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Goodbye DVD Profiler :(
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Sweden Posts: 4,508
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Quoting Danae Cassandra:
Quote:
I think the point is more that the market isn't growing.  People are still buying physical media, but it's the same people.  It's an issue we're seeing at our shop.

Probably true, although I'm not sure that your shop experience is entirely relevant. Most people buy their discs online. In the case of boutique labels, many collectors buy directly from the releasing studio, from specialized online sellers like Diabolik DVD or Orbit DVD, or also from big online sellers like Amazon, Deep Discount etc.

Like I said, it's more and more becoming a niche market. How long will it survive? Who knows. Look at vinyl records. CDs supposedly replaced vinyl, streaming (Spotify et al) replaced CDs, and yet there is still a market for vinyl. A growing market, actually, albeit still a very small one.

The bottom line is that, for the time being at least, I don't think it's the lack of products that will spell the end of DVD Profiler. Users that are not interested in the niche market will drop out, and the lack of user interaction will sour other users. So it's up to us remaining "nichers" to keep the ship floating until Invelos dies or Microsoft pulls the plug on 32 bit applications.
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDanae Cassandra
Registered: Apr 11, 2004
Registered: May 26, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 2,877
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Quoting GSyren:
Quote:
Quoting Danae Cassandra:
Quote:
I think the point is more that the market isn't growing.  People are still buying physical media, but it's the same people.  It's an issue we're seeing at our shop.

Probably true, although I'm not sure that your shop experience is entirely relevant.


If anything, it bolsters your argument that DVDs/blu-rays are a niche market.  Much like vinyl records.  Both have their enthusiasts.  But John Q. Public has given up on physical media.  It no longer has the widespread mainstream buying that it once did.  While the enthusiasts are buying, especially from boutique labels and archive releases, the public is not.  Even film enthusiasts on letterboxd are moving to streaming, to services like The Criterion Channel and such.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
-- Thorin Oakenshield
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorscotthm
Registered: March 20, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 2,845
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Quoting Danae Cassandra:
Quote:
I think the point is more that the market isn't growing.

It may be true that the number of people buying discs is stagnant or shrinking, but for people interested in certain genres or vintages of films on disc these are good times, and I for one am buying more discs than ever.

It's a fallacy that any film I might buy on disc will be available for streaming at my convenience and whim.

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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorhydr0x
Registered: April 4, 2007
Germany Posts: 877
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And don't forget that outside of the US, all streaming services are completely useless when it comes to actually representing film history. The selection of pre-80s movies is basically non-existent, and the few things available are only the very very well-known films. Good luck finding even the most well-known screwballs, westerns or noir.

People interested in anything like that outside the US only have three options: Buying physical, buying a VPN to use US streaming or pirating.
- Jan
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,308
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In my opinion inside The US streaming is only good for the most popular viewing There is so many things if you don't own it on disc you just don't get to see it. I personally just don't see the fascination with the whole streaming thing. I for one am a die hard physical media person now and forever. I got to have that disc in habd to play whenever I want.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDanae Cassandra
Registered: Apr 11, 2004
Registered: May 26, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 2,877
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Quoting scotthm:
Quote:

It may be true that the number of people buying discs is stagnant or shrinking, but for people interested in certain genres or vintages of films on disc these are good times, and I for one am buying more discs than ever.


Oh absolutely!  We sell genre films really well, especially horror films.  I have a couple of guys who come in or call weekly looking for certain old westerns.  I really wish more people would come sell them to us, because I could turn over older films and genre films very easily.

Quote:

It's a fallacy that any film I might buy on disc will be available for streaming at my convenience and whim.


Agreed.  That's why I have a lot of physical Criterion releases, rather than just subscribing to their streaming channel.  Honestly, the streaming services I've made the most use out of are Kanopy and PBS.  The others are nice, but if I'm looking at what movies/tv shows I'm watching on services, those two hands down win.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
-- Thorin Oakenshield
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLithurge
Paralysis by analysis
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 1,263
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I've had to start looking at importing more films as they either don't get released on disc at all (Underwater) or only get DVD releases (Becky, Werewolves Within) here in the UK.

When it comes to streaming, there are some older horror films available via the likes of Shudder on Prime, but the quality can best be described as variable with either low quality tranfers, incorrect aspect ratios or only being available dubbed.

Germany and France seem to have a more robust market for physical media so far.
IVS Registered: January 2, 2002
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorhydr0x
Registered: April 4, 2007
Germany Posts: 877
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Quoting Lithurge:
Quote:


Germany and France seem to have a more robust market for physical media so far.


I don't think so. It depends greatly on your individual focus. If you look at horror and also some specific niches like classic Hollywood westerns, yes, there's a reliable group of buyers for those over here, so there are plenty of labels just licensing stuff that is readily available via Hollywood Classics and other rights agencies, and putting it out with more or less effort, often saving money on subtitling, etc.

On the other hand, there are vastly more (and better!) offerings in terms of the usual boutique label fare (classic Hollywood, New Hollywood, renowned world cinema classics, auteur cinema, etc.) in the UK than in Germany, with labels like Criterion, Masters of Cinema, Arrow, Indicator, Artificial Eye, BFI, and Network. Most of what they release is completely unavailable in Germany, and if it is, it's often inferior, at least in terms of bonus materials and subtitling, sometimes also in terms of audio/video quality, and often enough in terms of packaging and pricing (plenty of labels only releasing oversized and overpriced mediabooks to the FOMO collector crowd )
- Jan
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLithurge
Paralysis by analysis
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 1,263
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I would say I'm talking about mid budget modern releases.

Yes we have a market for classics/obscure older stuff, but that tends to be short production runs and you can see multiple releases of the same popular films from different companies. I would say the majority of 88 and 101 Films output is licensed from US releases.

Personally I'm very wary of Artifical Eye since they've become Curzon Artificial Eye, the pre-merger DVD release of Stalker was a beautiful transfer, their post merger Blu-Ray release was clearly sourced from an inferior print with no restoration work.
IVS Registered: January 2, 2002
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorhydr0x
Registered: April 4, 2007
Germany Posts: 877
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Quoting Lithurge:
Quote:
I would say I'm talking about mid budget modern releases.


Which is of course precisely the kind of stuff people are very reluctant to spend money on. Can I have an enjoyable evening watching run-of-the-mill modern hollywood piece that is not outstanding in any department: sure. Will I likely want to rewatch it? No. Could I watch anything available on a streaming service instead? Yep, probably.

Purchasing stuff makes a lot more sense for obscure/unavailable stuff, specific genre works, and of course outstanding films that you definitely see yourself rewatching.
- Jan
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorDJ Doena
Registered: May 1, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Germany Posts: 6,737
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I've been noticing the decay of physical media sales here in Germany as well, especially in the year after the Corona lockdowns. The DVD / Blu-ray shelves o our local Media Markt (German chain store, think Buy More*) is shrinking down to nothing and what's growing in it's place is merchandise (e.g. Funko Pops and mugs) and gaming hardware and gaming extensions.


*

Karsten
DVD Collectors Online

DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDanae Cassandra
Registered: Apr 11, 2004
Registered: May 26, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 2,877
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We've definitely branched out into Funko Pops as well, but none of our dvd/bluray sections shrank.  Our CD shelves did, and our video game sections consolidated.  I wish we'd get more video games, that's solidly our best selling department, but they sell so well that we can't keep that many shelves filled.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
-- Thorin Oakenshield
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLithurge
Paralysis by analysis
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 1,263
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Quoting hydr0x:
Quote:
Quoting Lithurge:
Quote:
I would say I'm talking about mid budget modern releases.


Which is of course precisely the kind of stuff people are very reluctant to spend money on. Can I have an enjoyable evening watching run-of-the-mill modern hollywood piece that is not outstanding in any department:.


Neither Becky nor Werewolves Within are really standard run of the mill Hollywood pieces. This category also includes films like Titane, which is about as far from it as you can get.

The reality is those non-standard Hollywood films you apparently love are films people don't want to spend money on, that's why, if they do get released, it's by small publishers who do limited runs.
IVS Registered: January 2, 2002
 Last edited: by Lithurge
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorhydr0x
Registered: April 4, 2007
Germany Posts: 877
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You're completely misinterpreting what I said. The movies you mentioned, 5.x, 6.x rated horror fare with b-actors is precisely the run of the mill fare I was talking about. There's little incentive to purchase and own such things. There's dozens of new releases on streaming services each year you can watch instead. There's absolutely no reason to pay extra to see this specific movie.

I never said that I prefer non-hollywood movies or that they sell better. What I said is that people are more willing to purchase physical copies of stuff that is either "special" or hard to find otherwise. That can be the newest blockbuster with outstanding CGI or a rarely seen screwball comedy. Either is not replaceable by any random movie available on a streaming site. The movies you base your observations on ARE. And that's why they're a dying market, contrary to the stuff put out by boutique labels.
- Jan
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorJimmy S
Registered: March 15, 2007
Canada Posts: 1,982
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I'm one of those few here who won't complaint because most films are now on streaming services... Do you know how few options I had to buy the genre of cinema I care about on physical media without paying a harm and a leg on shipping? Now I can buy any new releases I want for more or less 11$ no shipping no waiting and only thing I have to do is to create my own DVD for the film. Also being a member of many streaming services I can download a lot of movies who will take forever to get a release if they ever did.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDanae Cassandra
Registered: Apr 11, 2004
Registered: May 26, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 2,877
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Quoting hydr0x:
Quote:

What I said is that people are more willing to purchase physical copies of stuff that is either "special" or hard to find otherwise. That can be the newest blockbuster with outstanding CGI or a rarely seen screwball comedy.


Agreed.  The boutique label stuff sells very well for us when we get it (which isn't often), as do older films (like classic Hollywood) and the new big blockbusters.  But when people call up and ask if we buy dvds, and I say 'some,' and then they're like, what are you looking for, the easiest way to answer is 'if it was ever in a $5 bin at Wal-Mart, I don't want it.'  Because all of that's on streaming, and the physical media buyers already own it.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like streaming as a concept, but I don't personally see it as a replacement for physical media, for me it's something that's in addition to physical media.  It's an expense that could be cut if necessary for the budget, and by the nature of my job I've built a large enough collection that if I had to do that, I wouldn't suffer.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
-- Thorin Oakenshield
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