Best Buy VOD?

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by: Mike Sampson Nov. 3, 2009

Looking to cover some ground on the sagging sales of DVDs and Blu-ray, leading US electronic retailer Best Buy is hoping into the digital download arena. The company has partnered with CinemaNow on a new digital service that will allow customers to download movies to any compatible internet-connected device. What gives Best Buy an edge is that it will be pre-loading the software onto devices from Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba. So, for example, you buy a Samsung Blu-ray player. There's a good chance it will come with the option to purchase or rent movies and TV shows.

It's just another one of the many ways consumers can begin digital downloads of movies and TV including Xbox Live, Amazon and iTunes. But while there a lot of options, the concept still hasn't really caught on to a wide section of the public. Best Buy has actually been offering digital downloads on its website since the beginning of the year, but who actually knew that? I suppose the thinking here is that in a few years DVD will be obsolete so it's better to get your foot in the door now and integrated hardware is the key and one advantage Best Buy has over, say, Amazon. But, will you use it? Will you be annoyed that your hardware is being pre-installed with software you're not interested in using?

Source: LA Times

Extra Tidbit: For me, the price of fiber optic online services (like FIOS) need to come down before digital downloads become the norm.

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BLove78
11:03PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Traditionalist
I agree with the folks posting here that I prefer having my Blu-Ray/DVD movies lined up on my shelf. I love having an actual physical copy of the movie. Also agree that I'm nervous about losing all my digital downloads, so will keep buying blu/dvd's. Agree also that if the price comes down, more people will buy.
I agree with the folks posting here that I prefer having my Blu-Ray/DVD movies lined up on my shelf. I love having an actual physical copy of the movie. Also agree that I'm nervous about losing all my digital downloads, so will keep buying blu/dvd's. Agree also that if the price comes down, more people will buy.
 
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KcMsterpce
3:34PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I like hi-def
Will it have 1080p and lossless audio for download?
If not, it doesn't make my blu-rays worthless.
Will it have 1080p and lossless audio for download?
If not, it doesn't make my blu-rays worthless.
 
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Taldaran
3:17PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Best Buy can do what the want to try and make up for their lagging DVD sales, but I don't think that VOD is going to help them any. To be quite frank, Best Buy has become an expensive place to shop and they refuse to compete with other internet based businesses online or in the store. Lets take for instance this weeks big Blu-ray/DVD releases. Right now on amazon.com you can get most of the fil...
Best Buy can do what the want to try and make up for their lagging DVD sales, but I don't think that VOD is going to help them any. To be quite frank, Best Buy has become an expensive place to shop and they refuse to compete with other internet based businesses online or in the store. Lets take for instance this weeks big Blu-ray/DVD releases. Right now on amazon.com you can get most of the films coming out in the next several months for 19.99 plus s/h, which is usually 3-4 dollars. In the state I live in there is no tax and if I spend more than 25 I can get free shipping. So with this option why would I pay 24.99 or more (plus tax) for the same release, especially if I buy two or more movies at a time and get free shipping. Basically Best Buy is losing to the smart shopper that refuses to pay more in this economy. I also agree with my fellow collectors, I will never fully dive into VOD for the simple fact that I want to have a physical copy of the product I purchased. Hard Drives crash, servers fail, and computers (as happened to a friend of mine) blow up. As long as a person takes care with their discs they should last a good long time, plus there are sites out there that you can send discs to get resurfaced for only a couple of dollars. What happens if you lose all of your data on a hdd, do you think that apple will gladly replace all that you have lost?
 
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zumsted
3:09PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I agree with Mr. Ravenwood. I don't even have a blu-ray player yet because $200 is a lot for me to spend on a player when even the crappiest of blu-ray films are stuck with a $20-30 price tag.
I agree with Mr. Ravenwood. I don't even have a blu-ray player yet because $200 is a lot for me to spend on a player when even the crappiest of blu-ray films are stuck with a $20-30 price tag.
 
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Mr. Ravenwood
2:38PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Fellow Cinephiles...
Good to see there are still people like me.

I like jewel cases on my shelf... i like the poster art, and I like a physical copy of the film that can't crash or be lost.

Call me crazy, but I don't think VOD is the answer. Bring down the price on Blu, and you'll see more people buying.
Good to see there are still people like me.

I like jewel cases on my shelf... i like the poster art, and I like a physical copy of the film that can't crash or be lost.

Call me crazy, but I don't think VOD is the answer. Bring down the price on Blu, and you'll see more people buying.
 
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Sulaco
12:54PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I am a collector. So owning the hard copy is the way to go for me.
I am a collector. So owning the hard copy is the way to go for me.
 
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minderthr33
12:13PM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Nothing beats owning a hardcopy...
I like buying my discs and having the copy, but the idea of renting movies/tv shows through your Blu-ray player is an interesting idea.

I can see it replacing Blockbuster/Netflix, but I don't want to see it replacing Best Buy/Futureshop/HMV, etc for sales of movies.
I like buying my discs and having the copy, but the idea of renting movies/tv shows through your Blu-ray player is an interesting idea.

I can see it replacing Blockbuster/Netflix, but I don't want to see it replacing Best Buy/Futureshop/HMV, etc for sales of movies.
 
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michaelway
11:44AM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Downloading
i am with maic on this one, i prefer to actual own a hard copy of the dvd/cd. i work at an HMV and it makes me upset due to so many people downloading now adays. but to get with the times we have started doing something similar. due to drops in cd sales we have now opened an online Hmv to download albums/songs. i believe it actually starts tomorrow, so we'll see how well it does :S
i am with maic on this one, i prefer to actual own a hard copy of the dvd/cd. i work at an HMV and it makes me upset due to so many people downloading now adays. but to get with the times we have started doing something similar. due to drops in cd sales we have now opened an online Hmv to download albums/songs. i believe it actually starts tomorrow, so we'll see how well it does :S
 
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maic
11:35AM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
na....
i´m one of those who like to have a physical copy of the movies i buy, call me old fashioned, but i like to see all the boxes lined up like a library :D

so, no, i´m really not interested in this...
i´m one of those who like to have a physical copy of the movies i buy, call me old fashioned, but i like to see all the boxes lined up like a library :D

so, no, i´m really not interested in this...
 
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Mut
11:27AM on 11/03/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Will I use it? No way in hell.
Will I use it? No way in hell.