Is the end of physical media upon us?

[tripplej]

another sad statistics for physical media..

 

[AudiocRaver]

Physical media, what is that?

 

[Harrycr]

Physical media, what is that?

Discs etc isn't it.

 

[phillihp23]

It’s unfortunate but consumption has become more about quantity than quality.

 

[Harrycr]

It’s unfortunate but consumption has become more about quantity than quality.

You are right unfortunately.
To add, easy access.
As far as audio is concerned I think that the picture is considered more important than the sound now.
I thought AVRs were amplifying sound, player's were for picture sending a signal to the TV or screen. Has been for awhile now but AVRs now do part of the players job something has to give room wise, so the power of amplifier drop to allow for this.

Just my my 2 cents worth.

I think Neil Young was advocating for better sound as we live in a digital world cause there is no set standard.

I have heard that streaming is getting good quality I certainly hope so because I have heard a close to a $100,000 system that streams as well and not impressed.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Gonna disagree. If you go back ten years and replace the Best Buy DVD section with any other item in the store, the profit per square foot would go up exponentially. TVs. DVD players. Refrigerators. Computers. AV Receivers. They all have a MUCH higher profit margin, but most people don't just pop into a store to check out the latest appliances, or even TVs. You have to be in the market for one of those. So how do you lure someone into the market for a new appliance?

DVDs. CDs.

Sell something that will bring them through the doors when they DON'T need a new dishwasher and blow their minds with bright shiny new electronics.

The square footage dedicated to physical media wasn't bringing people through the door anymore, so it wasn't worth sacrificing the real estate.

Yes, but there's no way they were devoting that much space to CD's and DVDs if they weren't making $$.

Let's be honest, these stores have become ghost towns. At least here in the Baltimore/DC area. Walk into a Best Buy and it's a skeleton, product-wise as compared to what it used to be... but there's also no one (customers) there.

Frankly, I think they're going about it all the wrong way. If they were smart, they'd turn their giant showrooms into compartmentalized experience spaces where technology could be properly demonstrated. Don't stock anything... but have regional distribution hubs that could deliver products in as little as 24 hrs.

 

[Todd Anderson]

It’s unfortunate but consumption has become more about quantity than quality.

Convenience, convenience, convenience.

 

[JStewart]

Frankly, I think they're going about it all the wrong way. If they were smart, they'd turn their giant showrooms into compartmentalized experience spaces where technology could be properly demonstrated. Don't stock anything... but have regional distribution hubs that could deliver products in as little as 24 hrs.

That’s a good idea and I think they should take a serious look at renting space to qualified dealers for select product groups. An Apple Store in select Best Buys? How about someone like @Robert Zohn of Value Electronics with an AV experience in select NY stores? A control4 installer with a space, etc., etc. Get the experience and speak with a real expert.

If you’re going to be in Retail then you must differentiate from on line shopping and value add. @Robert Zohn clearly knows this which is one reason he’s successful. And if BB is unable to hire and train the needed expertise they should consider renting space to someone who can.

Frankly, the one good thing they had going with disc sales was their help didn’t need to know anything other than how to restock shelves and work a cash register. It was right in their sweet spot.

 

[Harrycr]

Demo room/s is were stock is shifted yes it is real estate but it helps sell gear not just AVRs & speakers but furniture and Tvs etc. The amount of times I would go to a demo room and people were hanging around while wify is looking at ovens, appliances, beds etc and the guys been attracted by the sound initially.
Look at what they bought fridge, freezer, bed & home theatre starter pack. And because they bought all that they got a slightly better deal. That shop gets a good word not only from these customers but from there friends & relations.
The best way of advertising is the word of mouth but the worst way of advertising is the same, word of mouth.

 

[JStewart]

I've seen this before, but not questioned it...

Just reading through @Michael Scott 's review of Dune Part 2 and read where streaming will be available for rental via streaming for almost 1 month before the disc release.

Dune: part two - arrives on 4K /Blu-ray/DVD on May 14th

DUNE: PART TWO The Blockbuster Cinematic Event of the Year Continues as Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Becomes Available for Purchase and Rental for the First Time Debuts for Premium Digital Ownership and Rental on April 16 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on May 14 Burbank, CA, April 9, 2024 –...

www.avnirvana.com

Anyone know who determines this schedule and why would they favor a streaming company over physical disc distribution? I suspect there's some money changing hands. In any event, it can't possibly do anything to help physical media sales, can it?

 

[Mike Schramm]

I would assume you can rent it before you can buy it because the rental fee is pretty much the same as the purchase fee. If they both were released simultaneously, people would just buy it for essentially the same price and renting would basically be eliminated. If you release to rental early, the people who really want to see it may double dip and rent it first for $25 then buy it again for $30 a month later when it is on disc.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I've seen this before, but not questioned it...

Just reading through @Michael Scott 's review of Dune Part 2 and read where streaming will be available for rental via streaming for almost 1 month before the disc release.

Dune: part two - arrives on 4K /Blu-ray/DVD on May 14th

DUNE: PART TWO The Blockbuster Cinematic Event of the Year Continues as Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Becomes Available for Purchase and Rental for the First Time Debuts for Premium Digital Ownership and Rental on April 16 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on May 14 Burbank, CA, April 9, 2024 –...

www.avnirvana.com

Anyone know who determines this schedule and why would they favor a streaming company over physical disc distribution? I suspect there's some money changing hands. In any event, it can't possibly do anything to help physical media sales, can it?

The studios determine the release schedule. Digital providers have gotten releases early for years. When theaters reopened during the pandemic they started experimenting more with releasing almost day/date on digital platforms.

My guess is they hope there is a segment that will both rent/buy digitally to see it earlier and then also buy the disc for the quality, but in reality they’re weaning as many as they can off physical media.

VUDU used to do a bundle where if you bought the early release on digital they would ship you a Blu-ray when released. Only on specific titles, but it was a decent system.

Top Gun Maverick was close to a 6 month difference between digital and physical releases. The Cameron reissues were at least a month or maybe more.

It’s another advantage to the Kaleidescape- it’s the earliest opportunity to get disc-quality content, since it is generally the same timeline as streaming services.

 

[Mike Schramm]

I love Kaleidescape, and hopefully someday I will own one, but that day is a LONG WAY off. To get the absolute best quality and to get it first is a huge thing in my book. Anxiously waiting for my kids to graduate from college. They are currently 13 and 14......

 

[JStewart]

If they both were released simultaneously, people would just buy it for essentially the same price and renting would basically be eliminated.

but in reality they’re weaning as many as they can off physical media.

Thanks guys. I wasn’t sure. Makes perfect sense.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

To @Mike Schramm's point, which I somehow missed when I was responding, exactly.

The initial digital window is generally at a higher price point. Sometimes rental only. "PREMIUM RENTAL" or "STILL IN THEATERS" type hype. These vary from studio to studio, sometimes they're purchase only, sometimes they're rental only, sometimes they're either at a higher price point. Rental on Kaleidescape during this window is generally $19.99. When physical media is released, the rental drops to the normal $7.99 and purchase price drops to where it will eventually stay.

Though that being said, Paramount has been fantastic. The Top Gun Maverick pre-order was $24.99 to buy and it stayed there for quite some time. I believe it's down to $19.99/$7.99 now, with occasional sales dropping lower.

Personally I will tend to only buy during this window, and I'm happy to do it. If it's a title I only want to rent, it's also a title I'm fine with waiting for. I can't recall any movie I wanted to see badly enough to pay $20 to rent it.

Basically there's some set of formulas each studio has created where they think they're squeezing enough market segments enough to maximize profits while not squeezing so hard they...ahem...blow the bottom out of their markets. How accurate those formulas and perceptions are is still TBD. Warner seems to be popping heads with their price squeezing, though they also seem to be purposely making poor financial decisions in all areas of their business. They've been pricing their marquee titles at $39.99 to purchase on Kaleidescape, which means I am very picky about what I buy. Disney and Paramount have found the automatic price point at $24.99. If it's something I want to watch I'll hit purchase without even thinking twice.

If you compare Kaleidescape pricing to iTunes, you'll generally see a $5 upcharge for Kaleidescape titles, which I see as fair enough - they're offering more. Warner, however, has a $15-20 upcharge on Kaleidescape, which is not justified in most cases. Even for some catalog titles, they're still wildly overpriced.