DVD’s a Thing of the Past?

[maxpower]

I have heard form a few promoters, and on this site, that they are starting to phase out DVD’s and replacing them with, downloads. Could this really happen, I sell some DVD’s and think this might be a big mistake. I just think most people what to hold the DVD’s in their hands, this would make DVD sites, almost like pay per view, or a more conventional members site.

[A_DeAngelo]

I really hope not! DVD sales are the backbone (with emphasis on "bone") of our business.

Downloads and everything else aside, no matter how fabulous the current state of the art provides, don't replace the real thing in the hand baby! The actual product with cover art and inserts and all kinds of tactile stuff that collectors and people like to own and show off to others when you take the "tour" of the new home entertainment center in all the "better" gay homes across America.

Imagine having your host take you on a tour of their new kitchen and jacuzzi and so on and end up at the new "hard drive?!?!?!" that stores the downloads?!?!

I don't know but, I've lived through audio tape, 8-track, cassettes, video tape, laser discs, video discs, ya da ya da and, I'm sure that some form of hands on product will always be around in a newer, greater form...

don't ya think?

take it from me...after all, I was around before "talkies"

[maxpower]

LOL I know what you are saying man, that was just what some people are saying, I really cant see just downloads talking over “but change is scary sometimes” I think people are always going to want to beadle to hold something in their hands. If this really did happen it would be a big problem for people that sell movies, members sites could just as easily offer downloadable movies for much less. I guess we will have to wait and see it this really happens or not. :uhoh:

[citiboyz]

In my opinion, the people who are painting gloom and doom for DVD are the ones who stand to profit most for the demise of DVD... namely the VOD sites. If you read the ads that HotMovies takes out in the trade mags, you would think we're all stupid for wasting our time with DVD. Speaking for myself, the DVD business is far stronger than streaming and VOD, but it's all about delivery method, right? We give the customers what they want in the form they want it delivered, so you have to cover all bases. But it's also fair to say that there are far more webmasters on this board than video producers, so the comment's you're seeing may be skewed toward their direction.

That's my $0.02 worth.

[gaybucks_chip]

In the industry as a whole, ALL online sales (websites, VOD, etc) are dwarfed by the sales of physical product on a scale of something like 20:1. While I do think that DVDs will eventually shrink as a market as online delivery improves, I also think that they will be with us for a pretty long time to come... let's not forget that many declared that "Print is Dead" about 5 years ago, and there are still new magazines launching... sales aren't exactly growing by leaps and bounds, but there are times that people want physical product, and that won't change.

[A_DeAngelo]

You know, we are gearing up on the internet realease end and, we're very happy with the initial return...AEBN is doing well for us and, Movie Dollars is great too...DogGone has just picked us up and we are ready to go live with some others...

In building our own presentation of our videos, the quality factor is at the top of the list...when we factor HD into the picture...things will be even better.

It's kind of exciting to be producing during the development of so many new formats and technological advances...and, for so many markets.

I think one of the coolest things recently has been the licensing possibilites in Japan. We're still not sure about the pixelation factor and how that will impact our products.

you gotta love it, the Japanese version of Tony&Cam Films, will they dub our "oohs and ahhs"...

[chadknowslaw]

I think DVD's will go the way of the LP, the 8 track, the cassette, and VHS. Just not this year.
When the day comes that I can quickly download a video into a storage device the size of an IPod, then view it on that IPod or view it on my TV screen or view it on my computer or view it on my friend's TV when I take my IPod-sized storage device over to his house, that day will probably be the death knell for the DVD. We just are not there yet. It will help that I can select my video at home instead of going to the store or waiting for it to be delivered by mail.

I think the DVD's days are numbered, but right now that is still a big number.

[Chilihost]

It really won't happen until every home has "super" broadband that would allow you to download a video almost instantly....which is a far way away for quite a few countries!

One thing that may come up is disposable DVDs, where you can buy a limited life DVD from something similar to a chip vending machine and it is built to physically degrade from the moment the packaging is opened up.

[A_DeAngelo]

...It will help that I can select my video at home instead of going to the store or waiting for it to be delivered by mail.

yes, and this will be very helpful when the price of gas skyrockets and a simple trip (by car) to the store will be costly (not unlike it is for our download customers who live in rural areas now)

[djdez]

DVD's will definitely be a thing of the past in a few years. However, the concept of a DVD, 8track, cassette, vhs, CD, whatever - will never go away. There will always be people who want to buy tangible goods. The devices will just keep getting smaller and smaller.

[skot]

Apropos nothing-- I wish someone would get the Netflix model of DVDs working well. I've heard of several sites doing it but they all seem to be very fly-by-night and I keep hearing that they don't have enough inventory of popular titles. As a producer I think this would only help my sales (both of physical goods and online PPV) in the long run...

[basschick]

what he said.

every few years, the format of entertainment changes, but the concept of having a physical thing in your hands won't. people like to own things with boxes and covers. downloads can't be watched by the average person on their tv and also if you have a computer problem, you could lose thousands of dollars of purchased downloads.

another thought here - you can buy a dvd in an adult bookstore with cash anonymously but if you buy an adult dvd on the internet, there's a record of your purchase. that will probably be a consideration for some people.

DVD's will definitely be a thing of the past in a few years. However, the concept of a DVD, 8track, cassette, vhs, CD, whatever - will never go away. There will always be people who want to buy tangible goods. The devices will just keep getting smaller and smaller.

[chadknowslaw]

another thought here - you can buy a dvd in an adult bookstore with cash anonymously but if you buy an adult dvd on the internet, there's a record of your purchase. that will probably be a consideration for some people.

good point. Some marketing genius will come up with a solution I am sure--as long as people want to spend money someone else will figure out a way for them to do it. Right now I think I can go buy a pre-paid card to use with some websites--I can pay cash for the card and be anonymous but I still have to go to an adult store to buy the card. So that isn't the best answer either.
Lots of pressures on brick and mortar stores -- zoning regulations, nosey fundamentalists taking pictures of patrons and automobiles, long drives for rural purveyors of porn, but the internet doesn't have all the answers either.

That is one of the things that makes this business so vibrant--change is constant.