| The imminent end of the DVD may be just around the corner | Send to a friend |
| Saturday, 11 February 2012 11:10 |
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The news is not really all that surprising, as a report from Gigaom.com mentions that video streaming giant Netflix has almost twice as many streaming subscribers as it does for DVD subscribers. The arrival of yet another video streaming option, could spell the end of the DVD. A report from MSN highlights that spending on home video in the US fell by more than two per cent in 2011, and more competition for the entertainment dollar will lead consumers to cheaper options. However, as the MSN report mentions, price is not the only benefit of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu or even on demand purchases like those found on many cable boxes, Amazon and iTunes. Convenience and simplicity are major factors in the purchase of entertainment. Plus, mobile technology, like tablet computers, allows users to enjoy all sorts of programming in a variety of settings. It is those benefits that will eventually minimize the impact DVD sales have on the entertainment industry. The nuances of the Redbox and Verizon partnership have yet to be announced. Still, a Web Pro News article indicates that the service will be a mix of new releases and download services. If Redbox can offer up new releases in streaming forms instead of forcing consumers to make the trip to the kiosk, the death of the DVD will only start to escalate. In an effort to compete with so many digital options, studios will likely be forced to compete on one of the only landscapes available to them: price. However, even discounting DVDs is likely not enough to salvage the home entertainment medium that has been so popular for so long. This new massive partnership will only serve to drive DVD sales down further, and eventually make them vanish from homes, the same way those VHS tapes did. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
