Mill Creek Entertainment Announces New Licensing Agreement With Disney

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by mike962

I wonder why dodn't they do something like a DVD2 (or whatever they want to call it ) format where they use same discs of 8 GB but instead of Mpeg-2 use AVC or even HEVC codecs (and E-AC3 for 5.1 audio) and release the movies in 720P and no telecine !!, this would allow much better quality while keeping costs down for casual viewers and for die hards collectors still give a reason to get bluray

and bonus for studios they may double dip same movies again for the new format

I think the point is that they're now pandering to people who are still using the same players they had 15 years ago cause they refuse to upgrade to newer more expensive technology, even one as old itself as Blu-Ray. Unless this format is playable on a DVD player that cost 30 bucks in 2005 it's probably a no-go.

[mike962]

yes but that's a point

if they use same discs (so same manufacturing) they can use same lasers (same hardware essentually) just update the software to be able to read new codecs and that's it new cheap dvd2 players

but of course it makes too much sense

[mep]

Could Splash be part of this deal, there was an Australian BD, right?

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by mep

Could Splash be part of this deal, there was an Australian BD, right?

My guess it means an American release.

[BNex99]

I'm sure others have mentioned this, but maybe this could mean re-issues of some of the old Fox Studios Classics line. Those generally had good HD transfers and encodes, so if these are just straightforward repressings, it would be nice to have those back in print.

Also, between this and the Criterion WALL-E, at least Disney now seems willing to license out to boutique labels, something they were reluctant to do for a while. So you never know what the future might hold.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by BudtheChud

Yeh but none of these are part of the deal. It’s only already released stuff and NO Disney branded stuff at all.

Ah, bummer.

Well maybe a good sign toward them licensing more stuff in the future I guess.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by mike962

yes but that's a point

if they use same discs (so same manufacturing) they can use same lasers (same hardware essentually) just update the software to be able to read new codecs and that's it new cheap dvd2 players

but of course it makes too much sense

It doesn't make any sense because most DVD players can't be updated. DVD is still popular because people have no interest in buying new players. Any new format (even if it used the same lasers) would require a new player and therefore would have no advantages over buying a Blu-ray player.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

This thread shouldn't exist. Why did they even bother with a Press release?

Because this means 20th titles that went out of print before the Disney buyout have a chance of returning to shelves. Sure, it is not new to Blu but man, Mill Creek at least releasing a movie-only DVD of Airheads at $10 sure beats paying $50+ and hoping it shows up for the out of print Blu-ray. What about the countless 20th titles Disney refuses to repress themselves.

And lest we forget some Touchstone Pictures DVD and Blu-rays also disappeared so again, another chance to own them if you missed them before.

This is a second chance for consumers and Disney.

[martydmc12]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

The ones you mention have been on Hulu and HBO Max via Turner Classic Movies.

Only if you're living in America. We don't have Hulu or HBO Max in Canada, and I'm sure this goes for many other countries that isn't America either.

Options are few and are far between for non-Americans when it comes to availability of titles via streaming services.

[gatorchomp15]

Maybe we can finally get
Encino man & SON In Law & Run on BLU-RAY. These were all Hollywood pictures releases in the early 90's

I just really hope Mill creek steps up there game and produces a better product then in the past. Not all M.C. releases have been terrible there is the rare exception but for the most part there transfers are problematic and that is being kind!!!

Let's hope for the best!!!

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by martydmc12

Only if you're living in America. We don't have Hulu or HBO Max in Canada, and I'm sure this goes for many other countries that isn't America either.

Options are few and are far between for non-Americans when it comes to availability of titles via streaming services.

Just off the top of my head...

iTunes
Google Play
Disney+ (which in Canada includes Fox titles)
Crave
Kanopy
Criterion Channel
Amazon Prime (including add-ons such as Shudder, Starz, Hollywood Suite, MGM Channel)
Hoopla
Tubi

All available in Canada, all showing classic films to some degree.

And that's only some of the legal options, plus I know there are workarounds so you can gain access to the American services.

[Region_unlocked]

Originally Posted by Kyliefan1

I have the complete series of Murder She Wrote which was released on SD-BD in Germany which comprised of 12 discs. Murder She Wrote ran for 12 seasons. The 1st season was released in the UK on full HD blu-ray, but subsequent seasons weren't most probably due to low sales. This SD-BD box set is better than nothing.

I also have that set. In the US the original releases of the individual seasons were like 2.5 inches thick, it was an obnoxiously large amount of space for a single show to take up, so it's really nice to have all 11 seasons in 2 thick BD cases.

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

And lest we forget some Touchstone Pictures DVD and Blu-rays also disappeared so again, another chance to own them if you missed them before.

This is a second chance for consumers and Disney.

Also worth mentioning a lot of the old Touchstone DVDs were letterboxed. So new releases will be anamorphic as well.

[eChopper]

You guys are all dreaming : corrected aspect ratios, updated transfers…..

This is mill creek

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by eChopper

You guys are all dreaming : corrected aspect ratios, updated transfers…..

This is mill creek

Mill Creek has rarely, if ever, had an issue with licensing studios providing incorrect aspect ratios.

Echo Bridge, actually, Miramax seems to have this problem. Miramax has passed these from EB to Miramax and now their new owners Paramount.

Oh, and Mill Creek did get a new master for Flatliners.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by gatorchomp15

Maybe we can finally get
Encino man & SON In Law & Run on BLU-RAY. These were all Hollywood pictures releases in the early 90's

I just really hope Mill creek steps up there game and produces a better product then in the past. Not all M.C. releases have been terrible there is the rare exception but for the most part there transfers are problematic and that is being kind!!!

Let's hope for the best!!!

There. Are. No. Upgrades. In. This. Deal.

How many times does it need to be said?

[DavidRoylance]

There is also a bunch of Fox titles that were released around the world like - Call Northside 777 and The Desert Fox in Germany and all of 24 in Japan.

I wonder if these might be available to Mill Creek since there would no work to produce the masters.

[Cinema84]

Mill Creek celebrating reissuing DVDs. They know how to party like it's 1999

[Metalbeast]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I can't imagine this being anything other than repressings of existing disc masters.

Existing disc masters with worse video quality thanks to Mill Creek's legendary dogshit encoding.

[Metalbeast]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Lionsgate owns more studios and production companies than Disney.

Yet they are starting to license to boutiques and allow outside restorations (Lionsgate has a deal with Kino). The only two studios who don't allow for outside remastering are Disney and Sony.