#Unsubscribing from all streaming?

20 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

near blade
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Hypothetically, if you had access to all or most of the movies/shows you could want as physical media, would you unsubscribe from all of your streaming services?

The recent mergers and pending WBD buyout have led me to be pensive about my involvement/support I have been giving to these companies that don’t seem to care about the future of cinema and physical media.

In this day and age, physical copies of your favorite shows and tv series are widely available, at least in the US, as new or used—both online, at chains or local small businesses. For how much longer is this going to be the case?

Most libraries have a decent collection to borrow from, some even better than decent. Alamo Drafthouse has Video Vortex. I remember back to my university library having a decent collection to borrow from. There’s probably more opportunities like these elsewhere. I mean hey, you’re not gonna watch all of the movies all the time, right?

The question remains about being able to watch new stuff. Of course, you’d be saying goodbye to streaming exclusives; if there is a really good one you could in theory subscribe for a month, watch it, and then unsubscribe. Libraries usually have a new items request system in place. My local library is pretty good at getting ahold of most new movies on DVD, Blu-ray and some select movies in 4K Blu-ray. Feels like goddang Blockbuster that you pay for with your taxes instead. You can get away with watching new stuff this way.

Would you do this?

sturdy portal
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I don't think I would unsubscribe completely personally. For me its a lot of convenience. All the movies id want to watch are usually in the streaming services. Not every show or movie I watch I end up liking and physical media gets pretty pricey, especially when the movie i really wanted to watch at that moment costed me $40 just to realize i hated it and felt like i wasted the $$. Or I had to go out to a store or order online/wait for the media to arrive just so I can watch it. though it is nice to own the media you watch and enjoy lol i collect movies myself, but I still use streaming services almost daily.

near blade
# sturdy portal I don't think I would unsubscribe completely personally. For me its a lot of con...

Absolutely valid.

I’ve thought about this actually—the convenience of streaming. I don’t really have to think very hard where to watch most movies, so therefore I don’t value them as much and usually end up in a doom scroll of sorts flipping through endless movies and never actually pick anything…

Now consider the “inconvenient” physical media. You have to source the physical disc, be that on your shelf or rent/borrow or purchase elsewhere. It adds intention and therefore value to every movie you watch. You’ll be less likely to waste time on a movie that you probably won’t like anyways because you’ll be less likely to want to spend money. Then again, even if I do purchase a Blu-ray that I end up not liking, I can sell it. You can’t sell a subscription.

And even if it’s available at the library, for free mind you, I still have to get off my couch like the good old days to retrieve it from the library

Maybe it’s nostalgia, who knows. I grew up with Blockbuster and Hollywood video

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Just my way of thinking at the moment— there isn’t a lot of good movies that I don’t already have access to via my physical media collection, the library or the several HPB in my area, and most streaming besides perhaps HBO doesn’t have a lot that I would want to watch that I can’t get physical copies of for much cheaper in the long run

sturdy portal
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yeah the nice thing with having a physical copy is having something tangible and the goodies that come with it. With streaming you're under the mercy of what the service wants to show. over time they cycle movies and shows and then well the movie i wanted to watch is just gone lol so having the 4k disc gives me the freedom to watch that particular movie as many times as i want as many times as I want lol. i actually just started collecting recently and love it so far. it's genuinely enjoyable searching shelves for movies i do already like and there are so many movies i discover i just don't see scrolling through Netflix. There's goods to both ways. Thankfully i have the financial means to do both 😂

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but it can be a pricy hobby LOL

near blade
near blade
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eBay is usually decent

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You usually buy new or used?

vagrant tusk
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Yes. Physical media > Online and it’s not even close. Bring back the cool things with physical media too like the dvd menu and I’m even more on board

sturdy portal
# near blade You usually buy new or used?

I usually buy at Barnes & Noble, Amazon or like local video stores in the city/sites like Gruv. I haven't really found many used copies of the movies I want to watch or liked. But i'll start looking at some point to save some money lol

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I thought about renting some movies too before buying it so i can make sure i like the movie before buying it

near blade
strange ruin
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i would absolutely unsubscribe

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Im getting so pissed off at the whole idea of streaming services

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my favourite movie ever; Synecdoche, New York is literally nowhere to be found in Canada, as in it doesn't even show up when you search it on the tv, not even available for rent or anything

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so the only real way i can watch it is to buy a blu ray (gonna get one of these or a 4k disc) or pirate it

sturdy portal
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Ive actually never pirated anything yet but i hear people do it