Blockbuster embraces digital streaming!

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/10/blockbuster-streaming-set-top-box-announcement-this-month/

It's happening sooner than you all think! If a big business like Blockbuster is ready to do it, and thinks that people will enbrace this new way to view media, then surely you have to admit maybe it's gonna happen sooner rather than later? Most nay sayers it's not gonna be the norm for at leat seven to ten years. Ever since I found http://www.vudu.com, I was ready to believe this was ready to happen, it just had to be presented to the masses in an acceptable way.

The popularity of digital stream at home, and digital downloads of movies STRAIGHT AT HOME, will surpass high definition like Blu Ray. Main reason: Cheaper price, and comfort. It's not hi def, but most people in the country don't have big screen hdtv, surround sound satellite speakers, or expensive receivers combined- to make use of what blu ray offers. TOO EXPENSIVE. Especially NOW during ECONOMIC CRUNCH.

Most importantly: Most home viewers just WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE, not collect it (as a disc). Digital streaming/download videos will neither replace DVD nor Blu Ray, but it WILL CERTAINLY become as important as satellite, or cable receiver.

Amazon knows this, Netflix certainly knows this... now BLOCKBUSTER.

[Post edited by tylerdurden on Apr 11, 2008]

Steaming Quality has a long way to progress yet (and still won't ever equal 1080p disc media, IMO). I subscribe to PC World, and the recent issue (May), on pg 80 (for Apple TV: Take Two) stated -

In addition to providing access to YouTube videos and Flickr and .Mac photo streams, Apple's set-top box now brings video rentals from your iTunes to your TV. The movie selection is worse than that of your local video store, though the prices are similar - New high-definition (1280 by 720 resolution) movie rentals cost $5 and standard-definition movies cost $1 less ($4).

Once a movie is downloaded, you have 30 days to began watching it--and once you've started it, 24 hours to finish it. The HD video quality didn't compare to what the Dish Network beams to my home, and SD was sub-DVD quality (despite being the same resolution). The addition of downloadable movie rentals makes this device more compelling. But for now, you may want to keep renting flicks on disc. -[END]-

Uh... no thanks. I'll stick with Blu-ray, DVD, and HD-DVD.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Apr 11, 2008]

Spoonard,

I really wish you'd stop banging the drug for downloading. Why? As I've said several times before, the infrastructure is simply not there. While you might get the actual movie downloaded for a "cheaper" price than buying the disc, the quality will not be as good (as LH says above) you don't get any extras you don't get any packaging you don't get the choice of burning the content to disc for yourself.

Moreover, downloading feature length films in HD quality does not happen with a snap of the fingers. Internet connections need to be quicker, homes need to have hard drive space and EVERYONE needs to be on high speed internet of some kind.

This isn't happening tomorrow or the next day. Logistics need to be hammered out and every company involved needs to be on board 1,000%.

Jason, sleeps with his packaged media

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Moreover, downloading feature length films in HD quality does not happen with a snap of the fingers. Internet connections need to be quicker, homes need to have hard drive space and EVERYONE needs to be on high speed internet of some kind.

Agreed. Its been pointed out that UK boffins have developed a method of increasing download speed. I can't remember how fast but it is easily capable of streaming HD content. The interesting thing is it utilities existing telephone infrastructure. They reckon it'll be ready within five years.

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Jason, sleeps with his packaged media

Does that not cause read errors? - sorry couldn't pass that one up.

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Agreed. Its been pointed out that UK boffins have developed a method of increasing download speed. I can't remember how fast but it is easily capable of streaming HD content. The interesting thing is it utilities existing telephone infrastructure. They reckon it'll be ready within five years.

It's Europe. They're always ten years ahead of us anyway.

For the sake of argument, even if we could stream HD content faster and better using what is currently available, the industry still needs to make a case to the public as to why this is better. They couldn't unite behind one high def format and they won't do it here.

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Does that not cause read errors? - sorry couldn't pass that one up.

The only read errors I get are when the discs don't get cleaned. I am very...anal about cleaning, though.

Jason, gutter thoughts are his specialty

I believe in digital download and I have a major collection of VHS, DVD, HD DVD movies. I like hard copy most but all my friends could care less about owning them. They all rent. Most people on this website own hard copies but that doesn't hold for the majority of consumers. Digital Download will succeed eventually. Blu Ray may do well for about five years but do you really think it will take much longer than that for DD to take over? Bravo to blockbuster. I'd love to have a membership where the movies look good as dvd or better by streaming. I don't want to own every movie I watch.

Wow, does this mean my broadband provider will stop traffic shaping soon?

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Wow, does this mean my broadband provider will stop traffic shaping soon?

Nope. It just means they have a new "service" to gouge us with all in the name of "convenience" and "customer service."

Jason, Comcast = the Anti-Christ

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Most importantly: Most home viewers just WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE, not collect it (as a disc).

Proof please?

Didn't we already have this discussion in another thread? And again, was it not Spoonard jumping on the whole "downstreaming" bandwagon? Did we not already explain it will simply be another "choice" to the consumer and not some kind of replacement of physical media, nor some hostle takeover? Did Spoonard think he could attract a different crowd of readers that were unaware of his last rant on downstreaming? Does Spoonard not realize the same group of us nerds are here everyday and we've already beat this topic to the ground in other threads?

Don't make me go get the Broken Record picture (*bobs head back and forth like pissed-off black chick*)!

Well, nevertheless, what Jason and Love said, I agree with.

They probably should do this if they plan to...NOT GO BANKRUPT...someday.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - downloads will replace renting, but not buying for many, many years. It makes sense for rental stores to not have to have physical inventory. If you can just order a movie at home (much like you can already do with PPV movies), without going to a store, and you have no desire to have it for more than a day or two, it makes perfect sense. For those who buy DVDs, downloads are pointless. Storage devices with the capacity to store a collection don't exist, nor will they soon, and there are too many additional options available on DVD (features, sound options, etc.) that aren't available on download. This only confirms what I've been saying. Downloads still WILL NOT replace the purchasing of physical discs - SD or HD. Maybe they never will.

Yeah... but you are completely overlooking that many of us film-lovers want 1080p high-quality presentations, without the hiccups. Will downloads/streaming be able to equal what we have now with Blu-ray/HD-DVD, and perhaps even HIGHER RESOLUTION disc formats of the future? Will the delivery companies want to pay to give us a HIGHER QUALITY presentation? Will... well, you get the point.

I'm sticking with physical disc media, until they are taken 'from my cold dead hands' (to quote a recently-passed away legendary actor).... LaserDisc, DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray. I want to be able to trade/swap/re-sell any from my collection too.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Apr 11, 2008]

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Proof please?

That's easy. Drive by ANY Blockbuster or Mom 'n Pops dvd rental store & count the number of people renting EVERYDAY. That's your proof.
Look at Netflix's BOOMING rental business, serving MILLIONS of people RENTING (only) movies via snail mail. That's your proof.

BOTH COMPANIES KNOW that millions of millions of viewers, DO NOT want to own a disc, but simply want to pay CHEAP for them, in a rental basis.

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Yeah... but you are completely overlooking that many of us film-lovers want 1080p high-quality presentations, without the hiccups.

You speak for about A 5-10 percent of the population THAT CAN AFFORD a Blu-ray player, satellite surround sound speakers, a good DTS (at least) surround sound receiver, and a large hdtv set, to welcome that Blu-ray 1080p resolution. You're not speaking for the rest of the country THAT still CAN'T AFFORD those hardware COMBINED, to fully utilize a HIGH-DEF experience.

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again - downloads will replace renting, but not buying for many, many years. It makes sense for rental stores to not have to have physical inventory. If you can just order a movie at home (much like you can already do with PPV movies), without going to a store, and you have no desire to have it for more than a day or two, it makes perfect sense.

Agreed. As I mentioned before: Digital video streaming & downloads WILL NOT replace DVD nor Blu-ray, but it will become an integral part of the entertainment solution, for those that DEMANDS FAST DELIVERY (compared to driving, parking, falling in line, paying, then driving back home, then returning the disc back before due date & late fees), CHEAP PRICE (saves you in time & gasoline alone), and COMFORT (see reasons above).

As for dvd, it's still the PRIME CHOICE for the whole world, that's a no-brainer... but Blu-ray is a LUXURY item that no one can afford right now, because of this downward flow of the economy- into the gutter.

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Spoonard,

I really wish you'd stop banging the drug for downloading. Why? As I've said several times before, the infrastructure is simply not there. While you might get the actual movie downloaded for a "cheaper" price than buying the disc, the quality will not be as good (as LH says above) you don't get any extras you don't get any packaging you don't get the choice of burning the content to disc for yourself.

Moreover, downloading feature length films in HD quality does not happen with a snap of the fingers. Internet connections need to be quicker, homes need to have hard drive space and EVERYONE needs to be on high speed internet of some kind.

This isn't happening tomorrow or the next day. Logistics need to be hammered out and every company involved needs to be on board 1,000%.

Maybe you aren't seeing it. It is ALREADY beginning. Let's list off the most known ones:

1.) Microsoft
2.) AppleTV
3.) Vudu (probably the best service out there for now)
4.) Blockbuster Video

Those are 4 MAJOR companies looking to push this. I have Comcast for my internet provider so I can use any of those services without a hitch. Comcast is expanding like mad to stay competative with the TelCo's fiber networks. The infrastructure IS there and it's ready to be used for this type of technology. This is just the beginning. It has to start sometime. And that's now. And with the rate that technology in this area advances it will be cheaper and better in MUCH less time than most people think.

I like to take advantage of my HD A/V equipment. Downloading from Netflix or Blockbuster is a step backwards to me. The only thing that comes close for me is COMCAST HD OnDemand and they still fall short of the total HD expireince.

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Downloading from Netflix or Blockbuster is a step backwards to me.

My point is that soon it will not be a step backwards.

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That's easy. Drive by ANY Blockbuster or Mom 'n Pops dvd rental store & count the number of people renting EVERYDAY. That's your proof.
Look at Netflix's BOOMING rental business, serving MILLIONS of people RENTING (only) movies via snail mail. That's your proof.

You're still not pointing out any hard evidence or cold hard facts. And what mom & pop shops are you talking about? At least where I live, the little guy has been taken out of business via the big corporate giants Netflix, Blockbuster and Hollywood video (note the giant video stores also SELL movies). I only know of maybe one other video store in town that is local, but I can assure you mom & pop stores are a dying breed.

I could say the same thing about all the people buying up all the movies in the $5-bin at Wal-mart or all the bargin buys at Best Buy, Circuit City and Fry's Electronics, but it certainly doesn't make it a fact whether sales beats rental. However, I will say that buying DVDs is more available than renting considering you can buy movies just about anywhere these days -- even in your local grocery store

Again, prove it.

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The infrastructure IS there and it's ready to be used for this type of technology.

Spoonard,

You are correct my friend, the infrastructure is there ON THEIR END! It's the average consumer where the issues is as many have already explained. In order for the average joe to take advantage of this wonderful option, not even a teribyte hard drive will be enough, therefore the consumer is the one that is not ready.

I'm not saying downloading or streaming will not happen because it already is happening, but until the consumer has the infrastructure, it's going to be quite a while before it becomes the norm. Even then it will only be a choice and by no means a permanent replacement for physical media. There will always be physical media because the studios are not about to give up the millions in sales they can make off lower income families, or quite simply, the consumers that demand physical media. Then again, many of us here are just repeating what we've said in other threads, so I guess that horse isn't dead yet?



[Post edited by Tim Raynor on Apr 12, 2008]

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Again, prove it.

I don't have to prove anything. The membership hold of both Netflix and Blockbuster, is THE VALID reason as to why these two mega-companies, are embracing digital stream/download video. They KNOW THE MARKET, they know their audience. Microsoft, Sony, Verizon, and cable/satellite companies know this.

As for your FALSE reasoning for that FIVE-DOLLAR Walmart DVD bargain bin... is EXACTLY the reason why people buy them: CHEAP MOVIES as giveaways. Not a MUST-HAVE movie to watch on that same night.

You're in DENIAL for thinking that DIGITAL STREAM/DOWNLOAD video will not have a niche.

Guess what: MORE PEOPLE WILL EMBRACE IT, FASTER THAN HIGH DEF. Cheaper, faster, no hassle for any disc to return.

[Post edited by tylerdurden on Apr 12, 2008]

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You're in DENIAL for thinking that DIGITAL STREAM/DOWNLOAD video will not have a niche.

If you've actually been reading my posts, I never said it wouldn't. I said it will simply be another "choice" for the consumer. It still has a way to go before it's the norm, as downstreaming is only a luxury for hi-speed users and downloading has a way to go before we have the proper storage devices.

What I'm asking you to proove is where rental outsells buying. Just because you see lots of people in the video rental place doesn't mean a damn thing when in fact there are more retail places to purchase movies, as well as these big video stores selling new and previously viewed films. All I'm asking is if you're going to make a statement of rent vs. purchase, then point us all to some hard facts that back your statement. I see a lot of people in a grocery store but I sure as hell couldn't state that fruits outsell vegetables without seeing some hard figures to back it up.

To me digital downloading/streaming of movies is like listening to music as mp3's instead of cd's or sacd/dvd-a. They're compressed to death, sub par in quality and don't offer any extras. To that I say, no thanks. As an audio/videphile I expect the best, and I don't mind paying a premium for it.