40th anni remaster which is now 4 years old so I paid $9 to my vudu guy

If the physical was similar I would have purchased that (though I did find the old 2010 re-release for $11.99 after the fact and noticing that the 2007 is still $19.99)

[sleepydumbdude]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

All this talk of cheap digital codes has got me thinking, does anyone in this thread actually buy digital movies directly? Or is everything from Blu-ray / Digital combos?

If most sales are from combos why is anyone predicting that physical media is going to disappear? How is that going to happen when everyone is buying combos?

I buy digitally on vudu and usually spend about $20 a week on either movies or tv show, I won't spend over 14.99 for a movie though unless it is over 3 weeks early to disc. Mostly buy their TV shows. I don't subscribe to Netflix unless its a month that a Marvel show comes out then I just cancel again and wait for the next.
I only buy 4k or 3D blurays now (besides Disney movies) or something that comes with a code. Everything else I just buy on Vudu. If vudu ever kicks the bucket I'll just go back to the P word because I like my shows available on mobile and on the go as an option. I was already headed in that direction before UV came along and it gave me an option to watch my movies legally on my different devices instead of being tired to one brand's like Microsoft/Apple. I won't go back to 1080p blurays anymore and haven't bought a DVD in almost 10 years. Last nonDisney movie that I purchased was X-Men First Class when it came out besides movies that I pretty much got for free because of movie cash or VUDU credits.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well I shop for the best price on UV HDX, and here on Blu-ray.com they still have some good prices. For Recent Releases they have been going up in price, but I compare with the Digital Stores. Combo Packs are good, but it's getting harder to sell the Blu-rays and make your money back. People want to pay only a couple of bucks, even you said $5 is the going rate for Blu-ray. $3 for a Code are older Movies, it's all about Supply and Demand. Movies like Rogue One are selling for around $13. Rentals are around $5 or $6, but if you want to see it early you pay the price for the UV. I use to Rent from Red Box, but their Movies take too long to come out. I've already seen Moana, Passengers, Live by Night, Office Christmas Party, and tonight Miss Sloane. So you Disc people are still waiting, and it will be a while till they get down to $5.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I pay full price (£9-£15) and I blind buy around 60 discs per year. I am delighted to do so as I believe I am supporting the film industry. I value quality A/V above all else and I love the idea of a pyshical collection.

all good things come to those that wait.

Well we have gone back and forth on this Streaming vs Discs, and you keep saying Digital HD is fading fast and that Discs are not Obsolete. They aren't yet, but here is an Article that says Digital is catching up fast.

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/06/17/d...ng-467648.html

Here is an other Article that Blu-ray is struggling, so things are not rosy for Discs.

http://fortune.com/2016/01/08/blu-ra...streaming-age/

This Article says Streaming is taking over Home Video, and it talks about what I told you guys $50 Movies coming out 2 weeks after Theater Release. So hold on to your Butts, Streaming is coming on Strong!

http://www.latimes.com/business/holl...106-story.html