Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
|
If Walt Disney Co. gets its wish, an experimental type of DVD will begin flying off store shelves Tuesday, and self-destructing 48 hours later.
Disney movies on disposable DVDs are set to arrive in convenience stores, pharmacies and other outlets in a four-city test of whether Americans will pick up a limited-life DVD rather than dropping by a video rental store.
The red DVDs turn an unreadable black 48 hours after their packages are opened -- exposing them to oxygen, which reacts with the disc in a process similar to how Polaroid film develops.
The DVDs, which are being distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Disney's home video unit, will carry a suggested price of $6.99.
Some retailers are expected to sell them for as little as about $5, said Alan Blaustein, chief executive of Flexplay, which owns the self-destruct technology.
The advantage to the disposable DVD format -- known as EZ-D -- is that such discs can be sold anywhere and never need to be returned, potentially turning any retailer into a competitor with video rental chains such as Blockbuster Inc.
"It should be 'aisle two, bread, aisle 4, EZ-D,"' said Flexplay's Blaustein, who predicted families would continue to rent videos and start buying the disposable DVDs as well.
Stores in Austin, Texas; Peoria/Bloomington, Illinois; Charleston, South Carolina; and Kansas City, Missouri will begin stocking the disposable DVDs including titles such as "Signs" and "The Recruit." Toys R Us, Phillips 66, Circle K, CVS and Walgreens are some of the chains participating.
The plan has stirred some criticism from environmentalists such as the Alliance for Safe Alternatives, which is asking callers to phone Disney and tell them to scrap the plan which they say will add needless waste to America's landfills.
The plan offers some recycling -- though not in-store -- and consumers will eventually be able to get a new disc in return for six used ones, the companies said.
Although the disposable DVD format does not make it harder for digital pirates to make illegal copies, Blaustein said by making DVDs cheaper the effort would also undercut the incentive to make such bootleg copies.
|
paul_spurrell
Member
Registered: 14th Sep 01
Location: Bath Avon
User status: Offline
|
this was mentioned about 6 months ago
|
Patrick
Member
Registered: 25th Apr 02
Location: SE London
User status: Offline
|
Why does this make you angry? 
|
Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
|
But that was in yesterdays news.
|
Fraser Young
Member
Registered: 26th Dec 02
Location: Dundee City Drives: 58 Impreza WRX
User status: Offline
|
Sounds ghey... IMO!
|
Joff
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 00
Location: Cambridgeshire
User status: Offline
|
It would work, but would have to be a lot cheaper than $5 a disc.
|
DAYZEE
Member
Registered: 13th Nov 00
Location: Stevenage, MR2 Turbo, 328i Coupe, CBR600F
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Joff
It would work, but would have to be a lot cheaper than $5 a disc.
Why? $5 is just over £3. The price of an overnight rental at Blockbuster is £3.75.
|
Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
|
lol but do u think it will be that prices here? Probably be something like £4.75 or something, which still works out better cos ull get it for 2 days.
Still there have got to be many compatability issues? DVD discs degrading as your watching them?
|
paul_spurrell
Member
Registered: 14th Sep 01
Location: Bath Avon
User status: Offline
|
people will find ways around it. they always do
|
Adam
Member
Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
User status: Offline
|
or just make an oxgen free atmosphere round your dvd player 
|
Mistamist
Member
Registered: 16th Jul 03
Location: Gillingham, Kent
User status: Offline
|
Buy it.....Watch it.....copy it.....and pass it on.
|
l33t corsa
Member
Registered: 14th Aug 01
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AustinPXX
Still there have got to be many compatability issues? DVD discs degrading as your watching them?
I'd have thought so.
|
Ojc
Member
Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
|
FIGHT THE RIGHT
|
DAYZEE
Member
Registered: 13th Nov 00
Location: Stevenage, MR2 Turbo, 328i Coupe, CBR600F
User status: Offline
|
Rent em' tape em' fuck em'
|
