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

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Mentioned two years running. You can bet they are planning this.

Was it the same doof head executive? If so, I won't put much stock into it.

Regardless, I don't see how it would be much more of a threat than digital is anyway.

There isn't going to be a future where large screens go away. You are panicking over nothing in that regard.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

Was it the same doof head executive? If so, I won't put much stock into it.

Regardless, I don't see how it would be much more of a threat than digital is anyway.

There isn't going to be a future where large screens go away. You are panicking over nothing in that regard.

Hope so.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Why absurd? Would you feel that way if mobile movies were suddenly 2 dollars and tv screen versions 5 dollars? Because I know which one the masses would go for.

In that case the masses would certainly buy the cheaper version but why would the studios ever stop offering the more expensive version? With digital versions it is easy for the studios to offer multiple versions. No matter how popular small screens get it won't prevent the availability of large screens. The studios are all for people buying both versions so they wouldn't stop supporting one or the other. The masses are currently buying cheaper SD versions but that doesn't stop the more expensive HD versions from being available.

The same can't be said with physical vs digital. The studios have a clear preference for digital and they'd like to drop physical media if financially viable. I don't expect them to ever stop offering blockbusters on the highest quality physical media during my lifetime but they will definitely continue to drop more and more less popular releases and make digital the only option for many titles.

[voltz]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

The same can't be said with physical vs digital. The studios have a clear preference for digital and they'd like to drop physical media if financially viable. I don't expect them to ever stop offering blockbusters on the highest quality physical media during my lifetime but they will definitely continue to drop more and more less popular releases and make digital the only option for many titles.

If you haven't realized this by now, what you said is practically DIVX all over again. Remember that hollywood was trying to get control over our media back then and how digital is basically the same thing all over again. They're just using it to ease us over without us knowing any better.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by voltz

If you haven't realized this by now, what you said is practically DIVX all over again. Remember that hollywood was trying to get control over our media back then and how digital is basically the same thing all over again. They're just using it to ease us over without us knowing any better.

I'm well aware of the similarities. I doubt the studios will ever stop trying to get control. They're driven by money and in the long run it'll be a lot more profitable if they have full control over all distribution. That's why I'm trying to educate the customers rather than change the studios. I feel strongly in supporting the arts but not letting anyone have control over them. For the foreseeable future this is only possible with physical media.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

In that case the masses would certainly buy the cheaper version but why would the studios ever stop offering the more expensive version? With digital versions it is easy for the studios to offer multiple versions. No matter how popular small screens get it won't prevent the availability of large screens. The studios are all for people buying both versions so they wouldn't stop supporting one or the other. The masses are currently buying cheaper SD versions but that doesn't stop the more expensive HD versions from being available.

The same can't be said with physical vs digital. The studios have a clear preference for digital and they'd like to drop physical media if financially viable. I don't expect them to ever stop offering blockbusters on the highest quality physical media during my lifetime but they will definitely continue to drop more and more less popular releases and make digital the only option for many titles.

Actually, that's not true. The masses are actually buying the HD version over the SD version at a much higher rate. That baffles me, they won't buy Bluray but they go for the HD version of a digital copy.

If you are referring to DVD over Bluray, yes you are right. Apologies if that's the case.

Finally, if everyone goes for the SD mobile version, TV sets won't exist because the model will be standard for subscription and tv channels as well IMO. (Netflix at a cheaper cost for mobile subscription etc..) Will there even be enough people to maintain a big screen market in that case?

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Actually, that's not true. The masses are actually buying the HD version over the SD version at a much higher rate. That baffles me, they won't buy Bluray but they go for the HD version of a digital copy.

If you are referring to DVD over Bluray, yes you are right. Apologies if that's the case.

Finally, if everyone goes for the SD mobile version, TV sets won't exist because the model will be standard for subscription and tv channels as well IMO. (Netflix at a cheaper cost for mobile subscription etc..) Will there even be enough people to maintain a big screen market in that case?

Of course there will be a market for big screens, TVs getting bigger and bigger. Only kids/teens watch stuff on their mobile.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

Of course there will be a market for big screens, TVs getting bigger and bigger. Only kids/teens watch stuff on their mobile.

Not strictly true though, is it?

[hogger129]

With the advent of 4K UHD, will they even offer SD downloads or DVDs much longer?

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/DVD-G...016-43349.html

I guess the same was said about vinyl records and CDs as well, but those are still being made and sold by mainstream labels.

[hogger129]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

Of course there will be a market for big screens, TVs getting bigger and bigger. Only kids/teens watch stuff on their mobile.

There are plenty of adults who watch movies on their mobile devices.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by hogger129

With the advent of 4K UHD, will they even offer SD downloads or DVDs much longer?

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/DVD-G...016-43349.html

I guess the same was said about vinyl records and CDs as well, but those are still being made and sold by mainstream labels.

Yes, they have to so people can stay within their data limits. Mobile or otherwise.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by hogger129

There are plenty of adults who watch movies on their mobile devices.

Sadly, that's true.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Actually, that's not true. The masses are actually buying the HD version over the SD version at a much higher rate. That baffles me, they won't buy Bluray but they go for the HD version of a digital copy.

I could never find the statistics on that. I'd be curious to see the numbers if you have them.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Finally, if everyone goes for the SD mobile version, TV sets won't exist because the model will be standard for subscription and tv channels as well IMO. (Netflix at a cheaper cost for mobile subscription etc..) Will there even be enough people to maintain a big screen market in that case?

The purpose of making a mobile version for cheaper and a TV version for more expensive is to get people to pay higher for the TV version. The studios would never want people to buy the cheaper version so they would never discontinue the more expensive version.

It was understandable when studios didn't make Blu-ray versions of certain TV shows after low sales. The copies would just sit on shelves and not sell so they would end up losing money. But that's not a concern with digital they don't have to manufacture anything so even if the sales for the TV version are extremely low they'd never lose money by offering it.

I'm just as adamantly against digital as you are, but I strongly believe that your fears about a mobile only future are unfounded. Even with digital as the only option I'm sure we'll all be able to watch all the latest releases on large high quality screens. But if the studios have full control we'll only be able to watch new releases and a few popular titles from the past, everything else will be unavailable.

[Cranston37]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

Of course there will be a market for big screens, TVs getting bigger and bigger. Only kids/teens watch stuff on their mobile.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Sadly, that's true.

Why does that have to be a sad thing? I watch my blu-rays on a properly calibrated 120in screen but if I'm on a business trip I love using my iPad to watch one of my UV titles.

Heck last weekend I was waxing my car and had Slap Shot playing on my iPhone just for something to listen to. I wouldn't have done that for a movie I had not seen 37,897 times before but in that case digital provided me with great value.

I'm not sure where all this anti-digital stuff is coming from - ignorance or snobbery

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Cranston37

Why does that have to be a sad thing? I watch my blu-rays on a properly calibrated 120in screen but if I'm on a business trip I love using my iPad to watch one of my UV titles.

Heck last weekend I was waxing my car and had Slap Shot playing on my iPhone just for something to listen to. I wouldn't have done that for a movie I had not seen 37,897 times before but in that case digital provided me with great value.

I'm not sure where all this anti-digital stuff is coming from - ignorance or snobbery

Lol, what about the radio or an album to have something to "listen" to?

[Cranston37]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

Lol, what about the radio or an album to have something to "listen" to?

You've never turned a TV on to have something on in the background while doing housework or something? Seriously?

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Cranston37

You've never turned a TV on to have something on in the background while doing housework or something? Seriously?

Actually I'm more of a music listener when I'm not seated in front of a TV, I have music or radio in the background when I'm not watching anything.

[Cranston37]

Originally Posted by tiger_qc

Actually I'm more of a music listener when I'm not seated in front of a TV, I have music or radio in the background when I'm not watching anything.

That's fantastic - I'm the same way 90% of the time too. But the larger point I'm trying to make by my example, when it comes to the physical vs digital debate, is that people use their media and devices in different ways, and there seems to be this thought running through this thread that the only way to consume media is the way *I* consume media, as clearly seen in the comment that "only teens/kids watch stuff on their mobile"...

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by Cranston37

That's fantastic - I'm the same way 90% of the time too. But the larger point I'm trying to make by my example, when it comes to the physical vs digital debate, is that people use their media and devices in different ways, and there seems to be this thought running through this thread that the only way to consume media is the way *I* consume media, as clearly seen in the comment that "only teens/kids watch stuff on their mobile"...

I personally have never had any problems with using portable devices, that's not a factor in my stance against digital media. While I most commonly watch on a large TV I also have a portable DVD player for when I'm multi-tasking or not at home. People are free to watch their content however they choose, but they shouldn't let the studios retain full control over the content.

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by Cranston37

That's fantastic - I'm the same way 90% of the time too. But the larger point I'm trying to make by my example, when it comes to the physical vs digital debate, is that people use their media and devices in different ways, and there seems to be this thought running through this thread that the only way to consume media is the way *I* consume media, as clearly seen in the comment that "only teens/kids watch stuff on their mobile"...

In my environment only kids/teens watch movies/tv shows on a mobile device, all my friends/family/co-workers don't. I have an iPad and a iPod but would never use them to watch a movie not even if I'm traveling, heck I'm not even watching TV on my PC as I'm not confortable enough to lay back and enjoy myself. I watch a movie on a couch, my bed or at the theater and I absolutely don't want to hold the screen in my hands.