Newsgroups: rec.video.releases

>In rec.video.releases, rjn@FC.HP.COM (Bob Niland) writes:
>>Jeff Meyer (moriarty@tc.fluke.COM) wrote:

>> I interpert this as Disney thinking that, as videotape wears out, they can
>> continue to sell the same product over and over again; laserdisc (normally)
>> has much greater longetivity.

>The usual rumor-reason for LD delay is to discourage VHS rental stores
>from under-ordering tapes and making high-quality local tapes from the LD.
>The "BatB" delay is too long to be consistent with that notion.
Yeah, but if they do eventually release it, most of the archive
thoeries don't fit either.  We are in the same situation now with 101
Dalmations, with disc release planned about 9 months after tape.
Maybe they think we will buy the tape and then the disc. Right.


>Disney normally re-releases their films and videos on a seven year cycle. 
>A frequently-used tape will be lucky to last that long.  An LD made prior
>to 1987 would also be lucky to last that long.  However, even now that LD
>longevity is acceptable, there is no need for a studio with Disney's
>marketing plan (all titles "limited editions") to fear an immortal medium.

Three points on this one.

First, Bob, a lot of your quality experience doesn't fit with mine. I
have bought virtually all of the major Disney releases over the years,
and have yet to have a quality problem with one (Little mermaid white
flags excepted). I do have a rotting Donald Duck disc, but that was an
original Discovision release. I think the Disney stuff was pressed by
Pioneer Japan.  Last year when I went through and returned my rotting
discs, I looked at mint marks. Every one was pressed by Discovosion or
the follow-on Pioneer USA effort in Carson City. What I have goes back
to the 1982 "Winnie the Pooh" release - no rot.

Second, Disney made an interesting statement back when Dumbo was
released on video. This was the first major one to be released. At the
time, Video Magazine interviewed the head of Disney, and asked about
the danger of eroding theatrical attendance with the Video release.
The response was that they figured that the tapes would be worn out in
seven years. Video then asked about disc sales. Disneys reply was that
videodiscs were a curiosity and they didn't expect them to last.
Besides 20000 sales to disk owners was insignificant.

However, I read a couple of months ago that attendance has dropped off
significantly as these first films (Dumbo, Pinnocchio) have made it
back into the theaters. I bet that Disney is blaming the disc,
including lack of copy protection.  But then why release on disc at
all?

I suspect that the real reason attendance is dropping is that everyone
now expects a video release six months after the theatrical release.
Why go to Pinnocchio, when you can buy the Cassette of The Rescuers
for about the same price, not have to deal with 300 toddlers, and keep
the kids busy for weeks/months to boot? I will be interested to see if
the sales drop on the second release of those first titles.

I suspect they won't.  People tend to have kids fairly close together.
We are an exception with a ten year old and a 1 month old. That means
that the people who bought the first round, now have kids in the 10-15
year old range. These kids could care less about Disney releases -
mondo uncool. I would guess that the cycle for a family is more like a
generation, i.e a 21 year cycle. Technology changes a LOT in 20 years.
I suspect people will likely buy a new copy, as long as the price is
reasonable. 

>Furthermore, the LD market grows substantially in seven years.  Even if the
>re-issue product were essentially identical to the older version, there
>would not be enough older copies in circulation to materially affect new
>sales.
Not for this release, but it is now getting to be a significant
market.  Perhaps they are looking ahead another seven years? But then
why do they release them at all?


>No sane video producer has anything to fear from LDs made seven years ago
>and sold for a one-year period.
Maybe the key is here. Disney/Touchstone has always behaved
erratically, especially concerning discs.

  Jay