Slocko,

Your right, except revenue sharing currently is for VHS only. Blockbuster does not have any major revenue sharing agreements on DVD yet (except with MGM). That's why you can purchase a DVD at Costco the same day you can rent it at Blockbuster, because they don't have the exclusive 45-60 day distribution rights that revenue sharing affords them.

Wow, you don't call MGM "major"... ?

Mike,

That's right. The reason I don't call MGM "major" is because on a relative basis (to the other studios) they put out very few films a year, mostly because they don't have the financial resources of the the others. They do have the largest "modern" library of films (post 1948) however. But again, the number of films they put out in the last 10 years pales in comparison to other studios. They have been very aggressive in turning out titles on DVD, behind only Warner Bros., but a lot of it is catalog titles (e.g., the Bond series), just another way for them to monetize the library. The large video rental chains are more interested in stocking films released in the last five years.

Thxs HT Fan. I thought it covered dvds as well. If we can buy dvds at Costco for 16.99 I imagine Blockbuster pays less. Selling the previewed dvds must go a long way to defraying to cost of buying them. So their profit margins on the rentals must be pretty good and they don't have to share it with the studios.

Didn't we say that? : - )

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Slocko,

Yes, their gross margins on DVD are about 70% vs. 60% for VHS with revenue sharing.

Like others, I tend to buy as well. In the UK it's now £6 for a movie ticket, + drinks etc. The thing is, to rent at Blockbuster it's £4.50 for a new release. Then there's the censorship/extra features/DTS issues that we often suffer from in rip-off Britain. Weigh this against a region 1 movie with everything included bought via the web for £15-25, together with my own comfy sofa/surroundings/choice of audience/alcohol etc, and there's no contest. Cinema only serves as a special occasion for me now.

Hey DJY, you noticed how the UK Die Hard DVD pack doesn't include 3? That's an extra (and, as you say, censored) purchase. I'll be going for the R1 trilogy from the US.

Dan.

I had a customer that bought his Dad a 300 disc dvd player. and 267 movies!!!

Can confirm that the new DH3 "widescreen" is the same as the UK cinematic release.

I am fairly new to Home Theatre, but loving it!

I have 3 main sources for used/viewing DVDs. I buy them from one of two used places in my neighborhood. I go to the library and rent them for $1.00 per day. I order from half.com, and factor in the price of the shipping.

I buy DVDs that I know are, or I believe to be worth having. Classics, great sci-fi, break through technology, etc.

I read quite a bit on the Internet before I buy, generally. Lots of good sites that review DVD releases. Some of my favorite sites- rottentomatoes.com, dvdtalk.com, dvdreview.com, file.com. Try google.com to search for "dvd reviews".

Sometimes I buy a movie used because I have seen it, and liked it enough to have my own copy. Rarely do I buy new, unless it's a real good buy. I find that Circuit City occasionally will have unbeatable pricing on new releases. Also, WalMart has good pricing on many of their DVDs. I am a 'value' person, always looking for a good price.

I have never had a problem with a used DVd, and where I buy they will allow returns if disatisfied with the quality.

I too have 180 discs and at most 15 of them would not have been bought if seen before hand, I don't tend to rent because it makes a £15.99 film cost £19.49. Take off the rental and I'm risking £12.49 which I will read reviews on it before purchase anyway.

I prefer my home theatre to the cinema I think my set up being for 1 - 4 people sounds much, much better than any cinema designed for 2 - 300!! The sound is awsome and can be tailored to my likings.

dave

Hey, does anyone know what the deal is with the Fight Club and Leon DVD's? I hear they were both cut to ribbons for the UK release.

cheers,
Dan.

I heard that leon was, I bought the us version 'the professional' - not sure about fight club.

Dave

I belong to the now-extinct 8-disk plan on netflix, so I probably go through 2-6 rentals a week, but only buy 1-2 a month now that I've got most of the DVDs I want. I've got one DVD on order for later this month, one tentatively for next month (hoping for a WS Muppet Treasure Island announcement before I order, but I'm loosing hope rapidly), maybe A Beautiful Mind, and then the Back To The Future Trilogy. Might get Spiderman. That's about it for my plans for the year.

My collection is just over 200 DVDs, including everything Monty Python has out on DVD, a decent number of blockbusters, a number of good but lesser known movies, and a handful of guilty pleasures. And then a few like the Kevin Cosner collection that just don't fit at all but where christmas gifts.

However, the list of movies that I want on DVD that I don't have is biased towards older movies that aren't available on DVD yet. The original Star Wars trilogy, Back to the Future (finally officially announced for overseas distribution, but not US distribution), Indian a Jones, 1 and 3 at least, oh, and speaking of guilty pleasures, Ice Pirates.

I buy DVDs that I'll watch repeatedly, or that we might want to throw in to show a friend. I almost never buy a DVD without seeing the movie one way or another, because if I can't wait to rent it first, I'll see it in the theater. Netflix has cleaned up their act enough that I can usually see new releases within a week of their street date, and that's good enough for me.

Personally I rent more movies than I buy, mainly because I usually (90%) will not watch a movie more than once. However my small collection (about 25 DVDs) comprises mainly concerts, stand up comedy and complete seasons of tv shows I like such as Friends and Sex and the City.

I have a Blockbuster Rewards membership, which has a few neat perks which make it much more reasonable to rent movies for me, such as:

(i) I get one free DVD rental a month NO MATTER WHAT
(ii) I get one free DVD rental after every 5 PAID rentals
(iii) On Mon - Tue - Wed, I can rent one movie, get one free.

Oh, and another thing that'll make me buy a movie - DTS!

I just got Jurassic Park 3 - not an incredible movie, but outstanding sound!!

-M-