Are DVD's making a comeback?
- Thread starter Aspiring Mogul
- Start date
DVDs aint dead just yet 
After two years of owning a Blu Ray player (bought it for four walling purposes). I finally hooked it up to my first HD TV (bought about 6 months ago) last month.
Didn't read all the article, but it reads like an uneducated alarmist.
DVDs aren't dead, even though BluRay and 'the cloud' are both doing relatively well. DVDs still sell. A lot. Especially in markets other than the US.
I would agree that the cloud isn't taking off the way studios might like. Especially considering the uptake of cloud-based film services is mainly based in the US. Considering something like up to 50-60% of a film's gross comes from offshore/overseas markets (ie other than the US), and couple that with the fact that most overseas markets are realtively behind the US when it comes to internet availability and speeds, and you can see why it's not happening properly. You may find it only takes you 20 minutes to download a full HD movie, but in offshore markets, that same movie can take 4 or 5 hours+ to downliad.
DVDs aren't dead, even though BluRay and 'the cloud' are both doing relatively well. DVDs still sell. A lot. Especially in markets other than the US.
I would agree that the cloud isn't taking off the way studios might like. Especially considering the uptake of cloud-based film services is mainly based in the US. Considering something like up to 50-60% of a film's gross comes from offshore/overseas markets (ie other than the US), and couple that with the fact that most overseas markets are realtively behind the US when it comes to internet availability and speeds, and you can see why it's not happening properly. You may find it only takes you 20 minutes to download a full HD movie, but in offshore markets, that same movie can take 4 or 5 hours+ to downliad.
"the cloud isn't taking off the way studios might like."
They don't like, at all. They want to stick with physical product, not streaming. They are being dragged kicking and screaming into the whole idea of the could.
They don't like, at all. They want to stick with physical product, not streaming. They are being dragged kicking and screaming into the whole idea of the could.
DVDs are not dead. Sale volumes are down but they are accompanied by rising Blu-Ray sales.
Streaming and downloads are smaller ancillaries but they are growing, slowly.
The real problem with DVDs is that distributors are getting less per DVD sold, so the profit is down. This is not the case with Blu-Ray. Distributors are now putting out their back catalogues on Blu-Ray to bolster already healthy sales if current titles and they can charge a lot more than they can for DVD, so it is more profitable for them.
Having said that, I have noticed a small increase in DVD prices in supermarkets in the UK, recently.
Streaming and downloads are smaller ancillaries but they are growing, slowly.
The real problem with DVDs is that distributors are getting less per DVD sold, so the profit is down. This is not the case with Blu-Ray. Distributors are now putting out their back catalogues on Blu-Ray to bolster already healthy sales if current titles and they can charge a lot more than they can for DVD, so it is more profitable for them.
Having said that, I have noticed a small increase in DVD prices in supermarkets in the UK, recently.
I buy dvds because there is a huge selection and the prices are much cheaper than bluray. But if it is a movie I really like and the price is not too much more than the dvd I will buy the Bluray. Sometimes I buy the Bluray after the price drops. I have had copies on both dvd and bluray because sometimes the dvd is ten dollars cheaper then the bluray when it comes out. Then later after maybe six months the bluray drops down to ten bucks then I buy it.
I don't like paying more than 20 bucks on blurays. I just don't feel it is worth 30 bucks or more to buy a bluray. I bought Avatar used because they were charging too much. I used to buy a ton of dvds used from Blockbuster before it went out of business locally. They had deals where you could get 5 dvds for 20 bucks or something like that. They had deals on used blurays too. I love buying blurays on Amazon.com because they are most of the time cheaper on there then in the stores. I can get a season on bluray for the price of dvds at a store at Amazon.com.
When I had a 65 in tv it was worth buying Blura but now on my older cvt 20 inch tv DVDs are just fine. Even the old DVDs if they were widescreen look pretty good with an upconvert dvd player on the 65 inch tv. My biggest complaint is when dvds get stretched to fit the widescreen because they were fullscreen before. I hate stretching.
One thing I really hate about bluray is the fact my bluray player does not always remeber where it left off when I stop it and try to play it later. My dvds never had that problem. Other thing that pisses me off is that some blurays force you to watch the previews before you can access the menu for the main movie. They disable you from skipping it. I just figure if I bought the movie I should be able to skip the previews.
I have had some issues with vibrations from my bluray player. I think the cheaper plastic casing on the player is the problem. My old dvd player with the steel casing most of the time never had vibration problems. The other problem I believe may be the stickers they have on some of those dvds from when they used to be rentals. They get off balance for some reason. Maybe the sticker it not quite in the right place. Anyways, it is hard to get rid of those stickers that are on the disc. They used to never put those stickers on the dvds but I have noticed that some places do like my grocery store Marsh. Anyways, a few of the dvds I bought there cause me troubles. I put a 15 pound dumb bell on top of the case to help keep the vibrations down and it helps some. I guess maybe I should get a more expensive bluray player that has a metal case and see if that helps. Strangely one of my dvds from my Xfiles series had vibration issues too and it had no sticker and was never machined resurfaced.
I enjoy going through the bargin bin at walmart and seeing what dvds I can get for 5 bucks.
If you have Netflicks and no DVDS and blura then what do you do if the internet goes down? I may some day get netflicks but I still think I would buy physical form too. Redbox had not stopped me from buying not sure why netflicks would.
I was a fan of Blockbusters monthly membership plan. That was the ultimate for unlimited rentals of four or five at a time. That was much better than netflicks mailing dvd thing. Now blockbuster is out of business in my neighborhood can't do that no more. Aww..
I don't like paying more than 20 bucks on blurays. I just don't feel it is worth 30 bucks or more to buy a bluray. I bought Avatar used because they were charging too much. I used to buy a ton of dvds used from Blockbuster before it went out of business locally. They had deals where you could get 5 dvds for 20 bucks or something like that. They had deals on used blurays too. I love buying blurays on Amazon.com because they are most of the time cheaper on there then in the stores. I can get a season on bluray for the price of dvds at a store at Amazon.com.
When I had a 65 in tv it was worth buying Blura but now on my older cvt 20 inch tv DVDs are just fine. Even the old DVDs if they were widescreen look pretty good with an upconvert dvd player on the 65 inch tv. My biggest complaint is when dvds get stretched to fit the widescreen because they were fullscreen before. I hate stretching.
One thing I really hate about bluray is the fact my bluray player does not always remeber where it left off when I stop it and try to play it later. My dvds never had that problem. Other thing that pisses me off is that some blurays force you to watch the previews before you can access the menu for the main movie. They disable you from skipping it. I just figure if I bought the movie I should be able to skip the previews.
I have had some issues with vibrations from my bluray player. I think the cheaper plastic casing on the player is the problem. My old dvd player with the steel casing most of the time never had vibration problems. The other problem I believe may be the stickers they have on some of those dvds from when they used to be rentals. They get off balance for some reason. Maybe the sticker it not quite in the right place. Anyways, it is hard to get rid of those stickers that are on the disc. They used to never put those stickers on the dvds but I have noticed that some places do like my grocery store Marsh. Anyways, a few of the dvds I bought there cause me troubles. I put a 15 pound dumb bell on top of the case to help keep the vibrations down and it helps some. I guess maybe I should get a more expensive bluray player that has a metal case and see if that helps. Strangely one of my dvds from my Xfiles series had vibration issues too and it had no sticker and was never machined resurfaced.
I enjoy going through the bargin bin at walmart and seeing what dvds I can get for 5 bucks.
If you have Netflicks and no DVDS and blura then what do you do if the internet goes down? I may some day get netflicks but I still think I would buy physical form too. Redbox had not stopped me from buying not sure why netflicks would.
I was a fan of Blockbusters monthly membership plan. That was the ultimate for unlimited rentals of four or five at a time. That was much better than netflicks mailing dvd thing. Now blockbuster is out of business in my neighborhood can't do that no more. Aww..
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DVD sales are dropping, but I wouldn't say "dead"
As long as there are features on a DVD that VOD can not provide then there will always be a reason for someone to purchase that DVD/Blu-ray to get those special features that are not available on VOD. The current issue is that YouTube offers many behind the scenes and preventing people from going out to purchase those extra features.
Perfect Example: My wife watched Twilight in theaters and VOD. But she really wanted to see how they did some of the things they did, no matter what I told her she still went out and purchased the $50 blu-ray disc.
If iTunes, and other big networks start to offer Behind the scenes along side of the video, then there will be an even bigger drop in DVD-Blu-Ray sales
As long as there are features on a DVD that VOD can not provide then there will always be a reason for someone to purchase that DVD/Blu-ray to get those special features that are not available on VOD. The current issue is that YouTube offers many behind the scenes and preventing people from going out to purchase those extra features.
Perfect Example: My wife watched Twilight in theaters and VOD. But she really wanted to see how they did some of the things they did, no matter what I told her she still went out and purchased the $50 blu-ray disc.
If iTunes, and other big networks start to offer Behind the scenes along side of the video, then there will be an even bigger drop in DVD-Blu-Ray sales
My research has shown that DVD/Blu Ray sales can provide dollars in profit, but downloading will provide pennies per download. This makes it even more grim for the indies.
I buy DVDs. If there's a film that I love so much that I want to see every tiny wrinkle on the actors' faces, then I'll download the high definition one too, and I have an external drive where I keep all that stuff.
PS2 had flawless graphics until the PS3 came out and the comparison made everyone realised that it didn't. If I manage to get through life without ever watching a blu-ray then I should be forever happy with the quality of my DVD collection.
Oh, and what is 'triple play'? I keep seeing them on amazon, isn't that just an incredible waste of discs and money?
PS2 had flawless graphics until the PS3 came out and the comparison made everyone realised that it didn't. If I manage to get through life without ever watching a blu-ray then I should be forever happy with the quality of my DVD collection.
Oh, and what is 'triple play'? I keep seeing them on amazon, isn't that just an incredible waste of discs and money?
I very recently got a blu-ray player because my dvd player died. Bought a couple blu-rays to see if I could tell the difference, or if I cared. The answer was, yes, I could tell, but no, I didn't care. So I'll do what I always do: buy what I find cheap. Hell, I still have a VHS collection! And using harpsichoid's video game analogy, I still play old video games, though there's no question that the ps3 has better graphics than the Atari/Intellivision games I still love. Currently replaying Dragon Warrior VIII on the PS2. I play through all the Zelda games more frequently than anyone should admit to, and have just as much fun with the first as with the latest.
But, again, I think the debate isn't dvd vs. blu-ray (or whatever the next format is). It's physical vs. virtual. As an artist, I love virtual sales because it keeps duplication and shipping costs down. As a consumer, however, I don't care for it.
Oh, and the triple play thing is very wasteful. 31 discs for the new harry potter box set coming out. Take out the duplicate dvds, and you are down to 23. I'm personally not interested in the two 3d discs either, at least I can see the value added there. At least the upcoming Avengers box set is one format, films only duplicated for 3d copies. And, hey, much more reasonable price. Imagine that.
</rant>
But, again, I think the debate isn't dvd vs. blu-ray (or whatever the next format is). It's physical vs. virtual. As an artist, I love virtual sales because it keeps duplication and shipping costs down. As a consumer, however, I don't care for it.
Oh, and the triple play thing is very wasteful. 31 discs for the new harry potter box set coming out. Take out the duplicate dvds, and you are down to 23. I'm personally not interested in the two 3d discs either, at least I can see the value added there. At least the upcoming Avengers box set is one format, films only duplicated for 3d copies. And, hey, much more reasonable price. Imagine that.
</rant>