I have never liked the idea of the self destructing DVD’s (also known as disposable DVD’s). Here’s how the thing works. The disc is actually red, covered with a chemical that activates once the DVD package is opened and is exposed to air. After anywhere between 30-48 hours the chemical turns the disk so dark that DVD players can’t read the information on the disk anymore and they become AOL like coaster. That’s it. You buy it, you’ve got less than 2 days to watch it, and then you throw it out. Ummm… this just needs to be said: WHAT A STUPID FRICKIN MORONIC IDEA!
We actually posted about this “new” idea about a year ago on The Movie Blog. So what brings it up now? Well, it seems like a neat little Christmas flick called “Noel” starring Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz and Robin Williams played at the Toronto Film Festival and none of the big distributors seemed interested in picking the movie up. So in swoops the Atlanta-based Convex Group. A distribution company that decides to only put the film up on about 12 screens nation wide. Why only 12 screens you may ask? Well, as it turns out, Convex Group also owns Flexplay Technologies Inc., the company behind the disposable DVD. So the master plan is to release the doomed movie basically direct to delf destruct home video.
This is a horrible idea. And it gets even worse. The USA Today wrote this:
The technology’s backers see it as an alternative for video rental stores and Netflix-type mail-based subscription services. After the movie is watched, the consumer tosses it into the trash, eliminating late fees and the cost of return mail — but creating a potentially large new source of trash.
The potential to add to landfills may be the least of reasons disposable DVDs have so far been a dud. The discs can be illegally copied and pirated, just like regular DVDs. And while they are made of recyclable plastic, consumers would have to mail them to a special center for processing.
Blockbuster Inc. hasn’t embraced disposable DVDs because it says it does not want to confuse its customers. Instead, the company has adopted a Netflix-like subscription approach to video rentals. “We really don’t see the idea going anywhere, ultimately,” Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove said of disposable DVDs.
Who on earth woke up and thought “yeah, this is a great idea”?!?! What makes you think for one second that I’m going to spend $8 (Canadian) to buy something that won’t even last as long as a rental, when the rental is going to cost me $5? Why wouldn’t I just BUY the stupid movie for $7 more and keep it forever?
That’s corporate America for you folks… always inventing new ways to take more of your money without giving you anything of value in return. Look, I don’t mind getting screwed, but I at least would like to be taken to dinner first.
Honestly, for an artist like me, I would love to be able to put this out to sell to clubs for a night of visuals, that way next time maybe they will rent me instead of just one of my videos.
If the only way to get a “Timeless Classic” was on a Destructo-Disc, I’d be on my way to a DVD-RW in a flash.
Of course, someone could figure out a way to store the DVD in a vacuum…hmmm…..
The irony is this will probably ENCOURAGE more piracy. I myself would be more interested in “backing up” the DVD right away on my computer, upon breaking the seal.
Not to mention the fact that anyone with a computer and a DVD burner can image the disc, shrink it, and then burn it onto a non-destructing Disc…I don’t know if this is a piracy alternative, but if it is that is pretty dumb. As an alternative rental alternative…why don’t they just compete with netflixx at their own game (Blockbuster and Walmart are attempting this).
I blame Disney for this, as they were the corporate monster behind the idea in the first place….
KuRt.
p.s. how long until the first lawsuit from some poor ignorant sould who puts the disc in his player with the protective wrapping film still on and wrecks the motor in his DVD player..?
They want to make it easier for people that rent dvds, but they should be looking for ways to make it easier for video stores. They may not have to worry about returning it, but we have to worry about keeping them in stock and we have to have room for them. We could make some money the first week but we’d need to have AT LEAST 10x as much stock as we do now.
Not only that, When we buy a movie to rent we know that it’s going to make it’s way back onto the shelves by itself and we sell it used when it quits making money. If we buy too many disposable dvds we’re stuck with expensive crap that takes up takes up 10x more room than rental dvds. and if we don’t buy enough we lose money because people can’t buy it. It’s a big hassle that no independent rental place wants to mess with.
Also, like you said, The price is still WAY too high. Until I can sell the movie for less than a normal rental, I’m not even going to consider it.
This is a similar idea to the one the Academy Awards guys were looking at for the screeners. They’ve decided on DVD’s that are “locked” into the DVD player they give out.
The thing that’s gonna bug me about this is the waste and the chemicals. I’m no hippy but I’m really concerned about what we do to our homes, and this is just another needless function of our throw away society!
Rant endeth.
A cheaper alternative to this technology:
1. Watch DVD.
2. Put in microwave, set on “high”.
Uh, didn’t this fail before as DivX?
Vic
An absolutely pointless use of a petroleum-based product.
I haven’t seen “Noel” (TNT sent me a copy of the disposable version) but I have to agree that this is the worst example yet of the entertainment industry’s attempt to convince consumers that movies are a disposable commodity. (Although the packaging for “Noel” ironically tells us that it will become a timeless holiday classic…) It seem s perfectly appropriate that the film is being promoted through Lidflix, those stupid little discs that they stick inside drink lids at Sbarros…