UltraViolet Shutting Down on July 31, 2019

[Undeadcow]

Now the people who jump into the digital movies threads to say nothing more than 'omg physical media rulez' are here; never fails - may there HD-DVDs forever be disc rot free.

The UV shutdown does not at all seem catastrophic for digital movie collectors with UV seeming committed to preserving the 'majority' of digital access.

[vraytchev]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

Time to do a bunch of M2D conversions on subaccounts and then merge UV accounts - right?

How do you "merge" UV sub-accounts? I would love to get all purchases count to my primary account, but all I knew to do was link account. Is there a merge option?

[SolidSnake35]

A digital copy should be a file you can download and watch however you like and store however you like. Until then, we're being made to suffer because of piracy. And it does nothing to prevent piracy. I really don't get it.

[Undeadcow]

Originally Posted by vraytchev

How do you "merge" UV sub-accounts? I would love to get all purchases count to my primary account, but all I knew to do was link account. Is there a merge option?

I wouldn't necessarily recommend immediately merging if you have linked accounts, there are some dis-advantages and we don't yet have all the details about how UV shutdown might preserve ported titles. I would definitely research more.

At myuv.com go to 'settings' then 'library settings' and your will see a 'merge libraries' feature. This will let you combine two UV accounts into one, deleting the non-primary.

Disadvantages in that merging is cumbersome and probably a one time thing forever shutting out and deleting the slave account, also not without potential for error - some have reported disappearing titles in rare cases. I've done it several times without issue. Also some UV titles from Fox/Universal that have lost UV status might be 'grandfathered' as access and unclear how a merge might impact those (potentially a Fox title in UV merged could get lost as UV only without porting into the account).

My (perhaps incorrect) understanding is that linked accounts are really just one account anyway so maybe not needing merge (essentially letting multiple people access one behind the scenes UV account through multiple connected vendor accounts).

[vanton619]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

What about future TV releases? Will they still come with a code? Will MGM, Lionsgate, and Paramount finall jump to MA?

Probably depends on the studio. Universal seems to have been dropping codes from TV releases lately. WB/HBO have listing their codes "digital" not "UV" codes for a while now, so I would guess there won't be much of a change there, especially since I think HBO has quietly dropped UV too. Lionsgate still did TV digital codes after they dropped UV, but at least one (The Walking Dead Season 8) was a Wal-mart/Vudu exclusive. It'll probably be all over the place until MA/other-tv-locker-system comes in to coalesce digital TV purchases.

[DaveSimonH]

So the US has MoviesAnywhere, what are the options for UK customers? FlixsterVideo? And then what happens when they go under?
I'm glad I'm not too attached to my UV collection, seems like the rug can be pulled at any time.

[Undeadcow]

I expect Movies Anywhere will now announce television compatibility soon... it's been hinted at with interest polls and acknowledged as a requested feature and UV shutdown might be the tipping point.

[OhioBobcat3]

Ugh. I went through my UHD library this morning and have 19 Sony UHD films that I redeemed at SPS for UHD UV rights. None of these are currently available in UHD at VUDU so these rights have not ported over. After UV closes on 7/31, if these films have not yet had an opportunity to port into VUDU as UHD, it would be nice if Sony made things right and granted the rights you counted on receiving through UV via MA instead.

I know some here contacted SPS directly over the past two weeks to get their UHD UV rights cancelled in lieu of receiving replacement MA UHD codes. It's too late for me to do that with one day left before SPS closes, but it would have been nice to also know that UV was closing on 7/31 when the SPS closing announcement was made. That would have prompted me to swap out UV rights for MA rights as well.

I thought that UV would last long enough for Sony to allow VUDU to sell these films in UHD. Perhaps the two of them will get it done in the next 6 months.

[malcy30]

Does this apply in UK as well ?

Here UV has only redeemed through Flixster or for some Sony titles the Sony Movies website. Has been rundown over last year as studios moved to other platforms. As at late 2018 only Warner still seemed to be adding new titles like The Meg.

Fox, Universal and Lionsgate all moved to Google Play although over 50% of their new titles don't seem to come with digital copies any more. Universal for example is hit and miss as Blackkklansman did not have a digital copy last month but First Man out in a few weeks according to retailer pack shots online does have a digital copy (which if it does have one would be for Google Play).

Not bought any new Warner this year, next would be Aquaman to see if they provide codes.

Sony seem to have given up digital copies in UK as Venom doesn't have one and that must be their biggest title so far in 2019.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by partridge

And this is the problem with a digital library.

I have access to my (small) library of films on the Flixter app, but I'm not sure I'm bothered about downloading them, I rarely watch them anyway, but it does underline why consumers should exercise caution over buying anything digital; you don't technically own it and it can all be lost due to a variety of reasons that are out of your control.

You didn’t bother to read the article or see the two posts that say:

You keep your digital library, just make sure its connected to at least one etailer who supports UV.

Originally Posted by Krizzle1

So with UV shutting down, does that mean you guys wont be able to access your TV shows? (because shows dont transfer anywhere?)

You will keep your existing UV titles: movies and TV shows as long as at least ONE etailer is connected to UV before the shutdown.

[handcraftedbits]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

The UV shutdown does not at all seem catastrophic for digital movie collectors with UV seeming committed to preserving the 'majority' of digital access.

The fact that they used the word "majority" and not "all" tells you all you need to know -- the naysayers were right and someone out there is for sure getting screwed.

[Majoran]

Originally Posted by OhioBobcat3

Ugh. I went through my UHD library this morning and have 19 Sony UHD films that I redeemed at SPS for UHD UV rights. None of these are currently available in UHD at VUDU so these rights have not ported over. After UV closes on 7/31, if these films have not yet had an opportunity to port into VUDU as UHD, it would be nice if Sony made things right and granted the rights you counted on receiving through UV via MA instead.

I know some here contacted SPS directly over the past two weeks to get their UHD UV rights cancelled in lieu of receiving replacement MA UHD codes. It's too late for me to do that with one day left before SPS closes, but it would have been nice to also know that UV was closing on 7/31 when the SPS closing announcement was made. That would have prompted me to swap out UV rights for MA rights as well.

I thought that UV would last long enough for Sony to allow VUDU to sell these films in UHD. Perhaps the two of them will get it done in the next 6 months.

Just reach out to Sony now (someone on AVS did) and get MA redemptions for titles you bought. This way you have access to your digital titles.

[BlurayX]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

Time to do a bunch of M2D conversions on subaccounts and then merge UV accounts - right?

Totally agree. Must maximize those sub-accounts then merge to main before the shutdown. Then give away those sub-accounts.

[flyry]

Is it really necessary to merge? When vudu stopped letting me link both accts to UV my titles still remained in my main acct.


There are def some m2d i nees to stop putting off though

[Smadawho]

I wonder if anyone will look at a class action suit of some sorts. Ultraviolet rights are supposed to be perpetual, however without an ultraviolet service those rights will be dependent on whichever service you are linked to offering the same guarantees. Therefore we are effectively losing our lifetime UV rights.

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by Smadawho

I wonder if anyone will look at a class action suit of some sorts. Ultraviolet rights are supposed to be perpetual, however without an ultraviolet service those rights will be dependent on whichever service you are linked to offering the same guarantees. Therefore we are effectively losing our lifetime UV rights.

Is that what the UV terms actually say and guarantee.
Regardless, if the movies transfer to another provider, nothing is lost in the short and intermediate run.

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by Greyman

It sounds like Vudu will keep everything thing in your account that you had in your UV library but the UV library will be shut down.
The faq will be out today with more info.

https://www.myuv.com/faq

Originally Posted by squatting hen

As long as you connect your UV account to Vudu, which you already have, you won't lose any movies. Everything will stay in Vudu. UV can't get disconnected in the future, it just won't exist. It is really a bummer for sharing.

Note the wording of the FAQ:
In most cases, your movies and TV shows will be available via the retailers linked to your UltraViolet Library at the time of UltraViolet shutdown. Linking to additional retailers can maximize your access to your Library and help avoid potential disruption. Visit https://www.myuv.com/retailers for a list of retailers.

Do not panic, but you should expect that some items might disappear forever. I HOPE that will not be the case, but they are definitely not guaranteeing anything permanently porting from your account.

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

As long as Vudu or FN is linked to UV when it shuts down on 7/31 it sounds like all your content will port indefinitely to that retailer; after 7/31 we will all essentially be unlinked from UV.

Don't count on FN. If you disconnect UV from FN, every UV title not purchased directly from FN itself will disappear. They converted to a system that loads your list every time (rather than a transaction history like in Vudu and MA). FN definitely does not care about customer support, if you've ever tried dealing with them in that regard.

But again, no panic, there is 6 months to go. Some of the questions regarding collections may surface and be answered in the coming months. Hopefully Vudu will make good like they did when Flixster closed (and they essentially took over all those items that were Flixster only items).

[Greyman]

Originally Posted by flyry

Is it really necessary to merge? When vudu stopped letting me link both accts to UV my titles still remained in my main acct.


There are def some m2d i nees to stop putting off though

I would say likely no need to merge.

[frogers]

Originally Posted by Smadawho

I wonder if anyone will look at a class action suit of some sorts. Ultraviolet rights are supposed to be perpetual, however without an ultraviolet service those rights will be dependent on whichever service you are linked to offering the same guarantees. Therefore we are effectively losing our lifetime UV rights.

You never had lifetime rights to your digital content. From the VI. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY section of the Terms of Use document:

Your use of the Services does not grant to you ownership or title of, in or to any Materials, any other part of the Services, or content.

Your rights with respect to any specific content associated with your UltraViolet Library are established by the retailer from which you obtained such rights and are subject to the limitations and restrictions imposed by copyright holders and other third parties. When you obtain rights to content, that content remains subject to the intellectual property rights of the copyright owner and other third parties and is being licensed to you with limitations and restrictions and is not sold to you. You may only use the content for your personal, non-commercial use as expressly authorized by the copyright owner and other applicable third parties, including the applicable retailer.

https://www.myuv.com/terms

[Undeadcow]

Originally Posted by handcraftedbits

The fact that they used the word "majority" and not "all" tells you all you need to know -- the naysayers were right and someone out there is for sure getting screwed.

It could just be that for anything as large scale as Ultraviolet with thousands and thousands of titles across multiple studios and vendors it would be silly for them to make any guarantees or absolutes. I do not think anyone is 'getting screwed' but maybe an odd old CinemaNow only title will get lost.