DISNEY is killing off DVDs and Blu-rays in a bid to push fans towards its streaming service.
It truly marks the end of an era – and fans are furious.
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Onlookers believe it signals the beginning of the end for DVDs, with other movie-houses expected to follow Disney’s leading charge.
It will be much more symbolic than the demise of VHS, as there is no obvious contender to rise up and replace it as the world’s next form of physical media.
Disney’s decision came in response to declining DVD and Blu-ray sales, Sky first reported, as well as its success with Disney+.
The first country to have its physical media taken away is Australia, which will no longer have DVDs or Blu-rays after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 release on August 1.
No other countries have been outlined as a next target yet, but viewers around the world are bracing for it to hit them next.
An angsty viewer wrote on Twitter: “It starts here. Then will move to the rest of the world.”
‘The Sweet Spot for Collectors’
Dreams are far from coming true for physical media lovers down under.
Movie buffs and collectors are feeling particularly woeful about the decision, with one even calling it “shameful”.
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“I’m a collector myself and I buy all my films in physical form,” they wrote on the social media platform.
“I think it’s shameful to stop producing them, I don’t want to go 100 per cent digital.
“My guess is that this is to force us to subscribe to streaming services because we will no longer have any films in physical form, which would then be the only legal way to watch them.”
Another collector wrote: “DVDs seemed the sweet spot for collectors and fans considering you could buy editions that include behind-the-scenes and special features.
“One of the best purchases I ever made was the extended edition box set of Lord of the Rings, mind blowing to see how they created those films. Sad day.”
Blackout Fears
A world without physical media is one that relies on the internet for entertainment.
So, that leaves viewers rightfully wondering: what happens in a blackout?
“I get that physical media sales are declining but I really hope it doesn’t go away because we will be forced to watch everything on streaming,” one movie buff tweeted.
“And if our internet goes out, we cannot watch anything.”
Another wrote: “Physical media will always be special. Having to depend on digital media is truly sad.”
Pushed to Piracy
Others have said the move won’t push people to pick up a Disney+ subscription.
Instead, it will push more folks towards piracy.
“It is the end of an era. I mean, I get why Disney wants to do it, but physical media matters, and we need to keep the pressure on them to not stop,” said one movie buff.
“With all these streamers dropping content like flies, they are just pushing piracy when they also add in no more physical media.”
But most people agree it wasn’t Disney who rang the death knell for DVDs.
It was inevitable from the day streaming took off.
“Well I always knew streaming would kill DVDs eventually,” another viewer tweeted.
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