DVD One Step Closer to Dead: iTunes to Sell Almost Everything Day-and-Date
Filed under: Deals, Tech Stuff, Home Entertainment
Well, okay: maybe that's hyperbole about the death of DVD. On the other hand, maybe it's not. In what has to be seen as a major vote of confidence in online content delivery, almost all of the major studios (including Fox, Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros., Universal, Lionsgate, and what's left of New Line) have signed with Apple to offer many of their movies on the iTunes Store's download-to-own service -- simultaneously with the release of the DVDs. This seems to show that they're not squeamish about losing DVD sales -- or at least not squeamish enough to turn down the attractive deal Apple no doubt offered. Most new movies currently offered for sale on iTunes cost 10 to 15 bucks and about 1 GB in hard drive space (depending on the length). AppleTV, the device that Apple hoped would make the iTunes Store even more prevalent by making content purchased there watchable on users' television sets, has been beset by problems, and free advertising-supported content providers like Hulu.com also present a challenge. But whether or not iTunes wins, we're getting inexorably closer to the day of physical media obsolescence. The studios have now shown they're willing to go there (this announcement comes on the heels of Time Warner's decision to offer all of its movies via On-Demand cable day-and-date with DVD releases).
Of course, videophiles will still want their Blu-Ray, and it's hard to blame them. But it's only a matter of hard drive space. Tick-tock.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-01-2008 @ 12:02PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Physical medium will never ever die.
I wouldn't ever want to trust my entertainment collection to a hard drive that could fail and I would then have to re-download all my content. No thank you.
I don't see this as the studios thinking of lost DVD sales. This is a gain in sales of users who wouldn't buy the DVD in the first place.
Reply
5-01-2008 @ 1:25PM
Eugene Novikov said...
That's not stopping millions of people with music. I think CDs are cumbersome, and basically useless if you're at your computer a lot. I have a back-up external hard drive, and feel secure.
5-01-2008 @ 1:30PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Music is a whole different ball game.
Smaller files are way easier to replace and people have an accepted loss of quality from a CD to a HQ mp3. Plus, without DRM you can easily backup your purchased mp3s to a CD which can hold alot of music whereas the same medium could not hold a single movie at itunes projected file size. Most people I know who do purchase mp3s have their music on a hard drive, an mp3 player and backed up to a CD just incase (when they can)
Movies will always be larger files (even with the best compression) and more of a hassle to replace. I am not saying lots of people will not go this route, I just don't see physical medium disappearing in this realm as it has with music.
5-01-2008 @ 3:49PM
Captain Obvious said...
Really, though? Didn't people say the same thing about music (as noted above), about email, about electronic billing, about blah blah blah blah. I wouldn't be surprised if everything is digitized within 10-15 years.
5-01-2008 @ 4:20PM
nate said...
Yeah, mail is totally dead.
Also, 10-15 years is far different than how people use the term "dvd is dead".
Digital distribution is NOT ready for prime time. High speeds are not available to the masses to a degree that would guide them to use that over physical discs. I know people that still don't have a computer. We are still a good ways off from no physical media.
And CDs do still sell quite strong. Digital music has come on strong, but it's not as if CDs were selling really really poorly.
Also, digital distribution hasn't added in additional content quite yet. (Alternate endings, commentary tracks, etc).
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5-01-2008 @ 4:55PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Not even close to dead. Until Itunes cost a $1 per movie to rent, there's little hope. We get 18 movies a month from Netflix for $1 a movie. Why the hell would we opt for something that's two to three times more expensive, requires special-expensive hardware and necessitates a broadband connection?
DVD player = $30 - one-time
Netflix subscription (12 movies a month): $20 p/month
iTunes
Apple TV = $225 - one-time
iTunes rentals 12 movies (average $3.50 a rental)= $42
Broadband = $25 (slow)
Where's the value? 3x more expensive?
55% broadband penetration in the USA - http://weblog.maxamine.com/2008/01/21/new-pew-research-sets-us-broadband-households-at-55-pct/
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5-01-2008 @ 5:02PM
Eugene Novikov said...
No one is claiming a sea change right this moment. All these things will change.
Also, "dead" really was hyperbole. I really mean "no longer dominant."
5-07-2008 @ 3:07PM
berbabed said...
Because Netflix business model is not sustainable.
Did ya notice the watch it now button, next to your last add this title. Well there is a reason Netflix is actively looking for a hardware partner, Tivo anyone?
Look at the stock price ,since earnings(in a bull market rally)...They know its coming. Retaining you as a customer is there only hope. Does anyone remember blockbuster,oh yeah they copied Netflix (dubious house of cards).
Sooner, or later the box will be given to you or inexpensive just like your cable box(probably will replace it!)
Get big boxes for your dusty cds, dvds, bluray, hddvd, cassetes,beta,vhs,8 tracks... you cant stop technology.
Do you understand the allegory in the movie title and great book "No Country for Old Men" do yourself a favor, rent it at a friend's, over Apple TV.. and then it will be a apparent...The thing JUST WORKS !