AfterDawn: News

Disney to remove all extras from rental DVDs as well

Following in Fox's footsteps, Disney has announced that it will become the second studio to release two different "classes" of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, a "premium" version, and a bare-bones rental version.

Starting in June with the movies Morning Light, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience, the studio will offer the premium version with extras and other "value-added material" while also offering the cheaper stripped-down rental versions.



The move follows that of 20th Century Fox, however with some significant differences. Disney will offer the rental versions at a lower price point, whereas Fox offers both versions at the same price. Fox also controls what rental or retail outlets can buy, however Disney gives all companies the option to buy what they please.

The rental units will not be shrink wrapped and will have no promotional inserts inside either. For example, the Jonas Brothers premium DVD, with digital copy and bonus features, has a MSRP of $39.99 USD while the single disc rental version will have the movie only, and has an MSRP of $29.99 USD.

Retailers seemed to generally respect the decision. “That is all we care about,” added one executive. “Not only do you have the difference in price, but retailers can buy either version.”

Fox has been having issues with their decision recently, and is even considering dissolving their DVD class separation.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 2 May 2009 23:28

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• 29 comments

• ROMaster2

  If this is a sort of Anti-Piracy method, it's completely pointless. Most pirates only download the video, not the crap that comes with it.

  3.5.2009 00:03 #1

• Lothros

  Originally posted by ROMaster2: If this is a sort of Anti-Piracy method, it's completely pointless. Most pirates only download the video, not the crap that comes with it.Duuuur! of course its "Anti Piracy".
  
  They think "oh, most people rent the movie for $5 or whatever and rip it omg lets stop them having the extra stuff so they will buy it!" which is utterly incorrect.
  
  Does anyone else think that whoever the IT consultants to these companies are are just messing about with them for a laugh?

  3.5.2009 00:28 #2

• Vmaxx

  I never buy the dvd for the extra's just for the movie. All that extra stuff is just crap.

  3.5.2009 01:38 #3

• blueboy09

  Quote:Originally posted by ROMaster2: If this is a sort of Anti-Piracy method, it's completely pointless. Most pirates only download the video, not the crap that comes with it.Duuuur! of course its "Anti Piracy".
  
  They think "oh, most people rent the movie for $5 or whatever and rip it omg lets stop them having the extra stuff so they will buy it!" which is utterly incorrect.
  
  Does anyone else think that whoever the IT consultants to these companies are are just messing about with them for a laugh?could be, but dunno for sure. doesn't matter anyway i always thought that the disney movies were waaay overpriced. - BLUEBOY

  3.5.2009 01:40 #4

• varnull

  I would have thought it makes sense to leave the trailers for other films on the rental versions.. and take them off the pay copies.. as fgor all the other junk.. who actually cares anyway? I'm not interested in a directors commentary or deleted scenes. In my eyes it's all just crap stuck on to give some appearance of "added value" .. just make better films to start with why not?
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work.
  I would rather you hate me for who I am than love me for what I am not.
  Soon to be everybodys antipodean sex goddess.. actually only one persons.. but thats not the point. Move over Minogue.. midgets cant compare XD

  3.5.2009 02:02 #5

• arcanix

  They should also release a cheaper retail version without extras, but I guess that's not happening. I checked out few extras back in the day when dvd's first came to market, but after that I've only watched the movie.

  3.5.2009 03:19 #6

• domie

  I think I have only watched the extras on dvd movies about 4 times in my life when I was utterly bored and had nothing else to do( I own over 600 dvds which I know isn't remarkable in this day and age )
  I avoid 2 disc editions like the plague unless they are the same price as the single edition.
  I think the studios have an overestimated opinion of the public's perception of the value of extras on dvds - they are basically giving us what we want - the movie itself with nothing else bundled along with it.
  Of course no doubt a lot of them will continue with their outrageous "You wouldn't steal a car" adverts with offensive music blaring out at the same time, despite the fact that they must know by now that any pirate would remove that crap anyway so the only people they annoy and slap in the face with their piracy message are those who have legitmately bought/rented it in the first place.

  3.5.2009 07:10 #7

• Jerryp48

  What`s the point in getting Blue Ray, then. I thought Blue Ray was to allow all kinds of extras. How much of a Blue Ray disc does just the movie take make up ?

  3.5.2009 08:23 #8

• djkrishna

  good finally somebody knock some sense into them
  now they use less capacity discs hopefully abit more quality
  
  Quality not Quantity

  3.5.2009 08:37 #9

• SProdigy

  The sad news is for the rental industry, who rely on Previously Viewed (PV) movies to help make up part of their revenue. Some of the rental chains do not include a 2nd/3rd disc with the rental, but then package them with for PV when it goes on sale (the additional discs risk being lost or damaged... Netflix sometimes rents the extra out as a separate rental too.)
  
  Now, will the rental chains be able to purchase these copies are a discounted rate compared to what they pay now? Probably not, which means Disney and Fox will increase their profits by not including the full product with the package they are selling. Very shady business practices if you ask me.

  3.5.2009 09:58 #10

• inagasake

  Am I the only one who likes DVD extras when they are available? :D Considering that it's uncommon for scene release groups to leave on the extras when they make a DVD-R release (in fact they often compress the actual video bit-rate to ensure a DVD9 movie fits on a DVD5 to boot. And while the OCD maniac in me gets annoyed with that, in truth I don't even notice the compression from DVD9 to DVD5), it's clear that most people don't give a damn about the extras and you'd think the movie studios would catch on to that. But in my opinion (and I know I'm in the minority), the extras are nice when they are included. But will I go out of my way to pay $15 for a DVD just so I can see the extras? Hell no. And once I have a higher res monitor (mine is only 1024x768 so anything more than 1024x576 widescreen is overkill), I'll probably download 720p and 1080p MKV Blu-Ray rips exclusively (if available) instead of DVD-R and those have no extras at all. Full Blu-Rays (25-50GB) are obviously out of the question considering my monthly bandwidth limit. :D

  3.5.2009 10:10 #11

• ZippyDSM

  Good..less crap to deal with when you rip a disc to bad they wont do it to ALL dvds.
  
  Besides it will leave more space for the film itself....

  3.5.2009 14:25 #12

• Matt555

  Score! Thanks Disney for helping me cut down on burn time. No crap to remove now!

  3.5.2009 15:00 #13

• mediabob

  i hate the jonas brothers. but does anyone notice that the dvd is 30$ for the supposedly "cheap" version? why the frick are DVD's 30$ still? wtf??!

  3.5.2009 15:23 #14

• stuntman_

  Originally posted by mediabob: i hate the jonas brothers. but does anyone notice that the dvd is 30$ for the supposedly "cheap" version? why the frick are DVD's 30$ still? wtf??!Because parents will pay that price to make their sexually confused 12 year old daughters happy duh! Now where did I put my purity ring.......

  3.5.2009 15:50 #15

• smacko

  Not disappointing, i did like watching some deleted scenes but o well, the dvd quality will be better hopefully when ripping a disc.

  3.5.2009 15:54 #16

• Kraknfart

  Originally posted by ROMaster2: If this is a sort of Anti-Piracy methodHaha, of course not, its an attempt by the copyright mafia to devalue the ex-rental DVD market. Lots of rental chains will sell on ex-rental DVDs after they drop in popularity. Why would you pay 39.99 when you can get the ex-rental version a couple of months later for 9.99. Further proof the the big media companies just want to control the market.
  
  Thr fact that Disney is doing this so so after Fox also shows them working as a cartel to monopolize the market.

  3.5.2009 17:06 #17

• voltRis

  who's to say rental places are going to purchase the stripped versions?

  3.5.2009 17:13 #18

• jos22

  if it just the movie is should 5 dollars. i can make my own "digital copy"

  3.5.2009 22:45 #19

• o0cynix0o

  Maybe I'm alone in this but I actually like some of the extras. Guess I'll have to dl my DVD's or borrow them from some sucker who actually paid for them.

  4.5.2009 02:22 #20

• iamgq

  Originally posted by o0cynix0o: Maybe I'm alone in this but I actually like some of the extras. Guess I'll have to dl my DVD's or borrow them from some sucker who actually paid for them.
  You not alone. Im the same way, like watching trailers from new movies coming out, habit from a little kid with the VHS. But no extras and stuff might not hurt their cause, not everyone goes to the theater to watch new releases nor does everyone want to look for them on the internet.

  4.5.2009 05:14 #21

• lawndog

  I guess I may have a different opinion than most, or am reading yall wrong. Persoanlly I dont believe this is a fight against anti piracy, or a ploy of any other source.
  Personally I dont watch alot of DVD extras, plus I don't know to many other people that do. Also Disney in peticular is making huge advantages in technology. I've heard a rumor of 1 of there movies having a chatroom, personally an extra I wouldnt care about, but to me thats NOW, lord knows what other advances are coming in the future.
  Personally a stripped version, at a lower price may actually bring up some of their sales which has been on a decline. Who knows though.

  4.5.2009 09:02 #22

• inagasake

  Quote:Originally posted by ROMaster2: If this is a sort of Anti-Piracy methodHaha, of course not, its an attempt by the copyright mafia to devalue the ex-rental DVD market. Lots of rental chains will sell on ex-rental DVDs after they drop in popularity. Why would you pay 39.99 when you can get the ex-rental version a couple of months later for 9.99. Further proof the the big media companies just want to control the market.
  
  Thr fact that Disney is doing this so so after Fox also shows them working as a cartel to monopolize the market.This has to be the reason. I agree. Because people like me who actually like extras (if they are good) are a small minority.

  4.5.2009 09:57 #23

• Murpheus1

  Hi folks,
  I personally dont care about the extra's or deleted scenes and especially dont like the 2 or 3 disc versions cos they're odd sized boxes dont fit into the slots in me dvd holders. Let them keep their extra sh**e.

  8.5.2009 09:57 #24

• omahamike

  By removing the extras and trailers and previews, it makes the pirated copy look better because of lower compression...Thanks Disney for making the pirates job easier by removing the CRAP for them, and at the same time making the copies look better! Way to go!!

  8.5.2009 12:58 #25

• autolycus

  LoL Disney thinks people buy movies for the extras. Oh thats funny. You could take off the extras and I would still buy em.. but you better charge me less, otherwise i'll just copy them.

  8.5.2009 15:54 #26

• autolycus

  Quote:Originally posted by ROMaster2: If this is a sort of Anti-Piracy methodHaha, of course not, its an attempt by the copyright mafia to devalue the ex-rental DVD market. Lots of rental chains will sell on ex-rental DVDs after they drop in popularity. Why would you pay 39.99 when you can get the ex-rental version a couple of months later for 9.99. Further proof the the big media companies just want to control the market.
  
  Thr fact that Disney is doing this so so after Fox also shows them working as a cartel to monopolize the market.Um who in their right mind would pay $40 for a movie? or $30, or $20... get real... the reason people are copying is because its too expensive... while the fat cats get rich, we all get poor. This whole system is falling as we read/speak/type, etc. Without our hard earned cash, the fat cats are NOTHING.

  8.5.2009 15:57 #27

• LordRuss

  $30 for "just" the movie!?! GMaFB!!! I'll barely pay the bloated $25-6 for the extended WTF as it is. I personally like the extras, but not enough to keep this crap up. There are so few Disney titles I am interested in that their current business model doesn't affect me. I am however bothered by other conglomerates that think this is a good idea and seem to want to follow suit. It seems to me that the greedy assholes from the last few years haven't been executed yet. Aren't we as a society supposed to be moving away from the "let's screw the consumer" mentality? I mean, I lived through this exact same thing back in the 80's; "you bought it, now it's your problem" or "buy stupid low and sell for belligerent high". Since when did moving a piece of paper from the left hand side of your desk to the right hand side merit a $16 million bonus? I know greed is king, but how many times do you need to be able to "buy God" before enough is enough?

  21.5.2009 13:05 #28

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by LordRuss: $30 for "just" the movie!?! GMaFB!!! I'll barely pay the bloated $25-6 for the extended WTF as it is. I personally like the extras, but not enough to keep this crap up. There are so few Disney titles I am interested in that their current business model doesn't affect me. I am however bothered by other conglomerates that think this is a good idea and seem to want to follow suit. It seems to me that the greedy assholes from the last few years haven't been executed yet. Aren't we as a society supposed to be moving away from the "let's screw the consumer" mentality? I mean, I lived through this exact same thing back in the 80's; "you bought it, now it's your problem" or "buy stupid low and sell for belligerent high". Since when did moving a piece of paper from the left hand side of your desk to the right hand side merit a $16 million bonus? I know greed is king, but how many times do you need to be able to "buy God" before enough is enough?Disney dose the nintendo thing only with more price gouging.

  21.5.2009 13:09 #29