20th Century Fox has announced that for their rental properties, all of the extra features will be stripped away from their DVDs and will showcase just the film and the trailer in an effort to make them cheaper.
Not entirely sure that this is any big news or even new news to any of us. Haven’t the studios been doing this for years? We get a bare bones version and then two months down the road we get the premium version and then subsequent releases over the next few months/years.
I guess the difference here is that every movie from Fox (starting on Mar. 31 with Slumdog Millionaire and Marley and Me) will be produced in this double format in an effort to curb costs for rental institutions. Also, from what I gather, these ultra-bare bones versions will only be available as rentals; at your local video store, you’ll only see their usual releases with all the commentaries and deleted scenes, etc.
Other titles initially covered by the new strategy are The Day the Earth Stood Still, due in stores April 7; The Wrestler and Notorious on April 21; and Bride Wars on April 28.
In a statement yesterday by Fox senior VP of sales Don Jeffries noted,
“We have developed product variations to feed different consumer consumption models and behaviors. For rental customers, we’re delivering a theatrical experience in the home while promoting upcoming releases; for retail [or sell-through] customers, we’re offering a premium product that expands the entertainment experience of that particular property to further enhance ownership.”
No word on if this strategy is only for Redbox, Blockbuster and other “walk-in” rental facilities or if Netflix will be adopting this philosophy as well. If I can’t get my commentaries and other extra features from the DVDs I rent online, I will be sorely disappointed. Though a reduction in cost of course would be nice.
If these are only for rentals, y’think they will carry over that cost reduction to the customer?
I actually rarely have time to watch much more than the film itself. I’d say there are only a handful of films each year that I sit and watch the extras or the commentaries.
I’ll be surprised if the costs transfer over to the customer. We’ll see though – plus it’s only for 20th Century Fox titles (for now anyway), so it’s not like the rental shops will be saving that much money.
I just sent an inquiry to Netflix as to which version they will be dealing with.
I agree with not always caring about the extras. But when something like The Wrestler comes out, I want the interviews and behind the scenes stuff.
It’s true, if I had to choose between a DVD that had the extras and didn’t, I would go with the extras. The ones that are worth it are mucho worth it.
I don’t rent anyway so this has no effect on me.
I like to buy used, so I find this kind of disappointing :/
I rent, a lot, but I rarely watch the extras on a disc. That said, I, like Goon, buy a *lot* of previously viewed movies at Rogers (they love me and my local store has started putting aside discs I request for purchase – I love you guys!) and in those cases, I would like to have some of the extras (if they’re good – some times they’re shit anyways so we’re not missing much). I’ll definitely be more cautious of buying 20th Century Fox discs if they stop including the extras.