AfterDawn: News

Consumers love the 'digital copy', says NPD

According to a new NPD Group survey, consumers have grown fond of the DVD and Blu-ray Disc digital copy, especially if the copy comes on a separate disc and not as a download.

Over 75 percent of DVD and Blu-ray buyers that watch movies on portable devices said they would "be interested in buying physical discs holding a digital copy."



About 55 percent of those surveyed admitted they have watched a full-length TV show or movie on a portable device such as a phone or media player. 79 percent responded that when receiving a digital copy, they would prefer it be on the disc already and not available as a free download from the Internet.

“The consumer preference for moving their digital copies to other devices as opposed to downloading via the Web shows there are still opportunities for the industry to promote and extend the value of the physical DVDs and BD platforms,” said Russ Crupnick, NPD entertainment industry analyst. “For consumers who don’t have the time or know-how to download a full-length movie or TV show, digital copy provides a flexible and safe solution for transferring a legal version from a purchased disc to a portable device.”

80 percent found the digital copy experience "a positive one" and said they would buy titles with that feature in the future.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Dec 2008 16:28

• Previous article

• Early VOD release for 'The Dark Knight'

• Next article

• Nokia's 'Comes With Music' has its DRM cracked

• 7 comments

• windsong

  Quote:According to a new NPD Group survey, consumers have grownThis tells you all you need insofar as what they really think of you.

  11.12.2008 16:37 #1

• rosedog

  Still no substitute for allowing consumers to back-up/use their own media how they want. Besides this does nothing for me when all my other current DVD/BR's don't have a digital copy to go with them.

  11.12.2008 16:39 #2

• PirateDan

  That is because of the bully tactics used by the movie studios. That skew the copyright law that anyone that buys a disc in store has the right to back up said disc. Also most of the public don't know of the wonderful products from Slysoft.

  11.12.2008 16:56 #3

• ydkjman

  Why would I be interested in paying some $5 more just to have this "digital copy" that I could make on my own if I wanted to watch it on my ipod ?

  11.12.2008 23:35 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Hears how I see with DRM on its way out the publisher can place a whole pre ripped copy of the media on the disc for consumption by the more wooly masses, thos who are less wooly will know hot to make better rips and to rip it in the first place.

  12.12.2008 12:20 #5

• Hunt720

  umm.. I'm pretty sure when I purchase a DVD there is already a copy on the disc for me to copy to my pc. It's unfortunate the average consumer is unaware they can do this themselves with a pc and a freeware app or two.

  12.12.2008 12:46 #6

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Hunt720: umm.. I'm pretty sure when I purchase a DVD there is already a copy on the disc for me to copy to my pc. It's unfortunate the average consumer is unaware they can do this themselves with a pc and a freeware app or two.Thus why there is nothign wrong with putting in a pre ripped copy on the disc for the more wooly members of society........

  12.12.2008 12:51 #7