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Fox to remove all extras from rental DVDs
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 15 March, 2009
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced that they will be creating two classes of DVDs for now on, a "premium" version with extras and digital copies and a "rental" version which removes all extras and will be available for rental only.
Beginning March 31st with the release of Slumdog Millionaire, "wholesalers will be authorized to sell rental accounts only the rental SKUs and ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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ematrix
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17. March 2009 @ 01:01 |
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This "new move" to release "exclusive barebones rental editions", may be unusual within USA and may sound ridiculous, but this is old news for the past years, in other parts of the world like in Europe, Latin America, etc. where this is a common practice, and has worked well.
When rental editions of new titles are released months before than retail editions, it actually helps to boost rentals, specially when released a few months after their theatrical release, which is ideal for those that missed those movies in theaters, and gives a headstart to all movie rental stores.
While offering "exclusive special retail editions" adds value for those who liked the movie, and wish to adquire them specially when packed with extras, even unrated uncut extended versions of the film, that aren't present in the rental editions.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17. March 2009 @ 01:23
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Senior Member
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17. March 2009 @ 01:27 |
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I will not pay the full rental price for a water downed version of a movie, i watch the extra feature once in a blue moon.
you guys act like its a good thing, when its the same people that would put your 98 year old grandma in federal prison. nothing good can possibly come from this except more money for them.
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SProdigy
Senior Member
5 product reviews
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17. March 2009 @ 10:35 |
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Originally posted by ematrix:
This "new move" to release "exclusive barebones rental editions", may be unusual within USA and may sound ridiculous, but this is old news for the past years, in other parts of the world like in Europe, Latin America, etc. where this is a common practice, and has worked well.
When rental editions of new titles are released months before than retail editions, it actually helps to boost rentals, specially when released a few months after their theatrical release, which is ideal for those that missed those movies in theaters, and gives a headstart to all movie rental stores.
While offering "exclusive special retail editions" adds value for those who liked the movie, and wish to adquire them specially when packed with extras, even unrated uncut extended versions of the film, that aren't present in the rental editions.
Which is the way it worked with VHS... back when a handful of movies would last months in theaters and take years to travel to HBO and network television.
Flash forward to today, and Hollywood basically throws a bunch of crap at the wall and sees what sticks! They're trying to regain that profit margin they had with VHS, back when the rental chains were charged over $100 a copy, because they had "exclusive" access to the film as the retail street date was typically 4-6 weeks behind, as was the PPV window.
The studios have been losing money, obviously, because DVD copies are the same cost for rental and retail, AND street the same date. I think this is a crap way for them to extort money from the consumer and the businesses that uphold their model (Blockbuster, Best Buy, etc.) It's been collapsing for years and only a matter of time before it caves in entirely.
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DVDdoug
Junior Member
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17. March 2009 @ 14:19 |
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Quote:
Let's see how rental companies and consumers feel about this latest move.
Right! I'd like to see Netflix response... I think Netflix wants to give the customer more, rather than less.
I do sometimes watch the special features. It's one of the things that sometimes makes the DVD better than the theater.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17. March 2009 @ 14:27
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pirkster
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17. March 2009 @ 14:26 |
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Originally posted by DXR88:
I will not pay the full rental price for a water downed version of a movie, i watch the extra feature once in a blue moon.
you guys act like its a good thing, when its the same people that would put your 98 year old grandma in federal prison. nothing good can possibly come from this except more money for them.
I find it absolutely hilarious that you think it's a bad thing.
So, by your logic - perhaps you feel you should have gotten a portion of your "full" rental price back because you only watched the extras "once in a blue moon." Good luck with that.
Psst... it's THEIR property, not yours. You aren't entitled to it. They can market it any way they see fit. What they're doing is putting value back into ownership. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, and it's really a good idea on their part. It separates their rental from their retail business, as they should. They are two separate customers with separate needs, thus *should* be marketed separately.
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Senior Member
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17. March 2009 @ 15:03 |
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Originally posted by pirkster:
Psst... it's THEIR property, not yours. You aren't entitled to it. They can market it any way they see fit. What they're doing is putting value back into ownership. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, and it's really a good idea on their part. It separates their rental from their retail business, as they should. They are two separate customers with separate needs, thus *should* be marketed separately.
when *there product* is in my hands, i can do with it as i so well please to including not watching the extras.
there not two deferent markets. just one Movies except now they want to rent out half the product to you and expect full renters fee.
you have confirmed what was quoted more money in there pockets.
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SProdigy
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17. March 2009 @ 23:46 |
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Originally posted by DXR88:
there not two deferent markets. just one Movies except now they want to rent out half the product to you and expect full renters fee.
you have confirmed what was quoted more money in there pockets.
The funny thing is, they (being the studios) probably think that excluding these extra features will prevent piracy through rental chains, ie. Netflix. What they can't get through their brain is:
1. Most of us don't care about the "extras" or "super ultimate mega fantastic unrated director's cut" edition of the movie.
2. Anything "extra" worth seeing will be pirated anyway... and for those who already paid to see the film, but don't want to purchase the movie, guess what they're going to do? (I also see the amount of YouTube protests going through the roof as well.)
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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17. March 2009 @ 23:50 |
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Originally posted by SProdigy:
Originally posted by DXR88:
there not two deferent markets. just one Movies except now they want to rent out half the product to you and expect full renters fee.
you have confirmed what was quoted more money in there pockets.
The funny thing is, they (being the studios) probably think that excluding these extra features will prevent piracy through rental chains, ie. Netflix. What they can't get through their brain is:
1. Most of us don't care about the "extras" or "super ultimate mega fantastic unrated director's cut" edition of the movie.
2. Anything "extra" worth seeing will be pirated anyway... and for those who already paid to see the film, but don't want to purchase the movie, guess what they're going to do? (I also see the amount of YouTube protests going through the roof as well.)
I do like my movies "whole" though.....
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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Newbie
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18. March 2009 @ 08:58 |
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For those of us (likely the vast majority)who curse the film companies for including utterly unnecessary so called extras, this is welcome (and its about d..n time) news. Most of us are "just the facts, ma'am" viewers. Even those who want all the added fluff (if they are honest) will admit they rarely if ever view them.
Paul.
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Junior Member
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21. March 2009 @ 07:42 |
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Originally posted by AXT:
they should start selling two versions of the movie to customers. A more expensive "premium" version and a "movie only" version for a cheaper price. That way if you don't usually watch the extras then you could save yourself the money. They should definitely do that with blu-ray as well.
In the UK we always get ripped off with pathetic extras. Very rarely, we get 'treated' with padded out versions but it takes many months after the US versions - how I wish I lived there. So I doubt less extras will affect the UK residents as much as it would the US who have everything to lose.
And I seriously doubt the rental charges will come down at all once rentals only DVDs are produced. It makes sense to charge us less if it costs less for them to buy them in the first place. Name and shame them here if they don't, but praise if they do.
On added value; I hope from now on when you do buy DVDs, it actually has a decent picture on the disc instead of a blank gray background with just the title printed on it. Come on, it doesn't take that much skill/effort to design one. At least blu-ray has excellent images on them.
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ng6
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21. March 2009 @ 16:36 |
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I suppose they should be congratulated. No way am I going to start BUYING DVDs or Blu-rays under any circumstances, certainly I won't pay for BM ever, and now I won't have to feel like I have to watch all that BM. Out of sight, out of mind! When Slumdog comes out, all I will have to do is watch the movie! What a relief! Thanks, Fox!
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fasttoon
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22. March 2009 @ 05:02 |
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I think it's a bad idea unless they allow all channels to sell all the variety. Give everyone a choice.
I stopped going to one video store because they only carried standard view and only added some wide screen versions in the last few years. The same with video stores that rented only the movie and didn't have the extra discs or made you pay another rental for each extra disc.
I rent movies on a regular basis, every so often it's the extra's that get me to rent it. Examples would be Static, Premonition, Sixth Sense and those types of movies as the extras usually have mini documentaries on the subject. And within the last few years I do a quick view of the extras menu to see whats on there and will usually watch the deleted scenes, bloopers, and any mini documentaries if the movie really got my attention.
I also buy movies that I like, some of them, without actually seeing them in other channels (ie. cable, rental, theatre, etc).
Here's where they could really make it shine, redo the auto insert to either jump straight to the main menu/play movie, and/or remove all the extra legal warnings in other languages, and or remove all the user prohibitive operations. Most DVDs today if you let it run will be up to 15 min before you can even start watching the beginning of the movie. If I remember I'll jump straight to the scene selection to start the movie which will save a few minutes of foreign language warnings and other studio propaganda.
Give people choices in their rental/buying channels and you'll sell more product.
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Junior Member
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22. March 2009 @ 18:20 |
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Originally posted by fasttoon:
Here's where they could really make it shine, redo the auto insert to either jump straight to the main menu/play movie, and/or remove all the extra legal warnings in other languages, and or remove all the user prohibitive operations. Most DVDs today if you let it run will be up to 15 min before you can even start watching the beginning of the movie. If I remember I'll jump straight to the scene selection to start the movie which will save a few minutes of foreign language warnings and other studio propaganda.
This is called Prohibit User Operations that cancels any key input so I agree with being able to bypass this with rentals. You know you can just fast-forward through the trailers if you can't skip them?
But I fear with the extra space, there'll be more adverts (Maltesers is common), trailers and half a dozen legal warnings. At least with blu-ray you don't get nagged as much and can jump straight to main menu on most movies I've played.
People who pay for rentals or buy them endure quite a bit of hassle on their enjoyment so this may drive some to torrent sites. Since they are getting rid of DRM on most music downloads now, why not do the same to rid every DVD of repetitive legal warnings and Prohibit User Operations?
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Senior Member
4 product reviews
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22. March 2009 @ 18:37 |
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Most DVD players have a Skip to DVD Menu. to allow you to skip that nonsense anyway
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Member
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22. March 2009 @ 19:33 |
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I Provide My Self With my Own Digital Copy
And Keep The Original Out Of Little Kids Hands in Our House
Any Way Heres what i do
Steps
1. Insert Dvd into Drive and wait for anydvd to scan it
2. Use Clonedvd2 from slysoft to take all menus features and warnings out
3. Now I Have A Copy Without DRM and User Prohibitive Operations
4. Handbrake
5. Real Copy and Digital Copy With out DRM or User Prohibitive Operations and No Warnings Just The Movie Only
Been Doing it that way for years no need to buy ultra spectacular special edition with digital copy now for 5 or 10 USD more
And I Am Completely Happy Not Having A Studio Do It For Me
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vidserv
Newbie
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23. March 2009 @ 11:26 |
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So people like me, a Netflix renter, will be treated as a 2nd class citizen. It sure won't inspire me to purchase a title. I consider most titles a waste of money to purchase, anyway. Wonder how Blockbuster customers will feel about this? Half the fun of a disc are the extras, but they aren't worth the extra dollars I would have to pay to see them.
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Member
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23. March 2009 @ 20:48 |
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Originally posted by vidserv:
So people like me, a Netflix renter, will be treated as a 2nd class citizen. It sure won't inspire me to purchase a title. I consider most titles a waste of money to purchase, anyway. Wonder how Blockbuster customers will feel about this? Half the fun of a disc are the extras, but they aren't worth the extra dollars I would have to pay to see them.
Yea Thats What There Saying Is That Renters Will Be Second Class Citizens Compared To Those Who Buy The Ultra Super Duper Fancy Edtion
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mackdl
Senior Member
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2. April 2009 @ 11:23 |
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I wonder if this is going to hurt them? We rent movies to make an informed decision on whether to buy or not. We know the studios marketing of putting out numerous editions ie. Special, Ultimate, Anniversary, etc.
Case in point.....we rented Slumdog Millionaire...went to watch the special features.....NOTHING. Oh well, I thought, we'll wait until the NEXT EDITION is released. It wasn't until I read a review in the paper that I realized the rental didn't have the special features it usually has. Ahhh, FOX, I remember reading something about this at AD! What if I hadn't read the review in the paper?
I personally want the best value for my money and I sure won't be buying something that I think has the movie only.
Google: Slumdog Millionaire and apparently Fox, with their decision has totally messed up this release. Both rentals and RETAIL STORE BOUGHT releases have the discs with no special features. WTG FOX!!!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4. April 2009 @ 12:54
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bc_grl
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23. May 2009 @ 14:41 |
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I guess I must be one of the few people who like the extras and watch them because I am interested in that stuff - not because I am bored! But I also happen to buy alot of the previously viewed dvds because that is all I can really afford. So I think this is really to drive an even larger separation between the society ladders.
And I would much rather rent the movie than take a chance to purchase it only to find out it was a lousy movie anyways. And I would never ever go into a movie theatre because it is too friggin noisy and bothersome. When I watch a movie, I want to hear what is going on in the movie, not the person beside me giving his run down of the movie, or hear the other person on the cell phone. etc etc.
Nothing good will come out of this but to make the movie distributors more money.
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