Home video
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Home video is recorded media sold or
The home-video business distributes
History
As early as 1906, various film entrepreneurs began to discuss the potential of home viewing of films, and in 1912, both Edison and Pathé started selling film projectors for home use.[3] Because making release prints was (and still is) very expensive,[4] early home projector owners rented films by mail from the projector manufacturer.[3] Edison's business model was fundamentally flawed because the company had started with phonographs and did not understand that home viewing is fundamentally different from home listening.[3] Edison ended its home viewing business in 1914, while Pathé remained somewhat longer, but exited at some point during World War I.[3]
After the quick failures of these early attempts at home viewing, most feature films were essentially inaccessible to the public after their original theatrical runs.[5] For most of the 20th century, the idea that ordinary consumers could own copies of films and watch them at their convenience in their own homes "was beyond the grasp of reasonable expectations."[6] Some very popular films were given occasional theatrical re-releases in urban revival houses and the screening rooms of a few archives and museums.[citation needed] Beginning in the 1950s, most could be expected to be broadcast on television, eventually.[citation needed] During this era, television programs normally could only be viewed at the time of broadcast. Viewers were accustomed to the fact that there was no easy way to record television shows at home and watch them whenever desired.[citation needed]
In 1924, Kodak invented 16 mm film, which became popular for home use,[3] and then later developed 8 mm film.[7] After that point, the public could purchase a film projector for one of those film formats and rent or buy home-use prints of some cartoons, short comedies, and brief "highlights" reels edited from feature films.[citation needed] The Super 8 film format, introduced in 1965,[8] was marketed for making home movies, but it also boosted the popularity of show-at-home films.[citation needed] Eventually, longer, edited-down versions of feature films were issued, which increasingly came in color and with a magnetic soundtrack,[citation needed] but in comparison to modern[specify] technologies, film projection was still quite expensive and difficult to use.[7] As a result, home viewing of films remained limited to a small community of dedicated hobbyists willing and able to invest large amounts of money in projectors, screens, and film prints,[7] and it therefore made little revenue for film companies.[3]
In 1956, Ampex pioneered the first commercially practical videotape recording system.[7] The Ampex system, though, used reel-to-reel tape and physically bulky equipment not suitable for home use.[7]
In the mid-1970s, videotape became the first truly practical home-video format with the development of
The first company to duplicate and distribute feature films from
Home video was born, initially, as a rental business.
The home video market grew rapidly along with the widespread acquisition of affordable videocassette recorders by the majority of households during the 1980s. For example, in 1978, the cumulative number of VCRs purchased to date at wholesale in the United States was only 402,000, the average wholesale price of a VCR was $811, and the percentage of television-owning households with a VCR was unknown but probably just above zero.[15] By 1992, the respective numbers for each of these categories were 105,502,000, $239, and 75.6%.[15]
During the 1980s, video rental stores became a popular way to watch home video. Video rental stores are
During the 1980s, video distributors gradually realized that many consumers did want to build their own video libraries, and not just rent, if the price was right. Rather than sell a few thousand units at a wholesale price of $70 into the rental channel, video distributors could sell hundreds of thousands of units at a wholesale price of $15-20 into the retail "sell-through" channel.[16]
The "ultimate accelerant" for the rise of the "sell-through" home video market was the development of children's home video.
Special-interest video production
Until the mid-1980s, home video was dominated by feature film theatrical releases such as
[L]imitations within the video marketplace may be gone tomorrow. More people are finding innovative ways to create visually stimulating entertainment and information for the video tape player... Like contemporary book publishing, you can produce and distribute yourself to very narrow markets or seek broad-based distributors for mass-oriented appeal[20]
Special-interest video increased the number of topics and audiences to include "...dog handling videos, back pain videos and cooking videos", which were not previously thought of as marketable. Next, even "golf and skiing tapes* started selling. Contemporary sources noted, "new technology has changed the territory" of the home video market.[21]
Decline of videotape and popularization of disks
In the early 2000s, VHS gradually began to be displaced by DVD. The DVD format has several advantages over VHS. A DVD consists of a single disc, which is spun at high speed, while VHS videocassettes had several moving parts that were far more vulnerable to breaking down under heavy wear and tear. Each time a VHS cassette was played, the magnetic tape inside had to be pulled out and wrapped around the inclined drum head inside the player. While a VHS tape can be erased if it is exposed to a rapidly changing magnetic field of sufficient strength, DVDs and other optical discs are not affected by magnetic fields. The relative mechanical simplicity and durability of DVD compared to the fragility of VHS made DVDs a far better format from a rental store's perspective.
Though DVDs do not have the problems of videocassettes, such as breakage of the tape or the cassette mechanism, they can still be damaged by scratches. Another advantage from the perspective of video rental stores is that DVDs are physically much smaller, so they take less space to store. DVDs also offer a number of advantages for the viewer: DVDs can support both standard 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 screen-aspect ratios, and can provide twice the video resolution of VHS. Skipping ahead to the end is much easier and faster with a DVD than with a VHS tape (which has to be rewound). DVDs can have interactive menus, multiple language tracks, audio commentaries, closed captioning, and subtitling (with the option of turning the subtitles on or off, or selecting subtitles in several languages). Moreover, a DVD can be played on a computer.
Due to all these advantages, by the mid 2000s, DVDs had become the dominant form of prerecorded video movies in both the rental film and new movie markets. In the late 2000s, stores began selling Blu-ray discs, a format that supports high definition.
Blu-ray is a digital optical disc data storage format, designed to supersede the DVD format, and is capable of storing several hours of video in high definition (HDTV 720p and 1080p). The main application of Blu-ray is as a medium for video material such as feature films and for the physical distribution of video games. The plastic disc is the same size as DVDs and compact discs.[22]
Blu-ray was officially released on June 20, 2006, beginning the high-definition optical disc format war, in which Blu-ray Disc competed against the HD DVD format. Toshiba, the main company supporting HD DVD, conceded in February 2008.[23] Blu-ray has competition from video on demand (VOD) and the continued sale of DVDs.[24] As of January 2016, 44% of U.S. broadband households had a Blu-ray player.[25]
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, though, people continued to use VCRs to record over-the-air TV shows, because they could not make home recordings onto DVDs. This problem with DVD was resolved in the late 2000s, when inexpensive DVD recorders and other digital video recorders (DVRs) – which record shows onto a hard disk or flash storage – became available to purchase and rent.
Despite the mainstream dominance of DVD, VHS continued to be used, albeit less frequently, throughout the 2000s; decline in VHS use continued during the 2010s. The switch to DVD initially led to mass-selling of used VHS videocassettes, which were available at used-goods stores, typically for a much lower price than the equivalent film on a used DVD.[citation needed] In July 2016, the last known manufacturer of VCRs, Funai, announced that it was ceasing VCR production.[26]
Transition from disk-based viewing to a streaming culture
One of movie streaming's largest impacts was on DVD, which has become less popular with the mass popularization of online
Netflix's primary business is its subscription-based
Following the launch of various streaming services during the early 2020s, in particular those operated by the major Hollywood studios, home video has continued to decline. One of the most prominent examples of this effect was with
Time gap between theatrical and home video release
A time period is usually required to elapse between theatrical release and availability on home video to encourage movie theater patronage and discourage copyright infringement. Home-video releases originally followed five to six months after theatrical release, but since the late 2000s, most films have begun being distributed on video after three to four months. As of 2019, most major theater chains mandate an exclusivity window of 90 days before home-video release, and 74–76 days before electronic sell-through.[34] Christmas and other holiday-related movies are sometimes not released on home video until the following year, when the holiday occurs again.[35] Major studios have made films available for rental during their theatrical window on high-end services that charge upwards of $500 per rental and use proprietary hardware.[36]
Exceptions to the rule include the Steven Soderbergh film Bubble, which was released in 2006 to theaters, cable television, and DVD only a few days apart.[37] Netflix has released some of its films, such as Roma and The Irishman, in limited theatrical release followed by streaming availability after less than 30 days.[34]
Television programs
Many television programs are now also available in complete
Pre-Certs
After the passage of the Video Recordings (Labelling) Act of 1985 in the United Kingdom, videotapes and other video recordings without a certification symbol from the British Board of Film Classification on their covers – or on the tapes themselves – were no longer allowed to be sold or displayed by rental shops.[38] These tapes are called "Pre-Certs" (e.g., Pre-certification tapes). Recently these tapes have generated a cult following, due to their collectability.[citation needed]
DVD Awards
Every year since 2004, the film festival Il Cinema Ritrovato holds the DVD Awards, where they award the highest quality DVDs (and later Blu-rays) released by home-media companies around the world.[39][40][41][42][43][44][45]
Year | Best DVD (later The Peter von Bagh Award) | Company | Best Blu-ray | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | "Pier Paolo Pasolini - Les Années 60" | Carlotta Films | N/A | |
2005 | "Alexandre Medvedkine" | Arte | N/A | |
2006 | Entuziazm | Österreichisches Filmmuseum | N/A | |
2007 | "Ernst Lubitsch Collection" | Transit Film-Murnau Stiftung
|
N/A | |
2008 | L'argent The Threepenny Opera |
Carlotta Films The Criterion Collection |
N/A | |
2009 | "Joris Ivens Wereldcineast" | European Foundation Joris Ivens | N/A | |
2010 | "By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two" | The Criterion Collection | La Rosa di Bagdad [Mention] | Cinecittà Luce |
2011 | "Segundo de Chomón 1903 – 1912" | Filmoteca de Catalunya and Cameo Media s.l. | "America Lost and Found: The BBS Story" [Mention] | The Criterion Collection |
2012 | "The Complete Humphrey Jennings Volume 2: Fires Were Started" | British Film Institute | "A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" | The Criterion Collection |
2013 | Gli ultimi | La Cineteca del Friuli | Lonesome | The Criterion Collection |
2014 | "Džim Švantė (Sol' Svanetii) & Gvozd' v sapoge" | Edition Filmmuseum | Underground | British Film Institute |
2015 | "The House of Mystery (La Maison du mystère)" | Flicker Alley, LLC The Blackhawk Films Collection |
"The Connection: Project Shirley, Volume One" "Portrait of Jason: Project Shirley, Volume Two" "Ornette: Made in America: Project Shirley, Volume 3" |
Milestone Film & Video |
2016 | "Frederick Wiseman Intégrale Vol. 1" | Blaq Out | N/A | |
2017 | The Salvation Hunters | Edition Filmmuseum | N/A | |
2018 | "Arne Sucksdorff: Samlade Verk" | Studio S Entertainment | N/A | |
2019 | Non contate su di noi | Penny Video Cineteca Nazionale Cineploit |
N/A | |
2020 | Fragment of an Empire | Flicker Alley, LLC | N/A | |
2021 | La Roue | Pathé Films | N/A |
See also
- Copyright
- Direct-to-video
- Film distribution
- Home cinema
- Laserdisc
- Videocassette recorder
- DVD
- Blu-ray
- Capacitance Electronic Disc
- Streaming media
Categories and lists
- List of best-selling films in the United States
- List of notable home video companies
- Category:Home video companies of the United States
- Category:Video
References
- ^ "home video". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved Apr 29, 2020.
- ^ "home video". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved Apr 29, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9780292791466. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ISBN 9781136068621. Retrieved 3 February 2022. According to this source, as of 2005 a release print still cost at least $1,000 to make.
- ISBN 9780299132149.
- ISBN 9781136057663. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9780299132149.
- ^ "Super 8mm Film History | Motion Picture Film". motion.kodak.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ ,"50 Years of the Video Cassette Recorder". WIPO. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ ISBN 9780292791466. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ISBN 9781136057663. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ISBN 9781136057663. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9780292791466. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ISBN 9780292791466. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9780292791466. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ISBN 9781136057663. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9781136057663. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ISBN 9781136057663. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (April 21, 2022). "A Home Entertainment Success Story: Bob Chapek and the Digital Revolution". Media Play News. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "Home Video Publishing: Are You Ready?" by Michael Wiese, PMA Newsletter, July 1987, pp. 6–13.
- ^ "Special Interest Comes of Age," by Bo Lebo, PMA Newsletter, May 1990, p. 18.
- ^ "6JSC/ALA/16/LC response" (PDF). rda-jsc.org. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
- ^ "Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses" (Press release). Toshiba. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
- ^ "SONY BUYS A FACEBOOK SPINOFF TO GIVE NEW LIFE TO BLU-RAY". Wired. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ Morris, Chris (January 8, 2016). "Blu-ray Struggles in the Streaming Age". Fortune. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ Sun, Yazhou; Yan, Sophia (2016-07-22). "The last VCR will be manufactured this month". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
- ^ Steel, Emily (July 26, 2015). "Netflix refines its DVD business, even as streaming unit booms". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
- ^ "Q1 2019 Letter to Netflix Shareholders" (PDF). Netflix Investor Relations. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ "Netflix Corporate Information". Netflix. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (January 22, 2019). "Netflix Becomes First Streamer to Join the Motion Picture Association of America". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (July 28, 2023). "Disney Reportedly Exiting Australian Packaged-Media Market". MediaPlayNews. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ "LEONINE Studios wird neuer Lizenzpartner der The Walt Disney Company in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz für die Kategorie Home Entertainment". Presseportal. July 13, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "Netflix Forgoes Wide Release for Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman'". The Hollywood Reporter. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
- ISBN 9781136440014.
- ^ Guerrasio, Jason. "The $35,000 device that celebrities and the super-rich use at home to stream movies still in theaters". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ "Bubble May Burst Hollywood". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "The Video Recordings Act | British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Il Cinema Ritrovato - DVD Awards" (PDF). Cineteca di Bologna. Istituzione Cineteca del Comune di Bologna. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "DVD AWARDS 2015 – XII edition: THE WINNERS". Il Cinema Ritrovato. Cineteca di Bologna. 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards – XIII edition. The Winners". Il Cinema Ritrovato. Cineteca di Bologna. 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Il Cinema Ritrovato Dvd Awards 2017 EDITION XIV". Il Cinema Ritrovato. Cineteca di Bologna. 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards 2018 XV edition – The winners". Il Cinema Ritrovato. Cineteca di Bologna. 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ "Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards 2019 XVI edition – The winners". Il Cinema Ritrovato. Cineteca di Bologna. 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ "Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards XVI edition – 2020" (PDF). Il Cinema Ritrovato. Cineteca di Bologna. 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2002.