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From IMDB... I hope advertisers don't try to jump on this like they did on ads before theatrical movies

Most DVD Viewers Watch the Ads

Fifty-five percent of DVD buyers and renters watch the movie trailers included in them, suggesting to some analysts that DVDs might be used for other forms of advertising, the online Media Daily reported today (Thursday), citing a study from Knowledge Networks: How People Use VCRs, DVRs and DVDs. However, Jon Swallen, an analyst at Universal McCann, expressed skepticism. "The big caveat is that people are looking at movie ads. Transferring that and saying, 'Gee, I could put a Coca-Cola spot on there and it will work just as well,' probably isn't going to happen." Nevertheless, in its report, Media Daily commented: "Entertainment marketers, including TV networks, may have found a new best friend in DVDs."

DemonDan

Terrible idea.

On a rental, I can see it, but if I pay for the movie, I don't even want trailers for other movies on there.

Numanoid

Hope you didn't pick up the new Animal House: http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=313934

mookiemeister

As long as there is a way to skip out of the ad, I don't mind if they put ads in. But if they force people to start watching the ads before they can watch the DVD, then I would think twice before buying the DVD.

tonyc3742

These are not even the same thing...someone who buys a DVD is obviously interested in the movie, show, or cast on the DVD. Many trailers are either releases for similar movies, similar shows, same/similar cast members, or at least 'If you like this, you might also like this.' Many of the trailers, at least for dvd releases, also discuss the dvd features, which the average consumer has no other source to find that info.

But to toss on a random commercial for Coke or whatever, that can't be skipped, is insulting.

JoeyOhhhh

Probably because most people don't realize they can skip right over.

mwj

I like trailers. I hate forced trailers!

Movie_Man

HUGE difference between watching trailers, and soda ads.

PixyJunket

Even BIGGER difference choosing to watch ads, being FORCED to watch them.

lisadoris

Wow I don't think I've ever watched an ad on my DVDs. The only time I've even noticed them is on Disney DVDs where you have to get through five or six of them to get to the movie. I hope we don't start seeing random ads on the DVDs, that's one of the reasons I stopped going to the cinema.

philo

It's especially annoying and deceptive when you press 'play movie' and previews show up. Even if you can skip it's still a royal nuisance being exposed to even one second of some of the crap that gets released. Certain films, especially classic or highly regarded ones, should not have any of this stuff attached in any way. They're like barnacles or leeches I want to scrape off and get rid of.

Whenever this happens on a favorite title, its depressing to realize this annoying junk will be there every time you want to watch the movie, burning itself with association into your mind for many years to come.

I'm sure it's only going to get worse though. Just more BS to deal with. Nothing like spending some time with my favorite movie trying to click through FBI warnings, copyright notices, disclaimers, animated menus, trailers, THX logos, movie studio logos, and the occassional emergency in-flight safety instruction.

Squirrel God

Ditto.

I like trailers on DVDs. Let's face it - it's spare space and I've bought several DVDs that I wouldn't have bought otherwise because I'd seen a trailer for a film I'd never previously heard of (and they were great films too).

I've yet to experience forced trailers though - my multi-region Sony player has been modified so that all user prohibitions are disabled

FantasticVSDoom

I think its going to happen. They do it in front of movies at the theatres now, along with telling us all how piracy is killing the movie industry and they may do this as a way to combat piracy. Just a little food for thought.

Drexl

That's what I was thinking-that or they don't know how to skip them.

I'll bet there are people who don't even use the menu button. They just pop the disc in, wait for the menu to automatically come up, and go from there. If they do use the menu button, they may only use it while the film or supplement they're watching is playing. As for chapter skip, there may be people who think that's just for when a film is playing and don't realize that a series of trailers is often encoded as a series of successive chapters.

jarryjayo

One thing I really really liked about laser disc was no trailers and you could forward past that FBI warning label too. it was perfect. I hate when I can't forward past a dvd opening screen or have to wait for the stupid dancing menu to stop playing before I have to hit play..

I like extras on a dvd but not forced on you. if it's going to be forced then it should be cheaper, or free. sorta like tshirts you get with cases of beer, I not paying to be a walking ad, so it better be free. Movie theaters are just crazy with ads anymore. you have to show up a 1hour before the film to get a good sit at a big ticket opening week movie then wait past 15mins of ads.

ianholm

At United Artists Theaters, they now have some annoying program called "The Twenty" which is basically twenty minutes of ads for lame cable TV shows, Sprite and their music label. The best is they say "make sure you get to the theater early to catch 'The Twenty'!"

danol

Count me a never watch inferior to the DVD I am watching crapola
AKA trailers.

BizRodian

I remember when DVDs started getting trailers, and it pissed me off. I used to consider DVD to be like "owning" the movie. Owning the experiance. Of course, now that it's just VHS's replacement, it's really not a whole hell of a lot of anything.

dentam

If it lowered the price of my purchase, I'd gladly sit through a commercial or two.

Feathers McGraw

Ok, major question here, how did they define this question?

Because, I watch every trailer *for the movie I'm watching*, i.e. if I'm watching Terminator 2, I'll watch all the tv spots, movie trailers, radio ads, etc for T2 that they include on the disk.

I have *never* watched a single trailer for a *different* film in my life.

So, if they asked me "do you watch the trailers on dvd's", I'd probably answer yes, but I don't think that's what they're wanting.