Forum - View topicNEWS: U.S. Home Video Sales Dropped 1.8% in 2014
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walw6pK4Alo
 Posts: 9322 |
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Sounds about right, we're going to head into the direction where buying home video is for collectors while everyone else just streams (more of a a mix of both, it's not like you have to buy everything you watch). The bigger related question I'd like to see discussed is what happens to theater numbers when streaming is "good enough" over BluRays. Maybe they also become more boutique and exclusive instead of appealing to mass audiences. One of mine already did that by installing recliners and using reserved seating which removes the max number of occupants in a room but definitely ups the experience. The only advantage movie theater see today is obviously having the movie first, but who knows what the close future will bring, we already see so many films go DTV first, and they cost just as much as a matinee.
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14902 |
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So it's not decreasing by much. More like leveling off, despite prices generally falling.
Damn that's more than all of Japan's video market! So U.S. is streaming more than Japan is buying - that's how big the Net use in US media has gotten. |
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PurpleWarrior13
 Posts: 2039 |
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I wouldn't worry too much about cinemas. People have worried about their demise for about 60 years. When television first came out, many were worried that they would kill traditional theaters since people could now watch programming for free on television. Because of that, movies were made bigger and more expensive, and had gimmicks like cinemascope and 3D. They were trying to do things that were impossible on television. People were also worried when home video first came out. To be fair, that DID pretty much kill re-releases from ever being profitable again, but here we are, and people still love to go to the movies. It's just a part of our culture, and while it has always has it's ups and downs, I don't think it will ever really die.
As for home video, it's about where it should be. I really didn't dip that much last year. I think things are pretty much leveling out. Home video will always be around, but not for renting, which has been replaced with streaming. I think collectors will usually prefer a physical product instead of a digital download. It's like the music industry, although CDs are a dying species (they still sell 'em though!). With vynl making a pseudo-comeback (even with people of my generation), I could see music mostly being a digital medium, with some vynls available for collectors. TV/film might become something similar. |
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Hameyadea
 Posts: 3679 |
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I think that was to be expected, since streaming is becoming a more reliable, easily-affordable and available alternative. Let us be honest, say you want "that old flick from year xxxx," would you go to the renal stores' online page, navigate through some web interface that can cause you to pull your hairs out, after giving up on checking their catalog digitally you contact the store directly, get that familiar response "maybe we still have it, come by over in 10 and I'll have an answer to give you." And that's before we even discuss the possibility of getting a positive reply. On the other hand, "that flick" is on your favorite streaming service, either behind a low Pay Wall, or you're already a Subscribed Member, thus you can get "that flick" without additional funds. About 5 clicks later and it starts streaming. There is something noble about opening the case and hearing that "pop," placing gently the disc (or for really old-school, VHS) in the media player and hearing that quiet "swoosh" as it enters the device, and then sitting comfortably on the couch and watching "that flick." But the question is: is it still worth it to jump that many hoops for something that you can get quickly from the web? Last edited by Hameyadea on Mon Jan 19, 2015 5:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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TheMorry
Posts: 661 |
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I rather collect anime to be honest lol. Im only watching anime for real since 2 years now and in that time i boought over 200 titles
 . Guess my buyin spree had no effect.
Anyway, buying my favorite stuff is far more fun then streaming it. |
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walw6pK4Alo
Posts: 9322 |
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Depends on how you're getting it. Buying from Amazon or Rightstuf couldn't be simpler, and renting a video from a store is basically over. I still try to simulate the experience by picking up a whole bunch of movies and TV series from the library since they have a pretty big and expanding catalog, other library systems might be SOL with this. |
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configspace
Posts: 3717 |
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It's too bad they don't have a stats about anime specifically. One incentive for anime TV shows on blu-ray, aside from the quality, are the revisions and additions.
But I guess this is becoming less important to people, even for censored shows. Perhaps they'll download the BD rips/fansubs but if those are not available, they would be satisfied with whatever initial simulcast stream is available. US shows generally don't change at all, although some movies do come with directors' cuts, so there's a lot less incentive to buy videos as opposed to streaming the same content via Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu, and getting more for your money. |
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mgosdin
 Posts: 1302 Location: Kissimmee, Florida, USA |
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Three data points, which isn't enough really, all three show a decline. If it is a trend is isn't one of leveling off. More like it is about to take a plunge maybe. I'm one of those physical release guys, but not a big "special edition" style collector, streams are nice for sampling a series but for me the real happiness comes from holding it in my hands. Mark Gosdin |
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Chrno2
 Posts: 6172 Location: USA |
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Hmm, that's an interesting report. I guess even when I visit BB's messy store shelves the numbers still are low. Well, when you have other ways of obtaining media either through streaming and rental that definitely can have an affect on the over all purchasing of a physical product. My mother does both streaming and buys movies. But over the years she decided not to buy films unless it was something she wanted to own because she didn't have the space for it. Then there's the case of one buying and then you only watch it once. I wonder how the anime market fits into this chart considering now things are picking back up.
But who knows how this will affect things in the future. Things probably won't go away. |
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Kadmos1
 Posts: 13643 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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With so much on demand, digital buying, and streaming happening, this might make sense that American home video sales have fallen a bit.
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enurtsol
Posts: 14902 |
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It already took a plunge. It used to be a $20+ billion industry: 
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mangamuscle
Posts: 2658 Location: Mexico |
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Just a thought, maybe that 1.8% decline is the percentage that video rental stores are no longer buying (because they have closed, downsized or started buying second hand titles).
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Hoppy800
 Posts: 3331 |
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Rental stores are going the way of the dodo, the last time I even went to a rental store was in 2002 and it was to buy a strategy guide and buy some of the leftover Dreamcast games since many of them were on sale not even to rent games. They died when torrents, Netflix, Youtube, and Hulu appeared and renting games died when Gamefly appeared.
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mangamuscle
Posts: 2658 Location: Mexico |
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This dodo still has some meat on it. |
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Hoppy800
Posts: 3331 |
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It's fighting to stay relevant but all good things come to an end and they're on borrowed time (mostly due to geographical reasons, rental stores are popular where internet that's fast enough to stream is scarce and/or prohibitively expensive compared to renting games from a brick and mortar store). Then you have those kiosks where you rent movies for a day or two for a few dollars killing the rental store's business (unless they have some of their own). |
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