News No Enhanced Commentary On Star Trek Beyond DVD/Blu-ray

[Jedi_Master]

I very rarely watch the "bonus features" or commentary, so this matters not for me.

 

[Malaika]

So anyone who got it and can tell the rest of us if there is anything interesting and worth to comment in the commentary and other bonus features?

 

[One Lucky Red Shirt]

From my research so far beyond is the same in most retailers when it comes to special features. Except target. Thats the one to get. It includes a extra blu ray of special features.

 

[Ovation]

Thing is, that's not an argument for not putting the commentary on the DVD. There will be a DVD release, there will be a commentary, and it would cost virtually nothing to put the commentary on the DVD, so there must be a definite policy reason for not doing it. It is, of course, a questionable reason - "We will put the movie out in this format, but we will hobble the product in order to reduce demand for it."

The only logic I can see to it is that they want to drive up double-dip purchases, but they're doing it the wrong way round: forcing buyers of the hardcopy version to "upgrade" to the cheaper online version. It would make more sense to mass market a bare-bones streaming/download version, then upsell fans and collectors to the hard copy with a bunch of extra bells and whistles (as they do with music and video games).

The studios make more money from online digital download sales, even at prices below physical media, so that's where they want to drive customers. It also limits the ability to legally share copies--I frequently lend out movies to friends (those I trust to return them in the same shape as when I lend them), but I can't lend them a copy of my iTunes or Google Play or other digital download. So if they want to see it badly enough (and don't want to do illegal downloads), they pony up for the download (rental or purchase). More money for the studios.

 

[JWPlatt]

I spend no money on digital downloads exactly for the reasons stated. $0.00. I use the internet for streaming with Amazon Prime. That's it. The studios get proportionally less money from me as their commitment to physical media wanes, and inversely proportional to the increase of abusive tactics like spreading content among many retailers, or charging $500 to $800 for a small bookshelf.

 

[Ovation]

I spend no money on digital downloads exactly for the reasons stated. $0.00. I use the internet for streaming with Amazon Prime. That's it. The studios get proportionally less money from me as their commitment to physical media wanes, and inversely proportional to the increase of abusive tactics like spreading content among many retailers, or charging $500 to $800 for a small bookshelf.

You are an unimportant statistical outlier to the studios. Their desire for a digital download model generates considerably more profit margin for them than physical media and they are more than willing to lose those who refuse to go along in order to gain others who value convenience and a lower purchase price over "extras" (many of which are available with download purchases anyway). You, and others with your stance, simply don't matter to their bottom line.

 

[MNM]

I very rarely watch the "bonus features" or commentary, so this matters not for me.

Personally I agree. I might listen to the commentary if it is the actors and director talking about the characters and the plot and backstory etc.. if I really enjoyed the characters/plot in the film, but if they are dull people talking about the film and filming in general etc I dont bother. I will also never bother listening to a commentary where its the lighting and sound guys talking about how they managed a shot, doesnt interest me in the slightest.

That said I dont bother with most extras. I'll watch a gag reel, but deleted scenes? making of features etc? nah

 

[eyeresist]

You are an unimportant statistical outlier to the studios. Their desire for a digital download model generates considerably more profit margin for them than physical media and they are more than willing to lose those who refuse to go along in order to gain others who value convenience and a lower purchase price over "extras" (many of which are available with download purchases anyway). You, and others with your stance, simply don't matter to their bottom line.

You are arguing as though it's an either/or proposition - the extras either on the download OR on the dvd/blu. There's no good reason for not doing both. (The anti-piracy argument doesn't really hold up. I'm sure it's no more difficult to hack a download than a dvd/blu disc, and the download will quickly be available from pirate sources.)

And you aren't considering the potential price differential. Why don't they sell a deluxe hard copy with a high price tag? The collectors' market is a thing (ESPECIALLY for Star Trek), there's a lot of money in selling rare things at high prices, but they aren't catering to that market (because they don't want more money? ).

 

[BillJ]

And you aren't considering the potential price differential. Why don't they sell a deluxe hard copy with a high price tag? The collectors' market is a thing (ESPECIALLY for Star Trek), there's a lot of money in selling rare things at high prices, but they aren't catering to that market (because they don't want more money?

Likely because they've crunched the numbers and feel the way they are releasing is the better way to go.

 

[Ovation]

Likely because they've crunched the numbers and feel the way they are releasing is the better way to go.

Exactly. If and when they think they'll make money from a "collector's edition" physical release, they'll do that. But selling a download at, say 15$ retail vs. a physical copy at 25$ retail, still makes them way more profit (especially since it's much harder to "lend" a download--the vast majority of people don't actually (or even know how to) make "lendable" copies of downloads).