I think we've all seen this coming for a while now, but this is the first official confirmation that I have seen. It's about time.


http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/...rticle_ID=6390

No word on if the keep case format is just for review copys.


Snapper ERA Closing
Author: THOMAS K. ARNOLD
[email protected]
Posted: July 11, 2004
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The Snapper is on its way out.

Warner Home Video is quietly phasing out the mostly cardboard DVD package cursed by collectors and switching to other jackets, chiefly the all-plastic Amaray-style “keep case” used by virtually all other DVD suppliers.

A Warner source said a growing “portion of our output,” including catalog product, is being released in non-Snapper packaging. While the studio is not “completely discontinuing” the Snapper, at least not in the next year, the source said the Snapper’s use will continue to decline in the future.

The decision to phase out the Snapper came largely as a result of internal research finding that “while consumers care most about the movie, a portion of consumers do prefer the Amaray-style packaging,” according to the source.

That doesn’t surprise retailers like Bo Loyd, EVP of purchasing for Movie Gallery.

“I think it’s a good move,” he said. “We need as much consistency on the merchandising end as we can get.”

Loyd said that while the Snapper held up fairly well against the stress of rental, the keep case “is certainly much more durable and more permanent.”

For more than a year, Warner has released new theatrical hits in either plastic keep cases or, for multi-disc sets, Digipaks (cardboard jackets with plastic trays). Special- edition catalog titles also have been issued in Digipaks, with the Snapper limited to single-disc catalog titles.

In recent months, however, a growing number of catalog titles have come out in keep cases, including the five movies in the “Film Noir” collection and a new series of Elvis Presley DVDs.

Industry sources said Warner initially went with the Snapper because the cardboard boxes were five cents cheaper than the keep cases. But over time, the Warner source said, “packaging costs have changed,” and both styles of case are about the same.

This may not be the only packaging change down the pike. Warner research also found storage space in consumer homes is becoming an issue that may ultimately affect buy rates. Studios are reportedly exploring new packaging options in which DVDs are enclosed in thinner cases, either cardboard or plastic.

'bout damn time!

Whew, 'about time!!!

Should of happened sooner...good news.

Good news. My friend will be happy with this news since she refuses to buy snappers.

Come on Thinpacks !!

Hey, there was nothing I enjoyed more than pulling out a snapper and watch adjacent snappers pull out as well!

Why won't they just admit that snappers were shitty and no one wanted them?

I liked snappers. Sad day.

I can't wait until all my snappers become collector's items on eBay! Early retirement here I come!

This announcement is about 6 years too late.

Someone finally got the hint. Good for them.

Great news! good to see there will be a change.

I finally picked up Matchstick Men and Mystic River in keepcases at Hollywood Video. Big thumbs up.

Wow, that is groundbreaking research. I bet they did a whole study to find out that everyone on earth thought the snapper sucked. They should just join the digital age and read a few forums - i guarentee our ideas are way better than what they come up with on their own.

Cheap bastards!!!!!!!

You know, I'm sure someone will come in here and say we're the minority and not a good representative of the general populace, but come on. This is truly something we could have told them seven years ago.

It really wouldn't kill them to spend some time here.

So does this mean that The Iron Giant SE will be in a good case?

joining the likes of george w. bush and jack valenti ...the snapper also won't be missed

dam, Warner Brothers must have a lot of extra review copies lyin' around

Uh oh.

I wonder if they'll re-release titles with new keepcases. It would be a pain in the ass to upgrade so many, but I'd still do it.

I actually prefer the hub on the snappers, the dvd snaps in and out much more smoothly. I just switched out most of my used Blockbuster cases for the original Amrays (which I got from the store before they threw them away last week), and while the DVD pops out of them very nicely, it can be sticky going in - mainly on the yin-yang type. The Amrays with 3 spokes are tougher to get out but easier to put in.

I've never liked snappers as well.

What I find interesting is that most people find digi-packs to be good packageing although they are pretty much like snappers. They both have plastic trays and cardboard packaging.

I seem to remember discussions about the durability of snappers a couple years ago, and how keep cases were more durable. But don't digi-packs such as LotR and Fight Club also suffer from the same problems as snappers?

Don't get me wrong, I'm very glad that Warner is going to stop using snappers. I just find it strange that snappers were so hated while digi-packs were relatively embraced.