Like The Lady Said, Katie I’d Like To Use One Of My Life Lines

Posted by Eddie V.

October 29, 2008

I was recently asked to take part in a Engadget HD podcast roundtable discussion on digital media vs. physical media. I was invited because of my obvious support for the Apple TV, with other members of the roundtable representing other media providers such as VUDU and Blu-ray.

I bring this up, not only to promote the upcoming podcast, but also to say that being behind the mic on one of these podcasts is a little harder then I thought it would be. And I feel as though I didn’t do my best in communicating my thoughts. Oh Sarah, I now know how you felt in front of Katie. Specifically, a final question posed to us regarding what it would take for digital downloads to over take physical media and how long that might take. I think I went on to babble on about a barrier to entry would be the public transition to HDTV’s. It was hardly my best moment. So let me communicate to everyone exactly what I meant and should have said regarding that question.

Do I believe that HDTV’s will be a barrier to entry for the mass public excepting digital downloads? Yes, but, I think this is only part of a long line of things which needs to take place before digital downloads overtake physical media. First of all, wether it be the Apple TV, Xbox or VUDU, the digital media* (*see new release movies) must be made available to consumers same day as physical media. The everyday “Joe Six-Pack” consumer will never except an alternative to DVD or Blu-ray when it’s not as readily available. This, as I have discussed before, is in the hands of the studios. Second, the general consumer must embrace the fact that the increased picture quality of HD Downloads, or even Blu-ray for that matter, is worth it to them to purchase a new media box and ditch their DVD players. This higher quality picture may be something a little more obvious to the videophile or even the general movie enthusiast, but I’m not so sure “Joe Six-Pack” even cares about picture quality when they are watching movies on their 32″ tube sets. This leads me to my third point. As I previously stated, you need an HDTV to enjoy the true picture quality advantage of HD digital downloads or even Blu-ray for that matter.

So even at this point, granted we’ve persuaded the studios to released all digital downloads same day as physical media, we have to convince Joe that he needs to purchase a new media box to enjoy this new type of media. But, to enjoy the true benefits of this new box, and I refer to the HD picture quality, he must spend more money on an HDTV. And, something I did not previously mention, he must have a high speed internet connection wherever this box lives.

Now, to us digital geeks, some of these things might seem trivial. Bu,t to the regular every day Joe who has been collecting, purchasing and renting DVD’s, online or off, for the last 15 years and watching these DVD’s on his 32″+ Tube TV it might be a harder sell. Especially in our countries current economic condition. During the podcast I stated it would be another 5-7 years before digital took hold, but as I’m rethinking this, at this point it maybe closer to 10+ years. All though I personally hope I am wrong.

So, those were my thoughts on this subject as I originally intended. I apologize to Ben and the guys who participated in the roundtable for not being as thorough during the podcast. I look forward to the next roundtable and everyone should be able to catch the podcast over at Engadget HD later this week.

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