Disney to No Longer Release Physical Media Ttiles in Australia. Does Anyone Still Collect Physical Media?

Sydneyswans on 31/07/2023 - 14:27

Its official Disney to No Longer Release Physical Media Ttiles in Australia after the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 next week which got me thinking. Does anyone still collect/buy physical Media these days?

I was once a religious collector but with cost of living biting I haven't really invested in many titles lately. JB Hi Fi still trying to fob off titles with numerous sales however. Most retailers like Big W, Kmart did away with physical media or are already on the way to doing so.

Whilst I visit cash converters and other stores almost weekly it seems like all the film buff collectable films etc are almost non existent and if they are, they cost a fortune. One local Cash Converters store selling Criterion titles at like $30-$70 (A USA based film label popular with film buffs for those who don't know).

Note: not here to promote downloading/tormenting etc, although we know along with Netflx and Disney plus prime etc etc, this has also led to the downfall of physical media.

Poll Options

  • 6
    I still buy Physical Media religiously and of the highest quality eg 4k, blu ray
  • 2
    I still buy Physical Media religiously but the quality is not important and I can live with DVD
  • 35
    I buy selected titles on Physical Media and quality is important eg 4k blu ray
  • 7
    I buy select titles on Physical Media and quality is not important and will buy DVD.
  • 51
    I stick to streaming, TV downloading and cinema etc
Entertainment Disney

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 31/07/2023 - 14:33
    +4

    Havent collected physical media for close to 20 years… too convenient to stream anywhere anytime.

    Fair enough if you are a hardcore collector, have seen some cool unique set ups where people convert rooms into gaming/media rooms complete with sorted physical media, nice lighting, nice shelving, authentic old posters etc. Too much to ask these days for the normal everyday punter imo.

    • Sydneyswans on 31/07/2023 - 14:39

      couldn't agree more with that. When I was just in uni working days at Nandos I could buy a few box sets no trouble but now when you get a $500 electricity bill you think twice about spending that dough and end up getting the cheaper RACV/NRMA member tickets to event cinemas and see a movie once and maybe a few times on streaming when it hits the streaming platforms.

    • MisterAndersen on 04/08/2023 - 10:46
      +1

      And how much are you paying to maintain that ability to stream anywhere anytime vs the one off cost to purchase the disc (and gain access to the various special features included on it that are never made available elsewhere?) And what will you do when they decide to lock it away in the vault as a tax writeoff or negotiating tactic with the various US Hollywood unions to deny them residuals?

  • Fredfloresjr on 31/07/2023 - 14:37
    +1

    Used to bother collecting 4ks/blurays before until I realised I am just fooling myself to believe that my eyes can differentiate the quality difference. lol. Yes, watching at 77 c2.

    • Jugganautx on 31/07/2023 - 20:14

      if you can't tell the difference between the original Alien movie and the bluray i don't know what to tell you.

    • ThithLord on 02/08/2023 - 11:05

      The difference is ngiht and day between DVD and 4K Ultra, especially if you have a decent TV.

      • spackbace on 02/08/2023 - 11:55

        Could be comparing streaming to bluray?

        • ThithLord on 02/08/2023 - 12:17

          Same again, especially so. Streaming in 4K doesn't have near the same bitrate as 4K Ultra BluRay. I'm no snob, either, I have only just recently started dipping my feet into 4k BluRay and the colour depth, blackness, audio quality etc is just unparalleled

          • spackbace on 02/08/2023 - 12:23

            @ThithLord: Depends what you have to play it back. Most people only have sound bars etc

            Personally, I don't have an oled tv or anything, but have a full 5.2.2 setup and just 'acquire' 4k remux's on the nas

  • Cheaplikethebird on 31/07/2023 - 14:37

    With no access to blurays would there still be a legitimate source for uncompressed 4k media for those with high end theatre systems?

    • Sydneyswans on 31/07/2023 - 14:42
      +1

      Thats the world we now live in…. This will also affect the likes of LG and Sony and the other makers 4k DVD Blu Ray players who in turn will likely no longer produce the hardware needed to watch it.

    • dizzle on 31/07/2023 - 18:00

      Do the majority notice the difference? There's certainly a market for high end home theatre and uncompressed 4K, but is there a big enough market for them to care?

      I'm betting more companies will follow suit. I'm honestly surprised that places like JB still make enough money from stocking so many CDs/DVDs to justify having so much floor space dedicated to it. Again I think it's just a matter of time.

      • Sydneyswans on 01/08/2023 - 00:36

        Its because they are able to get you in for whitegoods and TVs and such and the collectors will probably pick up a movie or CD on the side type thing.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/07/2023 - 14:46
    +5

    I still buy discs, specifically 4k. I also have an existing decent sized DVD & Blu-Ray collection.
    I'd prefer to have something physical and offline, because streaming services will eventually come and go, and so will their streaming library. I'd prefer to be in control to what I can watch at any time.

  • Axelstrife on 31/07/2023 - 14:48
    +4

    All this will do it force even more legitimate uses to the high seas when disney decides to remove more movies from Disney+ like they have done in the past.

  • nuker on 31/07/2023 - 14:58
    +1

    I download stuff I like to my 48TB NAS

    • jv on 31/07/2023 - 15:03
      +3

      to my 48TB NAS

      Why so small?

      • nuker on 31/07/2023 - 15:31
        +2

        I have a fine taste, my friend.

      • spackbace on 31/07/2023 - 16:18

        Why so small?

        That's what she said

        Wait

  • jv on 31/07/2023 - 15:00

    Does anyone still collect/buy physical Media these days?

    Yep

  • Benoffie on 31/07/2023 - 15:14
    +3

    Still buying DVD/Blu Rays. Just got myself the Bones, True Blood and Futurama box sets.

    I hate paying for streaming for the odd chance I might want to watch something.

  • Crow K on 31/07/2023 - 15:21
    +7

    Love the commentary and behind-the-scenes stuff. Having the rights to watch what you what when you want is an additional benefit, sure.

    • sam-1966 on 31/07/2023 - 15:27
      +4

      Yes! This is one of the reasons I love DVDs.

      And I have also purchased series from the US that weren't shown in Australia and are unavailable on streaming.

      • jv on 31/07/2023 - 16:11
        +2

        Can also watch during an NBN outage…

  • Gnilgorf on 31/07/2023 - 16:44

    Used to by Blu-rays whenever they were on sale, and built up a fairly decent movie collection as a result. Being able to watch my preferred movies whenever, without the internet was always a boon. But then I moved…And wow did they take up a surprising amount of space and were annoying lug around.

    Since then i've resisted the urge to buy anymore. And put that money into other things, including into the the streaming services xD.

    Probably a good thing too, life priorities change and I find myself watching less and less media anyway.

  • outlander on 31/07/2023 - 17:34
    +3

    I used to buy, but then I realized that there's only a handful of movies that I truly care about.

    Everything else, though I might enjoy it, I don't need super hd quality for, so streaming is fine.

    Still, this is a concerning move. It shows that the big companies are starting to contract, changing their focus on dominating the markets they control over expansions. It spells bad things for everyone

  • payless69 on 31/07/2023 - 18:52

    Where is the : Know how to download button? Or is it off topic?

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 31/07/2023 - 19:51

    no Pirating option….

    Trying2SaveABuck on 31/07/2023 - 19:51 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • Mr_P on 31/07/2023 - 21:06
    +1

    I have a pretty sizeable DVD/BD collection, along with my old CD collection.. whilst I mainly stream now, I will buy the odd physical media if it's something rare that either isn't on streaming services, or may not be on there for long… usually Aus/NZ content

    Haven't bought a CD for at least 10 years, but after upgrading my HiFi system recently I have been enjoying listening to my old discs..

  • Some Human on 01/08/2023 - 01:02

    I like owning things on dvd, because they play on all the players in my house. The blurays only play on my xbox one, so I avoid them.

    I generally pick dvds up for 50 cents - $2.

    I enjoy watching the same things over and over again, so when I feel like watching a certain show or movie
    I can just grab it off the shelf and watch it. This avoids the disappointment that comes with "i wonder if this show is on netflix…oh it's not".
    Most of the things I want to watch are not on streaming services.

  • Protractor on 01/08/2023 - 11:17
    +1

    Streaming VS hard copy?
    'Owned' VS OWNED

    • MisterAndersen on 04/08/2023 - 10:51

      Indeed. The 'Cloud' is just someone else's computer that they're letting you use while it suits them.

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