Discuss: Should Special Features Be Exclusive Only To Blu-ray?

Posted by Rob Hunter (rob@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 15, 2009

blu-trickrtreat

Should special features once prevalent on DVD’s be relegated solely to Blu-ray releases going forward? If Warner Home Video has their way that just may be the case.

One of the more anticipated (yet unavailable) films of recent years has been Michael Dougherty’s Halloween-themed anthology Trick ‘r Treat. After a premiere screening in December 2007 the movie was shelved by Warner Bros. for no good reason, only to see additional festival screenings last year. Finally bowing to strong pressure from fans demanding to see the film, WB recently announced a short theatrical run for the film this fall as well as an October DVD/Blu-ray release. Dougherty spoke with Fangoria and revealed some interesting news regarding that release.

There will be a standard-edition DVD which will pretty much just have the movie, and then the Blu-ray disc will have all the special features, ’cause that’s the way things are moving these days. There will be a documentary, the animated short film, SEASON’S GREETINGS, that kind of inspired the feature, deleted scenes, outtakes, all sorts of fun. And there will be a few different audio commentaries that are still in the works; I don’t know exactly who’ll be on them yet, but definitely me and hopefully some of the cast.”

Sounds like a great list of special features… but why the hell will they only be available on the Blu-ray?

Dougherty’s one-line argument that “that’s the way things are moving these days” is more than a little premature. According to the latest figures from Blu-ray.com, standard DVD still makes up over 88% of disc sales on a weekly basis. Total revenue does show an increase in Blu-ray sales and a decrease in DVD, but it’s a slow process. Don’t get me wrong, Blu-ray players are moving at a faster pace into people’s homes than DVD originally did. The most recent numbers I can find (EngadgetHD) show over 2.5 million Blu-ray players sold as of January of this year, and that’s in addition to over 8 million Playstation 3’s. By comparison, there were over 133 million DVD players sold as of 2007. (Digital Bits)

None of these stats justify short-changing DVD consumers who have yet (or have no plans) to upgrade to Blu-ray. So what other arguments are there?

Cost for one… special features cost the studios and/or labels extra money to create. Paying talent to record commentaries, hiring a production company to produce a making-of or behind the scenes featurette, etc all cost. That investment gets a better return rate on Blu-ray since the discs are priced roughly 30% more than DVD.

Practical use is another… the simple fact is that most consumers don’t watch a disc’s special features. Since Blu-ray is viewed as the format choice of true film aficionados why not reserve the extras for the people who’ll more likely be watching them?

Incentive is probably the biggest argument… if certain features are only available on Blu-ray will it force more consumers to take the plunge into the new format? Trick ‘r Treat may not be enough to move substantial numbers into Blu-ray, but what if Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen offers additional robot-on-robot action (or a Megan Fox shower scene) on the Blu-ray release only? What if Zac Snyder’s insightful Watchmen commentary is only available on Blu-ray? What if some releases start appearing only on Blu-ray foregoing the DVD all together?

Blu-ray discs already have some exclusive content, but should they receive all of it? If this becomes standard practice will it push you faster toward upgrading? Share your thoughts below!

Have you upgraded? Will you upgrade because of this? Do special features even matter to you?

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RobertFure

I upgraded. I don't think they should shortchange DVD yet. You can't really force the game at this stage. Blu-rays are still MSRP at like $35 or $40 which means they sell at $20-25 on sale. DVDs sell at $20 normally and down as low as $15 on sale. BD is still to expensive to shove it in everyones mouth.

Worth noting however that a very significant number of people who "upgraded" to Blu-ray did so unintentionally when they purchased the PS3 for gaming, not movie watching.

Cole_Abaius

I get the feeling that the early-adopters of any tech these days think they are somehow unique for being first and also in the majority. There definitely aren't enough Blu-ray users to push this sort of agenda just yet - maybe in three years or so.

I was talking with a friend's father at a party this week who said he had just bought an HD DVD player. He'll have to buy a Blu-ray player in a few years, but until those discs slide down to $15-$20 bucks a pop, the general public won't give a shit.

They also won't give a shit about special features. Most people rent and buy movies for, I know seriously, the movie. Shocking.

Kangaroo Be Stoned

If you take the special features off of DVD releases, bring the fucking price down.

tk.

It's only a better return rate if they sell more. With DVDs being 80% of what's sold, even at their lower price point I'd estimate they still account for twice as much gross profit. (Presumably Blu-Ray discs would cost more to manufacture, as well, but I have no idea how this stacks up.)

I haven't upgraded, and this just makes me less inclined to do so. It's like the holofoil gatefold comic book covers of the 90s all over again. If they want to make "blu-ray only" releases, they're basically just saying they don't want my money. I'm okay with not giving it to them.

Chris

I haven't upgraded due to $$$, but would if I could for the special features. While I mainly buy movies for the sake of the movie, I enjoy the special features a lot. Being somebody interested in film, I enjoy seeing how my favorite films were put together, thought processes behind certain ideas, what didn't make the cut, etc. To make these features limited one format only is a pain for fans who feel the same.

If anything, I'd say if it's the first time a movie is coming to disc (like Trick 'R Treat)? Then both formats should be identical, at least until the majority falls into the blu catagory. But if it's a double dip on a film, I wouldn't see why blu only features would be a bad idea.

This kinda idea is what helps promote piracy I'd reckon, seeing how if you really want to see a documentary, or featurette not available on your format, you'd just search it out on the internet (which I've done for Region 2 releases like Creepshow and Phantasm).

djjeffhall

Forgive my language, but this is the same bullshit that the music industry pulled on their consumers. (Having been in the music biz for 20 years, I can attest first hand.) What happened? Music sales plunged. I understand that video sales have been down the last few years and I think it's due to consumers being exhausted by trying to keep up with the, "next new thing."

It's great that the studios understand that the best way to treat their customers is to fuck them over at every opportunity.

I saw labels do this with records. Come out with the "regular" album and then release a "better" version a few months later. Tap the well twice. Screw the consumer who makes it all possible.

djjeffhall

I know I'm one voice, but I'm also a consumer. As as example, I purchase Casino Royale the day it came out. Then, later, an expanded version is available. I loved Quantum but I'll be damned if I'm going to purchase the DVD when I KNOW there will be an expanded version soon, probably with an even more expanded Casino Royale attached. I'm tired of being taken advantage of by the studios. If I'm not sure about a release and I hesitate therefore miss the "ultimate" version of a film, fine. I'll keep my $50.00 and the studios be damned.

Random-Man

Me being the forward thinking person I am, I believe this is justified. The only DVDs I buy nowdays are the cheap £3 ones unless theres a film not available on Blu-Ray. I think the only way to go is to make DVDs vanilla, because in 4 years time the only people who will buy them are people who dont care about picture quality or special features, namely the majority of old people (not trying to be ageist).

Thunderfunk

This is a slap in the face to everyone who hasn't upgraded and still buys a lot of DVDs. It will only encourage me to rent & rip more & buy less.

Issy

I am a HUGE fan of DVD extras, I often watch them first! (Hey, I watched the COMMENTARIES, plural, of the extended versions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy! Yeah, I'm a geek.) I have multiple copies of movies just because they keep coming out with new versions with more stuff, so if they start only putting the extras on Blu-Ray, I will definitely upgrade. I still don't think it's fair, though, to people who can't upgrade.

Discuss: Should Special Features Be Exclusive Only To Blu-ray?

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