Comments on: Netflix chief: DVD business to peak in 5 years

Reed Hastings' remarks are followed by those of other company executives, who say DVDs will remain strong for at least a decade. Also: Blu-ray Discs are more fragile than standard ones.

[catch23]

It depends a great deal on ISP's.
If providers start capping services, streaming (or downloading) movies could become a moot point.

[ofmyony]

I believe dvd has peaked it has been around for nearly a decade and while the quality is good the newer generation is about downloading everything, I am of generation x and I have completely adopted the practice of downloading or should I say streaming of video! It is for sure streaming video is here, and will change the way we experience our content.

Forget the high prices for renting dvd, it will be about getting the masses to flock to your service. Video on Demand will take on a new meaning you will not be paying for each movie but subscribing for unlimited viewing of the latest releases depending on the business model, but I feel it will be subscription based and attached to a mobile business model. The two major factors, instant enjoyment (streaming) with access anywhere (mobile viewing), and it is here now! Enjoy! Thanks to companies like Netflix, Hulu, Apple and hopefully soon Amazon.

[ralfthedog]

Only for low quality content

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I can see streaming low quality HD that is not much better than DVD, however if the bandwidth becomes available to start pumping out 7.1 channel lossless audio that looks good on a 72 inch screen, the MPAA will squash it.

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I watch streaming TV from time to time, however, if I truly want to watch something, I don't want random artifacts and skips caused by the Internet, or the garbage quality hyper compressed 5.1 channel audio (If you are lucky).

[pmfjoe]

@ralfthedog

We are talking about the masses here not a few people. Maybe it is different where you are but 99% of the people I know or deal with don't have 7.1 audio, most have 2.1 or 5.1 (low end 5.1 by an audiophile standard) and they also are lucky if they have a 42" HD TV, 30" are pervasive. And when it comes to them they won't really care if the video is HD quality or if the audio if 5.1?

[jrm125]

Those same people don't have fast broadband internet and a decent enough set up to connect their PC to their television.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Although the media might change, purchasing movies at brick and mortar stores will never go away.

Most people do not have the speed required from their internet connection to stream quality video. I'm using a cable connection, and it would barely handle streaming movies at 300K, certainly not without any pauses, especially during peak hours.

ISPs are more interested in capping bandwidth than they are in upgrading the infrastructure so you can actually use the bandwidth you're paying for.

DVDs and Blueray discs may disappear eventually, but I think they will be replaced by small memory cards that you can plug directly into your TV. Perhaps they will hold multiple movies, and you will be able to add more by bringing it to your local store or even down-loading to it. Or, perhaps they will be in their own package with one movie plus extras per memory card.

Either way, I doubt purchasing movies from stores will go away in my lifetime...

[ralfthedog]

back@ pmfjoe,

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The cost of 7.1 systems today is not any indication of the cost in one or two years. In a short time 7.1 channel will be the low end (They will have tiny little speakers). Screen sizes will go up, cost will go down.

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The low end of the market may very well be the part of the market that will be most concerned about picture quality. If a 65 inch TV costs about the same as a 40, most people will by the 65, even if they live in a tiny little one bedroom apartment with a living room the size of a closet (Not walk in). If you sit too close to a big TV you see artifacts you would not see from 30 feet away.

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The high end TV and sound system of today will be on the bargain rack at Walmart next week. :)

[benjaminstraight]

Yeah the live stream is awesome. Worth the 100 bills.