Posted by Goro on 12/09/05 19:14

Jeff Rife wrote:
> Allan (Spamstillsucks@buffyandkantica22arestillbrianlamb.org) wrote in alt.video.dvd:
> > "An estimated 1.2 billion DVDs were sold last year"
> >
> > http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-01-05-dvd-sales-inside_x.htm
>
> Hmm, on a "piracy" note, this puts the latest MPAA claimed losses into real
> perspective...they are saying that for every disc sold, several were pirated
> in some way...basically that they would triple their sales if piracy didn't
> exist. That's pretty hard to believe.

>From that article, they mention that Profits were about $24.5B. They
think that without piracy is would have been $75B?!?!?!?! *sigh*

The article talks about how DVD sales may have peaked. But they fail
to mention that with amazingly short Theatre to DVD windows that
EVERYTHING is growing similar to a straight-to-dvd format. Many people
will just wait for the DVD, right? But then when the DVD comes out,
having not seen it yet, the smarter solution is to rent it. Then once
you've rented it, watched it a couple of times at home, sent it back to
NetFlix, the urge to buy it has slipped and you've likely lost that
sale.

So, it may behoove the Studios to go back to INCREASING the theatrical
window to (say) 9+ months . They'll have fewer releases in a year,
allowing for a less crowded marketplace. It'll let the Theatrical
experience be a better selling point for the DVD. Having to wait for
a (popular) movie, will likely increase the buying frenzy when it
releases.

Of course, this is all predicated on having quality, popular movies to
start with. It may not be the be-all solution, but it certainly
deserves to be in the discussion.

-goro-

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