slop101

Oh, I know, though I'd have to buy a ton of new hardware (my PC and hard-drives are way outdated and small/slow). But I couldn't even get through uploading all my CDs (going alphabetically, I stopped at "E"), just not enough time! I can't even keep my ipod up to date. I can't imagine the time/patience I'd need to do that with my blu-rays.

BuckNaked2k

PhantomStranger

The vanishing retail support for media is starting to impact even Blu-ray's numbers.

Alan Smithee

And the amount of time I spend at said retailers. I haven't been to Best Buy in ages.

rw2516

I seriously doubt retail availability has much impact on Blu-ray sales. Blu-ray is far from a casual interest, given the options available today. Those who are in, are all in.
Those with an interest will seek them out and buy them where they can.

Alan Smithee

I’ve been getting a LOT more in the mail lately (mostly 3D imports that studios refuse to release here) but still prefer going to the stores when I can. No waiting for them to get here!

PhantomStranger

No retail support absolutely kills impulse and casual purchases, even by big Blu-ray spenders. Out of sight, out of mind.

I saw the same thing happen to CD over the past decade as retail support dwindled for that format.

orangerunner

I agree that once titles leave the retail landscape they will be mostly forgotten.

The internet is great source if you have a specific title in mind and you can search it out to the nth degree but I find that so many titles are purchased when you aren't looking for a particular title.

I also find the speed of looking through titles is much more efficient in a store than browsing through the internet. With titles placed with the spines facing out, your eyes can scroll across a thousand different titles in about five minutes or so. How many titles can you really scroll though in the same five minutes on a website?

Alan Smithee

Just read that Vinegar Syndrome will be stopping DVD-only releases, but will still include them with their Blu-Rays.

morriscroy

Our friend here Alan Smithee is the absolute best source of entertainment on here.

Alan Smithee is even MORE entertaining, than watching any actual show/movie on dvd/bluray/4Kbluray disc or streaming/vod.

(This is the primary reason I still frequent this forum).

BobO'Link

I'm not a fan of streaming but I have to disagree with your assessment of that article. It essentially states that streaming has impacted sales.

The author has somewhat erroneously stated:
while in the prior paragraph said:
He then went on to state:
Which is also inaccurate as BR media sales only rarely equal those of DVD.

His main source for the conclusion above seems to be *one* upscale retailer who has dropped DVD players out of simple economics:
That retailer will continue to sell BR players as there's still profit to be made. Plus a BR player will play DVDs (something many people just don't "get").

And then brings it home with this:
What I get from that article is simply that the majority of people would rather stream than:

1. Rent a DVD from Redbox or any rental store still in business.
2. Listen to the radio
3. Own shelves full of media they'll only watch or listen to a few times at best.

I fully understand those reasons. Most of people I know have never liked the trek to the rental store, dislike all the ads on over-the-air TV and radio, and have no desire to own a library of discs. At best they'll own a few favorites and are quite content to have them as digital copies. They like the streaming model as it's easy, fairly inexpensive, has tons of content (never mind that it's a relatively shallow catalog - they don't care as many don't want to listen to or watch "old" music or movies), and mostly reliable enough.

BR sales, both players and media, are still relatively healthy considering the market. CD/Record sales have somewhat rebounded (I feel this is because people finally discovered how crappy MP3's really sound but it could be simple nostalgia).

slop101

Didn't know he sold DVD players.
All good though, as blu-ray players and Playstations still play DVDs just fine.

DthRdrX

None of my local stores put out new titles today except Best Buy had Kin out. This happen to anyone else?

BuckNaked2k

Alan Smithee

Each recent Black Friday has been my weakest one yet. I expect there'll be one where I buy absolutely nothing.

BuckNaked2k

LorenzoL

What were the releases on the last 2 weeks of December that got the percentage up?

mattysemo247

Venom and Predator?

Adam Tyner

The week ending December 22nd included Venom, The Predator, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, and A Simple Favor.

There weren't any new releases the following week (the week of Christmas), unless you count White Boy Rick. Venom was still the top title.

Also, three weeks up in a row:

BuckNaked2k

Will this be the year Blu-ray takes the sales lead over DVD? bruceames thinks so. I'm still not convinced.

Josh-da-man

Adam Tyner

I don't know when it'll happen, but DVD is declining at a significantly higher rate than Blu-ray, so it'll overtake DVD at some point for sure.

PhantomStranger

It appears the typical DVD consumer is abandoning physical media for streaming. Blu-ray owners are hanging in there with all the hardware investments they've already made in their systems.

Coral

By the time that happens, the overall physical media sales will have shrunk considerably - making BDs win bittersweet.

JimRochester

Better to win while both are climbing than to win simply because your drop is slower than the other guy's