A little over a year ago, I published an article on this blog about the importance of physical media in movies and other forms of entertainment. While that debate was about the pros and cons between physical media vs. digital copies, this new debate is similar but significantly more critical.
As various streaming services provide extensive classic and modern entertainment libraries, they have also begun producing their own original content. Palm Springs by Hulu, The Haunting of Hill House by Netflix, and CODA by Apple TV+, to name a few. These works of entertainment have demonstrated the power of streaming providers as the new form of entertainment studios, capable of producing high-end content and a liberating avenue for creatives. However, when it comes to things like preservation and external media, many, if not all, appear to be depressingly lacking.
This may not concern many people, but in my opinion, it really should!
Consider for a moment the Tom Hanks WW2 battleship drama, Greyhound.
While I never got around to writing a review for this film, I recommend seeing it if you can. It may be one of Tom Hanks' best films since Saving Private Ryan, as it showcases both his ability as an actor and a writer (he wrote the script). Originally due for a theatrical release, its intended release date happened to be a few months before the initial lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020. Not long after that, it was purchased by Apple and released on their original streaming service, Apple TV+. This move made sense at the time, as the future of movie theaters was still uncertain.
After watching and enjoying this film, I was set to eventually purchase it on disk and eagerly awaited its arrival on home video. The film is roughly two years old and is still only available with an Apple TV+ subscription. Also, Apple doesn't even have it available to rent on their digital rental platform, nor does any other. In fact, the only external media copy of the film I could find is a single DVD copy on Amazon for an outrageous $31.
So, why is it that so few streaming services are releasing physical copies of their original content? Well, the obvious answer is (and always will be) money. Streaming services make more profits with regular and new subscribers. The only time anyone makes money from a DVD sale or the like is when a brand new copy is purchased for the first time. It's far more lucrative to entice audiences to maintain a subscription practically forever than provide them with various options for accessible entertainment.
This is a massive problem for many, many reasons. But, for keeping this relatively short, allow me to go over a few of the more significant issues with this business practice.
Consumer Alienation
A few years ago, the Silicone Valley tech giant, Google, tried to jump into the cloud gaming market with their original product, Stadia. They promised a superior gaming experience with high-quality content available on any device you own. No additional hardware was required.
Then came launch day, and everything went downhill from there.
Early adopters didn't receive their pre-ordered units, those who did could not access the network despite having granted access codes, and those who actually got online were greeted with lackluster quality gaming experiences. Making things worse was the sudden (and previously unannounced until the last minute) appearance of a "pro" version of the program, offering higher quality options for gaming at a premium monthly price. This was a massive stab in the back since Google claimed that all "pro" features would be present in the standard package anyway and not locked behind a subscription requirement.
Needless to say, Stadia had one of the worst launch events in history, and not many people are lining up to nab themselves a subscription.
The lack of physical media versions of original content produced by any streaming service isn't as dubious as Stadia's terrible launch, but it is just as alienating. Because there is a kind of social and cultural expectation for physical media options of any given form of entertainment. From 16mm film strips to 4K BluRays, people have the ability and expectation of acquiring their own copy of a treasured film. It's one of those things that's been so since the beginning of cinema.
Going against that grain leaves a sour taste in the consumer's mouth that's hard to wash out.
Preservation
Movies and television shows are essential aspects of human culture. The best way to preserve any work of visual entertainment (usually) is with physical media.
In this digital age, it's all too easy to assume digitally stored files are indestructible. The files themselves may be challenging to destroy, but the hard drive it resides within is another story. If you can't access the hard drive, either physically or remotely, whatever files you had there may never be reaccessed.
The original content from streaming services cannot survive if they are forced to remain strictly on their servers. They must be set free on as many forms of external media as possible if they are to remain within the cultural landscape.
Missing Opportunities
While there isn't a lack of variety when it comes to home video production houses (Criterion Collection, Arrow Video, and Vinegar Syndrome, to name a few), there is an opportunity for a new market in the home video, which the streaming services could easily take advantage of: establish your own!
You own the original content; you could release it on as many formats as possible. You could easily partner up with SONY, the king of home video formats, and work out some sweet exclusive deals. Goodness knows SONY won't turn down any opportunity for more maximum profits. Assuming they ever give up continuing and failing to get their own Spider-Man movie universe off the ground.
Conclusion
While programs like Netflix and so on will likely continue to enjoy their stream of success with their current business model, there's no way they can guarantee their continued success without any additional material for mass appeal. They may want to kill the home video market for maximum profit now, but it will become their ultimate downfall if they're not mindful later. There will always be a demand for multiple home entertainment options, and streaming services may continue to ignore that demand at their own peril.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment