Do you think4k blu-ray be the last physical media films and TV shows come on?

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scene

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Sep 25, 2008
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Whilst I have no idea about players, I think the number of discs selling is probably still on he increase. Still small though!

EDIT: Can't quickly find anything with disc numbers, but the proportion of discs sold in UHD is increasing - but the market is in decline overall:

UHD Blu-ray takes a growing share of a shrinking disc market - FlatpanelsHD

Hi - yes that's what I remember, and was alluding to with my throwaway UHD comment - UHD share is increasing, but overall disc sales are shrinking - as more and more people turn to streaming services
 
The chart is really rather useless without actual numbers, but if anything it suggests that it's DVD that's in decline - the 4k share has doubled over that period - I doubt that the market overall has halved (though that's a complete guess), so it would suggest that 4k is actually still on the up - albeit from a lowly starting point.
 
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scene

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Sep 25, 2008
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The chart is really rather useless without actual numbers, but if anything it suggests that it's DVD that's in decline - the 4k share has doubled over that period - I doubt that the market overall has halved (though that's a complete guess), so it would suggest that 4k is actually still on the up - albeit from a lowly starting point.

Yes - reading some of the links (and a few other articles) - blu-ray sales are up, DVD down, and overall the total of both is declining. 4K is taking over, but as part of a shrinking market...

Which does lend to the view that 4K will be the last physical format...
 
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I look at bluray.com and Film Stories every now and then to see what's on the release schedules in 4k, and it's hard to fathom what's going on. I'd have thought the studios would be after acceptance of the format by shifting units - which surely means giving people what they most want.

So why release Unbreakable before The Sixth Sense?

Why release stuff like Gregory's Girl and Vanilla Sky in 4k anyway? I know it seems that anything with Cruise in it gets a 4k release, but I find it hard to believe that these will be big sellers.
 
I prefer Unbreakable :)

I do wonder why some films get a 4K release ahead of long awaited classics, but most of the time it comes down to what’s available, and what’s popular. Older films have to be rescanned and remastered in 4K, which is more work than releasing a more modern digitally shot film that’s more or less ready to go. When I see some of the crap that gets released on UHD, and we’re still waiting for True Lies to get an official HD release, let alone a UHD one.
 

cunezstun

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Aug 28, 2023
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I'm not exaggerating. But I believe they were shot in 4k, and 4k downscaled always looks better than pure 1080p, from what I know.
 

Jasonovich

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Jul 28, 2022
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Silly I'm asking this as I only have a HD TV (yes I need to upgrade) but will the film and TV studios ever release films and TV shows on another physical format or is 4k blu-ray going to be the last? If it is the last, will you miss physical media? I think we are coming to the end of physical media for new films and TV show releases. I will miss all the extras they put on the physical disk which you don't get to see when you stream a film or TV program. I wonder how film lovers who buy all their films on on physical media feel about the end of films on physical media if that is indeed coming.
I have about a dozen or so 4K Blu-ray discs, I cherish them because they offer better video and sound quality than 4K streaming (i.e. Netflix). I think like vinyl's it will be niche but it will always be around because they can charge ridiculous prices and people will buy on the basis we tend to cherish things that are in physical format.

With the advent 1+GB broadband and even BT is offering true fibre 1GB broadband (not the rubbish ADSL), it is gradually becoming ubiquitous, so I feel, streaming will be the default media.
Have you noticed Full HD is pretty much standard and 4K is premium, maybe in the next two years or sooner 4K will become the new standard and 8K will be the new premium slot - yep, better get my 8K TV before the Joneses :)
 
I look at bluray.com and Film Stories every now and then to see what's on the release schedules in 4k, and it's hard to fathom what's going on.
Two follow-on observations:

- The number of releases does seem to be increasing, which I find encouraging.

- The choices are odd - why Hannibal rather the The Silence of the Lambs, for example? I have the latter on import, but it still raises an eyebrow.
 

DCarmi

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Nov 15, 2019
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I don't know anyone in their twenties who gives a stuff about physical media
I have to say I agree. None of my sprogs play CDs or have much interest physical film media.

Personally I've bought a load of CDs and some Vinyl this year but not one DVD/Bluray. I already have a fairly large collection of films, many of which have not seen the light of day for some time.
 

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