Simpsons DVDs Discontinued

~~Leo656~~ · 04-10-2015, 01:23 AM

I'll give ya one. Few years ago, we got rocked by a massive hurricane, and our block and the surrounding area had the power knocked out for 12 days. Our internet didn't work, we had no cell service, but we had the generator, and we could plug in the TV and watch DVDs or play video games. Couldn't check emails, forget Netflix or whatever, but we managed to keep busy and stay entertained. Which is a huge deal when you're essentially trapped in your house and can't leave for almost two weeks, in the dark.

Allllthoooooough... I played a lot of Silent Hill, and the fact that right outside my window it looked exactly like that in real life, was aaaaawesome.

Anyways, that stuff is still important, and to some degree I do think that there are people in these companies who realize that as well. It's just an example as to why physical media should still exist in some form. Because stuff happens; if we'd had to "stream" our entertainment in that scenario, we would've been screwed. So, there's clearly, definitely a place for both physical and digital, absolutely. To me, that's the only thing that makes any real sense: having both available, for maximum convenience all around. If it were my company, I don't see any logic in NOT providing some kind of option for everyone. A few pennies here to print and ship. Oh well, I'm a publicly-traded global corporation; I'll deal with it and make the money back.

I don't buy the argument that companies lose all this money on manufacturing, because it's simply not true. The physical materials cost them a pittance on a DVD set they sell for $20-30. They make a profit on every single one they sell. It's really just "Eh, we don't feel like it, we make enough on digital, it's not gonna cost us anything to make discs but we just don't feel like going through the work of doing it." And I find that just really lazy and arrogant of them.

I mean, companies don't always do things that make any kind of sense when it comes to this stuff. Like Nick, with "Adventures of Pete & Pete"; they made money on the first two seasons, recorded a bunch of commentary tracks and Extras with the cast for the Season 3 DVDs, had them manufactured, ready to ship... and they've been sitting in a warehouse for almost ten years. No real reason; just "Eh, we don't feel like doing it." That's money on the table! Why would you do that? There are reasons... just no good ones. Not to mention those last few seasons of King of the Hill, etc. People want and will pay good money for that stuff... stuff that, in some cases, already exists, and could be making the companies a profit by 9am tomorrow if only they bothered to ship it. Companies just don't always pursue what makes the most sense.

I mean, even if DVDs and Blu-Rays are no longer the dominant source of revenue compared to digital, it's still revenue. So you spend 50 cents to make "only" $1.50; you still made a buck of profit, and why just leave it there just because you can make "a little more" on another angle? Why not work both angles and make ALL the money (and please all of your customers)? All profit is worth pursuing.

04-10-2015, 01:23 AM	#11
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	I'll give ya one. Few years ago, we got rocked by a massive hurricane, and our block and the surrounding area had the power knocked out for 12 days. Our internet didn't work, we had no cell service, but we had the generator, and we could plug in the TV and watch DVDs or play video games. Couldn't check emails, forget Netflix or whatever, but we managed to keep busy and stay entertained. Which is a huge deal when you're essentially trapped in your house and can't leave for almost two weeks, in the dark. Allllthoooooough... I played a lot of Silent Hill, and the fact that right outside my window it looked exactly like that in real life, was aaaaawesome. Anyways, that stuff is still important, and to some degree I do think that there are people in these companies who realize that as well. It's just an example as to why physical media should still exist in some form. Because stuff happens; if we'd had to "stream" our entertainment in that scenario, we would've been screwed. So, there's clearly, definitely a place for both physical and digital, absolutely. To me, that's the only thing that makes any real sense: having both available, for maximum convenience all around. If it were my company, I don't see any logic in NOT providing some kind of option for everyone. A few pennies here to print and ship. Oh well, I'm a publicly-traded global corporation; I'll deal with it and make the money back. I don't buy the argument that companies lose all this money on manufacturing, because it's simply not true. The physical materials cost them a pittance on a DVD set they sell for $20-30. They make a profit on every single one they sell. It's really just "Eh, we don't feel like it, we make enough on digital, it's not gonna cost us anything to make discs but we just don't feel like going through the work of doing it." And I find that just really lazy and arrogant of them. I mean, companies don't always do things that make any kind of sense when it comes to this stuff. Like Nick, with "Adventures of Pete & Pete"; they made money on the first two seasons, recorded a bunch of commentary tracks and Extras with the cast for the Season 3 DVDs, had them manufactured, ready to ship... and they've been sitting in a warehouse for almost ten years. No real reason; just "Eh, we don't feel like doing it." That's money on the table! Why would you do that? There are reasons... just no good ones. Not to mention those last few seasons of King of the Hill, etc. People want and will pay good money for that stuff... stuff that, in some cases, already exists, and could be making the companies a profit by 9am tomorrow if only they bothered to ship it. Companies just don't always pursue what makes the most sense. I mean, even if DVDs and Blu-Rays are no longer the dominant source of revenue compared to digital, it's still revenue. So you spend 50 cents to make "only" $1.50; you still made a buck of profit, and why just leave it there just because you can make "a little more" on another angle? Why not work both angles and make ALL the money (and please all of your customers)? All profit is worth pursuing.