Streaming = over? Will physical media make a comeback?

Streaming services like Netflix, Disney plus, Apple TV, and HBO Max have become almost like a utility for us. But streaming providers are now talking about raising prices. Is it time to start collecting blu rays and DVDs again?

Sources:

[lerchfreyley]

There is also the fact that movies and shows get censored or deleted from streaming services. So the only way to ensure that you can view it is to own a physical copy

[uvaldopalomares]

I never stopped buying physical media. Come on. We all knew this was coming. It was all a matter of time.

[TheGjergj]

I always get physical media. When it goes all digital i'll stop buying games and movies.

[michaelcooney]

What people don't realize is when you buy a digital movie you don't own that movie. So if a studio decides to take away a title and put it into a vault for 10 year's they can do so. That is why I love physical media when you buy it it's yours and they can't take it away from you. When you purchase a digital copy read carefully

[jonathannoble]

What I don’t love about streaming services is there’s usually not a movie I am in the mood to see - most of the time. And these services can’t afford that many quality movies so they fill it with so much fluff.

[Stormy-pexc]

Never stopped using dvds, protested the mass closing of dvd rental stores and boycotted streaming from day one. Today I still just have a tv without service with a DVD/Blu-ray player and a shitload of dvds and blu-rays.

[kirk]

I am a physical media collector. I am currently in the process of moving to another state and just finished boxing up my entire library. Speaking of libraries, I have been donating some of the titles that are duplicates to my own library down the street before moving. I feel that it was better than just throwing them out. They are getting some great titles too like my entire game of thrones collection in Blu-ray after I upgraded it to 4K.

[robbratcher]

We’ve raised our kids like it’s the 90’s. We have a large vhs and dvd collection. We go to vintage stores and get stuff a lot. We have a 3 CRTs in our house including an awesome 80’s GE floor model with wood. We have one CRT with streaming hooked in, and occasionally will stream if we know something can’t be acquired on vhs or dvd, but limit it to rarely. Our kids love it. They are aware of newer, streaming stuff but they reject it and are grateful we’ve raised them this way.

[tommyherrick]

I don’t have any streaming services. I just canceled my Disney plus subscription because of the upcoming price hike. I will always prefer physical media

[ThirteenMusic]

There is an industry wide drive to end physical and move to a streaming only model because it gives them (the media rights holders) complete control over access to the content. Its effectively behind a paywall where each view is monetised unlike physical sales where they only profit on the initial sale.

Once streaming becomes the only way to watch content they will hike the prices as there will be no alternative for viewers. My prediction is they will introduce some tier system too where you can only watch the best/most popular shows/films by having the most expensive package. I dont think physical will ever die completely but it will become a niche. However I do wonder if 2nd dvd market will boom when streaming prices get silly and people turn to that instead

[elmeric]

Awesome. Love physical media. I won't let go of my library.
Also censorship is upon the streaming platforms. I want my children to see the original movies the way they were.
Cheers.

[DavidMartinez-celp]

I remember Friday's being a real treat because it would feel like being rewarded after working hard in school. Going to Blockbuster and finding something fun to watch. Getting some food to enjoy while I watched the movies with my family was such a joy. These are memories that I will always cherish.

[ignskeletons]

Yesterday I was watching Metalocalypse from Adult Swim on HBO Max, a show almost entirely based around metal music, and in many episodes they REMOVED the music due to coyright reasons. I was so upset. Strong case for physical media.

[DamageInc-nxgu]

Physical media isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Best Buy has been on its last legs for years. They’ll become another Circuit City and other stores that aren’t around anymore.

[MrDudemansir-prxc]

I haven't stopped physical media. My thing with streaming is... Physical media guarantees you access to that content, and properly cared for and functioning copies also guarantees you won't have the frustration of buffering, or it malfunctioning. I will never be convinced that it's not better

[Scyber_Official]

Fun Fact:
When Netflix was in its early days, they pitched their business model to the executives at Blockbuster & were laughed out of the conference room.

[Callieforniiaa]

I’m buying more and more on physical now of days. I hope more people do too so we can save it.

[jamesprovosthemingway]

Back in the day, my friend and i would go to Blockbuster and rent 80s horror VHS 📼 order pizza 🍕 and be up all night 🌙 causing trouble and having fun! I miss the early 90s

[milolaufeyjarson]

A good reason to stop streaming is cause HBO/MAX just deleted their catalogues of shows and movies from PlayStation. Even people who had bought the content had it deleted if they bought it via their PlayStation.

That doesn't happen with DVDs/Blurays🤷🏻‍♀️

[deliciousexperience]

I don't use streaming services. I only buy physical media, or watch TV. I have always believed in this. I love collecting DVD's & Blu-Ray. I also still buy CD's/Vinyl & Cassettes, (yes more so-second-hand now), but also new. I don't want to live in a world where we don't own anything. And that is what corporations are pushing for, so we can't earn from independent re-sale. Big companies and corporations are trying to make everything have less and less value. So i think it's important to support films and TV still coming out on physical media, so we can purchase it at home and watch it whenever we like. With no edits. No schedules. & all the extras like special features on the disc itself. A film to watch at the cinema here in the UK is more expensive than in America it seems: We pay about £14 a film to watch at the cinema here. And there is nothing like owning and displaying physical media versus streaming an image on the screen, as the whole experience is diminished that way. It doesn't mean anything, and thus becomes just a basic commodity. Music & Film is art, and it should be experienced as such. It gives of itself both ways-what the art gives you, and how you interpret it for yourself. The emotion and the feeling. A vacuum, or a microwave doesn't give you that. And to me that is what streaming represents.