Would you buy DVDs/BRs of TV show if the entire series was available for streaming?

[Davetello]

First of all, let's level the playing field. Many people live in isolated rural areas with slow internet speeds. They and others also face heavy data caps. Let's talk hypothetically and assume that everyone has access to fibre broadband and unlimited usage.

Now that's taken care of, would you buy physical copies of television shows if you could stream the entire thing (I'm keeping movies out of this as they're often cheaper per film and often hold more collector value too)? It's true that a subscription costs money, but Netflix is only something like $7 or £6, and you can get the first month free as well. If you watched intensively enough you could view something like Breaking Bad for free, and in better quality than is found on the DVDs. You also wouldn't have to constantly swtich DVDs, but you would miss out on bonus features. I understand that buying shows has collector and aesthetic value, but is it really worth paying $70 for a boxset when the entire thing is available on subscription?

The turtles would clearly be an exception here. If - for example - 4kids came to Netflix, I'm sure most of us would still buy a potential future boxset. This extends to other shows - if something is one of our favourites then we're more likely to buy a boxset for collector value than we would be to just stream on Amazon or Netflix.

Blu Ray is also of higher quality HD than HD streaming, as technology just hasn't advanced enough yet for streaming to be on the same level. However, my picture and sound on Netflix HD streams is pretty amazing anyway, so I don't see this as a big issue other than for very knowledgeable and passionate videophiles and audiophiles.

[Storm Eagle]

This is something I've been practicing for a while, so yes. There's just something nicer about having your own copies that you can play virtually any time you wish. Having decent special features definitely helps matters, but if I'm a big enough fan, just being on DVD or Blu-ray is enough for me. I guess that stems from the habit I developed where I'd record and save shows on blank VHS tapes before DVDs (and DVD season sets for that matter) became prevalent.

There are also instances where a favorite show is available for streaming in HD, but its only available on DVD as far as physical media goes. I'll keep it in my Netflix queue when I want to watch, but I still buy the DVDs to have physical copies which would come in handy for things like traveling.

There are some exceptions I've made, however. Usually, if it's a show that no longer continues due to cancellation and doesn't get a proper ending, I don't bother buying physical copies of the show and I'll just put it in my Netflix queue instead. Wolverine and the X-Men is an example of that. I was actually buying the DVDs until the show got canceled, and I went and sold my DVDs. Even if a show does end that way, and I'm a big enough fan of a show though, and/or their DVDs have decent features, I buy them. That's usually based on nostalgia, however. Ghostwriter, although not available for streaming anywhere, is one example. Another example of this is Freaks and Geeks. The only thing about that one is that I rented DVDs and then I decided I enjoyed it enough to buy my own copies, though this was long before Netflix offered it for instant viewing. In fact, it was long before Netflix even offered instant viewing at all.

I enjoyed That 70s Show when I rented DVDs of it, and Ghost Whisperer when it was active on TV. The former got to officially end while the latter ended with an unintended finale that can pass for a series finale. I don't feel as though I'm big enough of a fan of those shows to own their DVD sets however, but I enjoy them enough to have in my Netflix queue for whenever I might want to watch something from them.

BeetleBorgs started streaming on Netflix in 2011, but DVDs started coming out the following year. Unfortunately, sales weren't good enough for the distributing company to see fit to complete the physical releases. I still kept my DVDs anyway, and just stream whatever didn't make it to DVD.

I just like archiving things, and physical media--especially authentic--is simply my preferred method.

[Netkeeper]

Generally, yes, I'd still buy the box set if it was a show I really, really liked, but then again, I only buy the box sets for those shows anyway. However, if the show IS available for streaming, I delay buying the set because I have other things that need to go first and if the show is on Netflix then buying the set is just to have it, not to watch it.

[CyberCubed]

Streaming is lame. You never know if it'll be taken down and it usually is. When you own something on DVD you have it forever, you don't have to worry about it "disappearing" off the internet at some point.

[Candy Kappa]

if I really like the show, yes. I prefer to own a physical copy. Me and my partner have shows we like on DVD, as well as movies.

That said, even when owning a show, it's often easier to stream it, especially as we have Netflix on the WiiU.

[MrPliggins]

I don't buy box sets anymore, especially if they're on streaming. I normally only watch them through once, so no point in buying. I don't think I've even bought a DVD or blu-ray this year. However, if TMNT 2k3 season 3 and up was released properly, I'd be all over that.

[Jester]

If it's a series I always wanna have, regardless of if it's streaming or not (and lets face it, Cubed's right. My Netflix queue is constantly losing movies/shows that have been removed from the service for new content.) TMNT, Disney Afternoon stuff, Animaniacs....those I'll buy on DVD/Blu.

[snake]

Yes. If it supports the show and isn't cropped in a way that would damage it, I'll buy it.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by snake

Yes. If it supports the show and isn't cropped in a way that would damage it, I'll buy it.

Yeah...that's the reason I haven't bought Next Mutation, it's a edited version.

[ssjup81]

It depends on the actual series. I only watch streams of a few shows because I'm in Japan, anyway, but if at home, I'd just watch it on TV.

Back to the question at hand, for the most part, no, I wouldn't waste the cash to buy shows on DVD, unless it's a show I deem rewatchable, meaning, no matter what, I can always go back to said show and enjoy it no matter how many times I've seen it. This is extremely rare for me. There are some, but not many, but seems a few animated programs come to mind that I rewatch a lot, like Animaniacs, Batman TAS, Smurfs (I'm serious, no matter how old I get, I will ALWAYS love this), some of the old Disney Afternoon toons (Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers) or older 80s Disney series (Gummi Bears, Ducktales).

So yeah, if I can always enjoy the series, then yeah I'd buy it on DVD.

Forgot to mention that I'm not a fan of streaming anything, because anything could happen. I prefer being able to watch stuff offline.

[CyberCubed]

Don't see why anyone wouldn't still buy DVDs (or blu-ray). Streaming is nonsense. Digital is nonsense.

Physical is the way to go. I want to TOUCH what I own.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I want to TOUCH what I own.

[Wildcat]

Physical 100%

You always know you'll have it. You get bonus material AND nice collector items depending on the set.

Quality is basically the same with stream vs DVD and complaining over having to switch discs is absurd. How ridiculously lazy can someone be?

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Jester

Oh man, I was thinking the same thing!

[Davetello]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Streaming is lame. You never know if it'll be taken down and it usually is. When you own something on DVD you have it forever, you don't have to worry about it "disappearing" off the internet at some point.

You're right, but we were also working on the assumption that things stay on. If it's something like Breaking Bad, that's unlikely to leave Netflix for a long time. Things like House of Cards and OITNB will never leave Netflix since they created those shows.

Besides, you're slightly contradicting yourself here. In your 'glorious time period' thread you rightly said that we now have media available to us instantly. You used this as a positive for this era, but if I wanted to watch Breaking Bad again and decided to do so via DVD, I'd have to wait at least a day to go out and buy them. Probably more if I had to do it online. Whereas someone without a Netflix account could sign up and be watching in minutes, and it would be cheaper. I suppose you could say that we can still BUY things instantly digitally and own them, but I don't see why you'd buy something from itunes that you could get free if it was on Netflix and you already had a subscription.

People are also misunderstanding things here. They're saying 'I wanna touch the stuff I own' etc. The point I'm making is that some people don't want to own these shows - that's why i make the argument above between something you would watch while being outside the fandom. Or if you're the type who might watch something once only. If you're someone who just wants to watch the entire run of Breaking Bad and then move on to the next thing, why on earth would you pay $70 for the DVDs when you could watch it over 2 months on Netflix for free or the price of a month's subscription? If you're not going to watch the DVDs again and have no interest in collecting they become obsolete.

The final thing is price - if someone wanted to watch multiple television series back to back it would cost them a fortune to buy all of them physically. Whereas if you have Netflix, lots of them might be on there. In the last year I have watched (fully or partly) Breaking Bad, The Shield, Battlestar Galactica, X-Men, Mad Men and others on Netflix. The subscription cost over that year has been £72 - significantly less than if I had bought the box set DVDs of all the shows. It's true that I don't own any of the series, but I probably won't watch any of them again for quite a few years anyway.

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Physical 100%

You always know you'll have it. You get bonus material AND nice collector items depending on the set.

Quality is basically the same with stream vs DVD and complaining over having to switch discs is absurd. How ridiculously lazy can someone be?

I never 'complained' over switching discs - try reading properly. I implied that it's slightly more convenient to go from episode to episode over 70 of them rather than swap out disks every few eps.

As for laziness, how judgemental can you be? It's not laziness, it's simply the era of convenience. People do these things to relax after a stressful day so anything that makes things easier and more seamless adds to the experience.

I know you were referring to people in general with that comment, but you also seem to be throwing me in with that group. I studied fairly intensively for 5 years to attain a first-class degree. Twice a week I play football (one day after another), an hour on Thursday, 90 minutes on Friday. I run up and down a relatively large pitch busting a gut. Does that sound like someone who's lazy to you? How do you think you'd get on if you had to do it? You'd be knackered after 5 minutes I expect. To reiterate, people live these busy lives so when they come home perhaps they don't want to constantly swap discs, especially when it might take away from the experience (although I and others do it anyway).

In future, try not to be so judgemental and try not to extrapolate things based on what has been revealed to you.

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

Season 1 and 2 of Arrow are currently steaming.
I bought Season 1 on BluRay when the show was first added to Netflix. I wasn't even done watching the series and I bought the BluRay because it was THAT good.

I bought 3 of the 4 DVDs for Coupling and I have 1 volume from The IT Crowd. I own all seasons of Archer, Burn Notice, Venture Brothers, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Walking Dead, plus a handful of others.

So yes, I would
I also know that online streaming isn't always available. I have had constant internet disconnections, slow connection speed, lack of access to my streaming services (including being kicked off Xbox Live from the recent hack from those Lizard hacker guys)... plus there are times where I want to show someone the show but they don't have Netflix or whatever. Plus the home releases generally get bonus features to some degree to make it worthwhile.

But a number of shows I watched regularly on Netflix have disappeared and no telling when/if they will return. Black Books, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Californication (although at the moment it seems to be back on the Netflix), a bunch others. Plus shows or specials that were once streaming and now seemingly gone forever (A STARZ special back 3-4 years ago called ZombieMania).
Other shows are streaming exclusive (Cadillacs and Dinosaurs on Amazon?!).
MANY others are yet to be streaming (any animated TMNT, Max Headroom, most worthwhile 80s/90s cartoons, Castle, 60s Batman)

Basically I use my streaming service to watch shows or movies I couldn't get to previously... usually resulting in trying new stuff.
Sometimes I'll use it to watch stuff I do own, 'cus I cant get to the movies (I'm still living out of boxes so all my movies are still in boxes behind the door). It's the same for having a Vudu account, why else would you redeem the codes for digital copies of movies you own? You can also get apps for these programs and watch them wherever. I had a co-worker who was catching up on Dexter and any number of other shows on Netflix while it was slow.

There are alot of positive and negatives from the whole thing, but the way I use the services does not affect my purchase of the product. If I enjoy it, I'll buy it. If not, well then atleast I got to try it without wasting money (I still cant get around this most of the time). Same with services like Pandora and Spotify, I still buy music.

[TheCanadiandrome]

I will buy whole sets of TV shows I love; I'll watch em on re-runs on television; and I'll watch em on streaming! If it's a show I love then thats how dedicated to the show I am

[Wildcat]

Originally Posted by Davetello

I never 'complained' over switching discs - try reading properly. I implied that it's slightly more convenient to go from episode to episode over 70 of them rather than swap out disks every few eps.

As for laziness, how judgemental can you be? It's not laziness, it's simply the era of convenience. People do these things to relax after a stressful day so anything that makes things easier and more seamless adds to the experience.

I know you were referring to people in general with that comment, but you also seem to be throwing me in with that group. I studied fairly intensively for 5 years to attain a first-class degree. Twice a week I play football (one day after another), an hour on Thursday, 90 minutes on Friday. I run up and down a relatively large pitch busting a gut. Does that sound like someone who's lazy to you? How do you think you'd get on if you had to do it? You'd be knackered after 5 minutes I expect. To reiterate, people live these busy lives so when they come home perhaps they don't want to constantly swap discs, especially when it might take away from the experience (although I and others do it anyway).

In future, try not to be so judgemental and try not to extrapolate things based on what has been revealed to you.

Whoa there. Relax I wasn't calling you lazy. I know you weren't giving a complaint. I meant generally speaking as I've seen others say stuff like changing discs is too much trouble.

Still I stand by opinion...if someone considers swapping discs too much trouble I think that's pretty darn lazy. Regardless of their daily life. I mean if you can't get up and change a disc, which contain multiple episodes anyway, then getting up to use the bathroom or get a drink is too much trouble too.

Sorry but anyone who is annoyed by changing discs just sounds snobby imo. Let's change channels with our minds or better yet beam shows right into our minds...can't be bothered to sit for an hour.

[pennydreadful]

I did post a response in here earlier but it looks like it vanished during the "forum freakout" earlier... anyway yeah, if I really like something, I like to have a physical copy of it. Call me old-fashioned. *shrugs*

[Jester]

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Whoa there. Relax I wasn't calling you lazy. I know you weren't giving a complaint. I meant generally speaking as I've seen others say stuff like changing discs is too much trouble.

Still I stand by opinion...if someone considers swapping discs too much trouble I think that's pretty darn lazy. Regardless of their daily life. I mean if you can't get up and change a disc, which contain multiple episodes anyway, then getting up to use the bathroom or get a drink is too much trouble too.

Sorry but anyone who is annoyed by changing discs just sounds snobby imo. Let's change channels with our minds or better yet beam shows right into our minds...can't be bothered to sit for an hour.

I dunna Wildcat, 4Kids' TMNT Season 3 is a royal pain when it comes to swapping out discs. 1 episode here...2 there...3 on a third disc. It's nutty.