Are DVDs a Rip-Off ?

[rtyper]

Considering the DVD was released in 1995 almost 20 years ago and that the format has been superceeded by the superior Blu-ray disk, the DVD appears to be holding it's pricing, at least in the UK. A quick view of the latest releases, Wolverine2 and Monsters University are both priced at £13.00 (approx $20.00) compared to a cinema ticket of approx £8 (it could be less if viewed mid-week) or a digital viewing of approx £3.50 (depending on the provider).

The content value of DVD releases appear to have taken a heavy hit as well.

Releases in the early life of the DVD format were quite comprehensive. Which included colour booklets detailing the feature, synopsis of the film with background information and chapter breakdowns. Vouchers for offers, ie 2 for 1 etc.

As for the actual DVD?
Sometimes the extras took longer to watch than the feature film itself.
Making of documentaries, out-takes, commentaries, along with a few future DVD and cinema release ads.
Purchase a DVD today and you get a disc and the box.
Don't expect a booklet and the only information is aimed at trying to sell you a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack, especially the Disney releases, with on-disc features being very sparse.
There also seems to be a lot of damaged/scratched DVDs even sealed/new, or perhaps I'm unlucky.

I can understand the migration towards digital releases, for movies, anyway. As disc releases offer such little value for money, more-so the Blue-ray format.
Really, almost £10 extra for better picture quality, Talk about killing the goose....
DVD releases should be no more than £6, given the actual production costs of a few pence. You may say that the retailer has to make a marjin as well, but considering the cinemas have to pay rent/utilities/wages etc and still show the movies even if 1 or 2 persons attend (been there). Similarly the DVD/Blu-Ray store don't only sell these items.

How many members still purchase DVD releases, or have you joined the streaming revolution ?
Have Blu-ray releases moved you on to the 'better' format and do you actually purchase re-releases of movies that you purchased on VHS and DVD ?
Do you wait for the big reductions/sales before parting with your dollars, even if it's a must buy ?

[DragonmasterDan]

New release DVDs are generally expensive.
Niche release DVDs are generally expensive.

However, after those big blockbuster movies have been out on DVD for a few months you often see those 19.99 prices drop to 14.99, then 12.99, then 9.99 within a year or so.

[PunkCryborg]

If I want to watch a movie I stream it, If I want to buy it then it better have a Laserdisc release. If it's not on LD then it's not a movie I'd probably like in the first place
I never really got into DVDs, I'd rather buy games with the money.

[SuperDeadite]

As someone who has no interest in seeing a person's nose hair, I think all BluRays are a rippoff.  Going from the VHS to DVD makes sense, rebuying all those movies again so I can see zits and teeth stains?  No thanks.

[DragonmasterDan]

As someone who has no interest in seeing a person's nose hair, I think all BluRays are a rippoff.  Going from the VHS to DVD makes sense, rebuying all those movies again so I can see zits and teeth stains?  No thanks.

Yeah, but for things like animation the higher resolution of Blu-Ray on a properly mastered movie can look fantastic.

[Opethian]

I buy a dvd or bluray of a movie I think is worth owning. If I only intended to watch a movie once I would stream. Most overseas films I like still do not have bluray release so I guess I fall into the 'niche' movie buyer.  DVDs aren't a rip off since they are not a necessity.

[NecroPhile]

Screw streaming and digital downloads.  I buy DVDs and will eventually switch to BR, but I won't repurchase stuff I already own on DVD unless it's something very special to me (like Army of Darkness), a substantially improved revision, or part of a box set of other stuff I want.

[VestCunt]

DVD's aren't a rip off per se. The rip off is the consumer belief that ownership of a "movie library" is a status symbol. As if a shelf or online cloud full of movies on the latest, sexiest format is going to make one more desirable. It doesn't. Whether it's the Eighties with basement racks full of VHS tapes and Star Wars boxed sets or today with Hi-Def streaming off an Ipad or Xbox One, no one cares if you own Dark Knight. Regardless, everyone re-purchases the same movies every ten years.

No matter how much bonus content is included, movies are too expensive, most purchases are only watched once or twice, physical media takes up too much space, hard drives don't last forever, and cloud services turn into a monthly bill.

While general movie ownership is a waste of money, I can understand the pursuit of niche collecting. Punkic's LD collection, Necro's Army of Darkness, and my buddy's Dark Shadows obsession make a lot more sense that a blu-ray shelf full of Fight Club and Disney. I'll continue to add to my Nick Cave DVD's and Blurays because I collect Nick Cave media, not because I give a shit about format or bonus content.

As for fidelity, I appreciate Blu-ray on a good TV, but I'm content with my DVD over S-video on a CRT. Surround sound is more important to me.

[xcrement5x]

I'll only pick up DVDs now if I can get them cheap.  I've got a portable DVD player I use at the gym so it is great to watch anime or what not on, but I guess I can always use my wife's tablet if I get the streaming itch.

[TR0N]

DVD i only buy them once in awhile and if it's title is being sold for a limited time,then i will buy it asap.For bluray i only have a few movies of it.When the transfer is done right on bluray it will look really good or terrible.Sure you can stream movies&tv shows through netflik,hulu plus and amazon instant video but those services will not last forever.In a way i still prefer to have a physical copy when i have a chance to buy one.Though i do use netflik allot since it is really convenient to have.

[esteban]

I like DVD's, especially when they offer commentary tracks that are unavailable via streaming services.

However, I must admit that I stopped buying DVD's a long time ago. Occasionally I'll pick something up (DuckTales, for example), but I actually forget to watch them.

My viewing habits are DVR/Netflix/Amazon Prime/iTunes. I watch free stuff 99% of the time, unless we are having "family movie night"....I watch some video via YouTube, but not much.

As you probably know, the big incentive to buy DVD's these days is when something isn't readily available for free/cheap via legit streaming.

Disney and Lucas are very restrictive with some properties...so buying the damn DVD is often the way to go.

I am NOT a big Lucas/Disney fan (sorry Pixar/Star Wars fans) but, nonetheless, there have been many things I have wanted (for me, or for my kids) and I was surprised that DVD was most feasible option.

[turboswimbz]

Th only DVD's I have are the big bang theory DVD season sets.  And that is only becuase the first two seasons were gifted to me, and I like having the set to rewatch.  I never really buy movies, someone always has a copy to borrow, no matter what the current media is.  So it just isn't something I would ever consider.  Also actually watching a new movie in theaters is cheaper and more fun for me than rewatching a movie on dvd.   

I would just never watch them enough to justify the price.  It would be like buying video games to let them sit on shelf and maybe play them occasionally.

[BigusSchmuck]

People really buy dvds anymore? I for one haven't bought a dvd since 2005, been live streaming for quite a long time now. Now Laserdiscs, yeah I bought a few of those. Bluray what a waste of time, with the advances we have made with live streaming stuff there really isn't a reason why anyone would want to get a library of Blurays unless of course you are really into the extras. Even then it doesn't justify the price.

[TheClash603]

I went from a DVD per week to a DVD per month (and when I say DVD, I am including blu-ray because I mix and match).

When DVD was in its prime, it was incredible.  There were a lot of 70s and 80s horror movies I could never had seen before, which were now getting releases.  Now, I have accumulated enough of these movies I feel overwhelmed, so I try to only get stuff I REALLY want.  Also, I don't think you can stream 3D movies yet?  I buy 3D blu-rays because I love the tech.

[CGQuarterly]

DVDs are becoming marginalized because the industry is moving over to streaming/online services, but I don't see how anyone could say that they're a "rip-off".

[TR0N]

I like DVD's, especially when they offer commentary tracks that are unavailable via streaming services.

However, I must admit that I stopped buying DVD's a long time ago. Occasionally I'll pick something up (DuckTales, for example), but I actually forget to watch them.

My viewing habits are DVR/Netflix/Amazon Prime/iTunes. I watch free stuff 99% of the time, unless we are having "family movie night"....I watch some video via YouTube, but not much.

As you probably know, the big incentive to buy DVD's these days is when something isn't readily available for free/cheap via legit streaming.

Disney and Lucas are very restrictive with some properties...so buying the damn DVD is often the way to go.

I am NOT a big Lucas/Disney fan (sorry Pixar/Star Wars fans) but, nonetheless, there have been many things I have wanted (for me, or for my kids) and I was surprised that DVD was most feasible option.

That is the down side to streaming the rights for netflik,amazon etc.For when they can't the rights to a movie&tv show for being able to air it.I remember a few years ago after signing up to netflik.When i wanted to watch thundercats again it wasn't on there so i bought it on the dvd,since it was so cheap.

[esteban]

^ Yes, TRON, and, as I'm sure you already know, the contracts are constantly in flux.

I was watching many things that BAM! disappeared. Granted, it takes me a YEAR to get through 1-2 seasons of a show, but I was at the whim of the contracts.

It would mar the experience, but I wish I could have looked up the "expiration date" to see if I had a reasonable amount of time.

I am an edge use case, though. I started Howard the Duck and, over the course of 2-3 months, was inching closer to finishing it. Same with PEE-WEE films. Movies disappeared.

A year (maybe a few months, actually) later, they were back, I rewatched 'em from the beginning.

Netflix is cheap, so I'm not upset.

However, recently Disney (?) pulled a bunch of streaming/download content from all services. UNLESS you had downloaded a LOCAL COPY (on a tablet/phone/PC), you lost it. Yes, you paid for it, but the "terms and conditions" do not guarantee access, in perpetuity, to digital content. Now, this didn't affect me, but it shows how badly we (consumers) need protections from this ridiculous situation.

For all the convenience of not having local copies....damn, current contracts/laws/practices are so anti-consumer it isn't even funny.

I will admit, however, that for video, I love streaming most things.

For music, I'm still stuck in transition. I don't completely trust that I'll have access to a lot of wacky/obscure content, so I know I'll have to maintain some local copies. 95% of my music will be fine (but subject to issues already stated for film/video).

[NecroPhile]

I don't do netflix because $8 a month is more than what I've spent building my DVD collection over the last dozen years or so, and some of what I have isn't available there anyway.

[esadajr]

They're a rip off when the bluray combo pack costs for example $14 and the standalone DVD costs $12.

[esteban]

I don't do netflix because $8 a month is more than what I've spent building my DVD collection over the last dozen years or so, and some of what I have isn't available there anyway.

You crazy.

[Sadler]

99.95% of my viewing is streaming. Prime is pretty damn awesome. Having said that, DVDs are $2 around here. Thrift shops, gas stations, whatevs. I've got no problem picking them up at that price.

[NightWolve]

I still collect a DVD now and then, but yeah, it gets rarer and rarer. New releases at $19.99 and for something that you will only wind up watching once 90% of the time, yeah, rip-off...  I mostly just rent them from the library or a Redbox kiosk now. Can't beat a rental for free or a dollar plus change.