Best Buy Dumping All Physical Media in 2024?

[SRW1000]

In case you missed it, The Digital Bits is reporting that Best Buy will no longer be carrying any DVDs, Blu-rays, or 4K discs either in store or online.  That also means their exclusive covers and steelbook will be gone as well.

Here's a link to the full article:  BREAKING/EXCLUSIVE on The Bits: Best Buy is exiting the physical media business for good in 2024 (thedigitalbits.com)

Another reminder to buy the movies you want while you can.  There may be a day when the only way you can watch is via streaming or a digital copy.

At least there's still Amazon for now.

[Paul Heroy]

That news a few months ago about Disney (and others I think?) ceasing sales of physical media in Australia was said by some here to be not very applicable to the US market. I hoped they were right but was pretty sure they weren't and this is evidence of that. Virtually none of my friends buy physical media any more. There may be a dwindling niche market that sticks around for a while but I wonder how long that will last, a la Laserdiscs. 

I definitely have mixed feelings. I don't buy nearly as much as I used to and the shelving space needed is a not so small factor in that. But similar to the change from cable/sat linear TV to streaming, it's not just about a change in delivery format but in the data and control the media/content companies have over it. We're seeing more commercials creep into streaming - many folks naively assumed that the early days of cheap, commercial free streaming were the way it would always be. But once the critical mass is achieved the incentive to push the profit up can't be ignored. I do kind of wonder if that will eventually cause some regret & backlash, leading to at least a modest resurgence of physical media like we've seen with LPs. 

[David Vaughn]

In case you missed it, The Digital Bits is reporting that Best Buy will no longer be carrying any DVDs, Blu-rays, or 4K discs either in store or online.  That also means their exclusive covers and steelbook will be gone as well.

Here's a link to the full article:  BREAKING/EXCLUSIVE on The Bits: Best Buy is exiting the physical media business for good in 2024 (thedigitalbits.com)

Another reminder to buy the movies you want while you can.  There may be a day when the only way you can watch is via streaming or a digital copy.

At least there's still Amazon for now.

I think Bill pulled this story down (or at least that's what I read over at AVS). 

[bmoney]

sad, but the quality OF STREAMING IS DEF GETTING BETTER...SO THERES THAT

[bmoney]

OOPS sorry for the caps

[AVSCraig]

It will be years before discs go away. I buy 99% of my movies from Amazon, or direct from Kino Lorber etc. Ironically I just bought a 4K Blu-ray from Best Buy, but it's rare for me.

Besides, Bill mentioned many studios are moving towards sell movies on disc to Amazon - where I always buy them anyway.

I don't stream at all. I'll be less inclined to stream once we have our camper van next year. I'd just be burning up subscription money when I'm not home.

[AVSCraig]

I think Bill pulled this story down (or at least that's what I read over at AVS).

The story is still there. Also, more movies coming to 4K - 

" I can also confirm that Warner will finally be releasing David Fincher’s Se7en (1995) on 4K Ultra HD next year, along with Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity (2013). Both films were originally planned for 4K release this year, but Fincher and Cuarón took their time in approving the remastering work. (Fincher was personally involved, as he revealed to Variety back in July, and he’s notorious for taking his sweet time with such things. By the way, don’t expect Fight Club in 4K anytime soon for this very reason) ".

4K Ultra HD catalog updates: Little Shop of Horrors, Se7en, Gravity, The Color Purple, Aliens, True Lies, The Abyss & more! (thedigitalbits.com)

[bmoney]

It’s been confirmed by Best Buy 

[David Vaughn]

It’s been confirmed by Best Buy

Bummer that I won't be able to pick up discs locally, but at least Amazon delivers by the next morning in most cases (and even sometimes the same day). It's great having an Amazon warehouse in town

[SRW1000]

But similar to the change from cable/sat linear TV to streaming, it's not just about a change in delivery format but in the data and control the media/content companies have over it.

This is one of the key points for me in favor of physical media.  Not only availability of titles, but also the unaltered version of them.  It wasn't that long ago that The French Connection was edited on Disney Plus, and we've seen plenty of cases lately where books have been changed substantially without any involvement by the author so as not to upset modern audiences.

So even if a movie is available via a streaming service, there's no telling if it will be the actual movie, or some altered version of it.

Regarding Best Buy dropping discs, there will still be other outlets to buy them for now, but it does reduce competition which typically ends up harming consumers.  From my own experiences during the yearly Black Friday sales, most of my purchases had been typically split between the Best Buy and Amazon, with on or the other having a difference in price or offerings.

Scott

[David Vaughn]

This is one of the key points for me in favor of physical media.  Not only availability of titles, but also the unaltered version of them.  It wasn't that long ago that The French Connection was edited on Disney Plus, and we've seen plenty of cases lately where books have been changed substantially without any involvement by the author so as not to upset modern audiences.

So even if a movie is available via a streaming service, there's no telling if it will be the actual movie, or some altered version of it.

Regarding Best Buy dropping discs, there will still be other outlets to buy them for now, but it does reduce competition which typically ends up harming consumers.  From my own experiences during the yearly Black Friday sales, most of my purchases had been typically split between the Best Buy and Amazon, with on or the other having a difference in price or offerings.

Scott

Well said Scott. My wife would agree with you 1000%. It's one reason why she doesn't "trust" streaming. 

[AVSCraig]

This is one of the key points for me in favor of physical media.  Not only availability of titles, but also the unaltered version of them.  It wasn't that long ago that The French Connection was edited on Disney Plus, and we've seen plenty of cases lately where books have been changed substantially without any involvement by the author so as not to upset modern audiences.

So even if a movie is available via a streaming service, there's no telling if it will be the actual movie, or some altered version of it.

Regarding Best Buy dropping discs, there will still be other outlets to buy them for now, but it does reduce competition which typically ends up harming consumers.  From my own experiences during the yearly Black Friday sales, most of my purchases had been typically split between the Best Buy and Amazon, with on or the other having a difference in price or offerings.

Scott

We are going to have to start checking Walmart's pricing now!

[tripplej]

I have not step into Best Buy in ages. For this topic, I typically go to Amazon. I guess that will continue for me.

[AVSCraig]

I have not step into Best Buy in ages. For this topic, I typically go to Amazon. I guess that will continue for me.

I only ever bought movies from Best Buy online anyway - never in the store.

[Paul Heroy]

There have been a small number that I've ordered online at BB and picked up in person. For some reason, occasionally a movie will be available for pickup but not delivery.