Why Physical Media is Having a Comeback 

If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't theft

I've been going back to physical because the feeling of disconnect from the medium. I've been buying DVDs to play on my PS2, cassettes for music because there's a mindset with it. The hiss before a track plays gives a sense of excitement for the music.

It’s also important to point out, streaming is censoring content. Scenes have been changed and removed from movies, and whole episodes of tv shows have been removed due to modern taboos.

THIS, exactly this!!! Another worry of mine is lost media, a film or series goes on a streaming, everyone raves about it, the hype dies down, it’s removed and it’s gone.

Once the internet goes, so do Streaming Services. Not to mention the way studios keep removing content from services gives us all the more reason to buy books, DVDs, CDs and so on. Therefore, physical media DOES have a reason to exist

Even having the files on your own HDD is a much better experience than streaming. You can sort stuff the way you want it to be sorted. Sometimes you rediscover old songs or movies you haven‘t seen in ages. Not possible if you are streaming..

It's 2024 and I still be recording RU-vid videos on a VCR 💀💀

I never stopped buying physical media. I only used streaming as a supplement to my collection, until I got fed up with way content is being presented to you on the services. It doesn't help that content is now jumping from platform to platform either. So for the last about 1½ year I've been living without Netflix/Max/whatever, and only used Spotify for music. When it comes to music I support the artists I really like by going to their concerts if possible, and buying their music on physical media if available. I'm even considering getting a tape deck again. I have an ever growing collection of DVD, Blu-ray, UHD Blu-ray, LaserDisc, and a few VHS tapes. Sure, a lot of new stuff might not turn up on those formats, but then there's over 100 years of movies and TV shows that I can dive into, and never run out of stuff to run. My latest additions are Shawscope Vol 1 from Arrow, a collection of old martial arts movies, and two John Waters flicks. Games is a very different story though. PC gamers have been living with digital distribution for about 20 years, and while physical media is still a thing on consoles, except for maybe Nintendo games, I don't think you can count on the entire gaming being on a disc because it's so common that a major patch or update drops on day 1, fixing all the stuff that wasn't fixed before the discs were pressed. On PC the only real way to make sure you don't lose the game, is to get it on GOG, and back it up yourself.

I wanted to watch Infinity Train and Summer Camp Island. They were removed from HBO Max and since there were no physical releases available, the only way to watch as piracy. Infinity Train Book 1 & 2 eventually got reprinted, but the other half of the series never got a physical release. Physical media helps keep creators' stories alive, especially with how much content is being pulled from services.

I might see it wrong, but to me the picture of a regular 1080p blu-ray is still miles better or crisper than a 4k streaming movie

After nintendo shut the eShop got their older consoles it made me reconsider how I purchase games, now I only get physical copies of games, I don't wanna be losing all of my games in the near future

People when Streaming was introduced: Wow this is more convenient than DVDs and Blu-Rays! People now: They removed our favorite movie off the platform! We’re going back to DVDs and Blu-Rays!

Honestly, I've never felt physical media ever gone.

I’m not kidding, your video has one of the most unique and vibrant thumbnails ever. I love it so much

I realized when i wanted to watch Fast and furious 9 last week, and they were like ups sorry, you gotta have apple tv plus to be able to watch it Immediately told myself "oh hell no, I'll just buy me the 10 movie bluray collection and theyll never bother me again

I believe a lot of people are fearful that the digital media they "buy" can be removed at any point and might as well be named as rented instead.

This is why we always have to make back ups of physical and digital versions to preserve history

I've never fully swapped to Digital, i've mostly stuck to Physical.

in my school they're calling this new period "l'economie d'usage" (economy of use in french), and it can be beneficial to the planet, like for renting out sports gear from a store and returning it when you no longer have a use for it, reducing overconsumption and if the gear is maintained well, leads to far less waste when disposed of at its end of life or forgotten and even recycled, repaired or reused, it even was in my final exams, I answered it wasn't a perfect all around solution as it can easily be abused by companies and media and digital goods could disappear because of it.

Physical Media can't be altered once it's in the hand of the consumer. In Canada they removed "that's a cute outfit, did your husband make it for you?" from showings of Spider Man on tv. The problem with digital media is that companies can remove or alter anything that they deem as "problematic". They can't do that to physical media. And that makes them angry.

one thing you neglected to mention about gaming is: most games are considered "lost", meaning there is no official way to obtain them. The only way to play them is to buy a used copy or download a pirated one. Despite game studios not making any money off of used game sales, the ESA (Like RIAA but for games) still take down copies of their old games.

Cassette tape are also making a big comeback as well I been had Cassette tape for a long time but im getting more now. I also got some dvd and even vhs tapes.

How do you only have 85 subscribers?! Great video! Keep going man!

I feel like this is now the best time to invest in Physical Media more than ever. Netflix at one point had reached a plateau in terms of releasing their content onto Physical Media, but that is slowly making a comeback with the release of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio by The Criterion Collection, and GKIDS announcing the acquisition to the Physical Media rights of Arcane. My hope is that more companies get access to shows movies and series as time goes on. Especially Klaus.

We need more video's and short man, don't give up this channel is the sh*t...💯

Physical media should comeback for a few reasons. 1st, Gen Z aware of spending with credit card. 2nd, Rise of Ai, 3rd, wanting to watch Disney films. 4th, you can use a gaming console for DVD VCR's.

I remember my games for PS or Xbox the booklets inside and others with cheat codes etc and fun little things in them, you’d flip them around to find out other things, music cds getting the artwork out inside and hanging it on the wall! A poster unique to only what a buyer would have! Meaning you was a true fan, my friends wanted my slipknot posters because I bought all the cds😂but they knew I had them because l had bought all the CDs!! Dvds not so much things inside but falling in love with the picture on the front! Cracking open the case and pressing the little doobly doo in the middle to get out the dvd and waiting for it to slide in was so cool!

THE QUALITY!!! THE FLIPPING QUALITY OF THIS IS OUTSTANDING!!

Great work on editing and writing. Your shorts are insanely good. Keep up the good work, and see you soon with 1mil subscribers!

Immediately subbed due to your short on the lady who recorded 30yrs/71,000 VHS tapes of TV programming. I’ve always wanted to do this myself and wondered if it had ever been done. I’m assuming you’re interested in physical media and topics like it and HAD TO WATCH MORE OF YOUR CONTENT. I see you going to 1M subs in less than a year. Keep up the good work. I hate digital only media. Physical media gives the consumer true ownership.

I genuinely really love both of the videos that you have put up on this channel. I hope to see more soon. ❤❤

DVDs and players to me are like wifi to most people. How do you not have one?

Not mentioned but books and CDs are also slowly but surely making a comeback everywhere. More than the ‘physical experience’ which relates more to appreciation, I think it’s about permanence and access.

Just stumbled upon your video.and i can say the quality of your videos are insane

I started to build a DVD collection about a year ago and have probably spent less than what it would've cost to see them across dozens of fragmented streaming services. Never paid for a streaming service and never will.

Great video! Have purchased a cd player and portable blu ray player in the past year and love them. CD sound quality is better than streaming/itunes, etc. in my opinion.

I got a blueray recently, because my old dvd player started sticking and the door had fallen off, it still plays but i wanted to get another one before it died. And now i can get dvd and Blu-ray, and i have a vhs player. I used to have a record player but broke the arm, dvd/blu ray players and vhs players are easier for me to use without accidentally breaking it. I also like my Nintendo switch because i can download certain games to play offline.

Started collecting vhs over the last couple years. More for a nostalgic reason but i forgot how many movies came out on VHS movies that never made it on DVD or streaming. So its been cool finding old movies i forgot about. Great video.

I wouldn't trust anyone other than a family member or close trustworthy person to digitize those videos. They can easily get rid of things they don't want the public to see/remember.

Excellent video, also i found your channel two weeks ago when you had 300 subs and now you're already at 3k! So excited to watch you grow!

I still haven’t bought Alan Wake 2. I want to play the game so bad, but I don’t buy digital games.

I do plan on eventually creating physical media of my work. A boxed version of my games to printed comics, I just got to get more stable.

I love physical media, but I’m too lazy to use them! 😭

Excellent video! I’ve been increasingly advocating for physical games over the last few years, especially with titles like Alan Wake II concerning me. It’s also nice to see indie games getting physical releases as well, preserving an increasingly-important section of the industry. I just wish it was as available to consumers as AAA games, instead of being treated as a niche.

Subscribed! Great content!

BRO PLEASE REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU GET BIG ❤️❤️❤️

I've never once owned a Netflix account or any other media subscription for entertainment. VHS, DVD, CD, RECORDS, CASSETTES, REEL TO REEL is what I roll with. I like to record my music and videos to physical media so i can watch it at a later time. I just bought a Canon AE 1 from 1978. I'm tired of cellular phone photos. I want to hold them in my hand and show them to people. #PhysicalMediaForever

I'm surprised this doesn't have more views

My go to is physical whenever it is an option. IF looking for the convenience of digital rip your media and store it in a safe place and watch the digital files. You get the best of both worlds.

I go to thrift stores and buy DVDs and blu rays. Best deals are non donation places. Cause they’re sellers. While paces like charge 3 to 10. People moving stuff will sell you a box of movies for 10 bucks.

Really enjoyed this. It's well said and you don't really restate yourself. I'm a huge collector of movies and TV on blu ray and 4K. I feel like if I can own something on disc whether it's a classic film or a crappy z grade horror film I will gladly do it.

Let’s not forget SACD’s, no streaming service will stream DSD anytime soon.

I have records, cassettes, vhs, blu rays/dvds and gameboy games. I want to own my media.

Wow this video came a day later after my birthday last month ,that’s interesting but good video

I want what I paid for. I own and collect Vinyl, Blu Rays and ps4/5 games. I feel wealthy knowing I have personal access to these physical art forms vs having to having to rely on cellular data, cable or internet and then an app or streaming service to access them.

I’ve never been a fan of streaming services especially the content that I’m interested in is taken down or my internet connection is being unreliable that day.

Like a few days after you released this video they announced a physical of Alan Wake 2 at summer games fest

i think a great example is the movie 'the kingdom of heaven' (king baldwin (silver mask guy) raising his hand is a meme rn). the director's edition is a genuine masterpeice. but, because this version is not on film streaming services (the big ones anyway), i reckon many people who wanted to watch it because of the meme only saw the mediocre theatrical cut.

I’m tired of people misuse the word “physical” so much and I’m so tired of pretending this is okay… 🤦

I never stopped loving my DVDs 💚💚💚

Yes, YES it is better SO MUCH BETTER. Better audio, better video, YOU OWN IT!!! No internet, no problem! I just get my blu-ray and off I am. At the best quality available for me. I do have my own collection, movies, series, and I LOVE IT!

I could listen to you talk all day 😍

I have this video game remix album I love, but its blocked on streaming services in America because of licensing or something. I recently ordered the CD because i realized that eventually, it won't even be on youtube uploaded by fans someday.

I was at Goodwill & found a flawless X Men 2 DVD for $3. DVDs have gotten so cheap.

Physical media never left

1:36 speaking of which what do you think about Sony acquiring them? I was quite confused when i saw the news on twitter.

I made a giant post telling my personal story and all that and it looks like RU-vid just deleted it. In short there's nothing wrong with digital as long as you actually own the content you paid for. Licenses are not ownership and they can be revoked at any time for any reason and I think that's corrupt as heck. I wanted to buy all of the Duke Nukem 3D expansion packs but they weren't on any digital storefronts I could only buy them second hand on eBay and wouldn't be able to run them on my current Hardware so the only option I would have is to Pirate them because they're not even sold anymore. I love physical media it's great to be able to talk and share the games and whatnot you love but also if you get too many you'll fill up your basement and it's not worth the effort.

Yes. Physical media is better. I plan on becoming a filmmaker myself, and I don’t want any of my films being released exclusively digitally.

I hope PC can get physical again. hell making the game be available on a USB drive would be perfect

How about except making CD's, DVD's and Blu ray discs obsolete, try to make them more durable? use better material, or maybe even try with some sort of glass?

BRO YOU MADE MY DAY I LOVE ELTON JOHN!!!

I have never forgotten when microsoft took a game off my xbox after i had paid for it. Never again im steictly buy physical. Before that ever gappened to me i never gave it much thought.

Because I fucking own it myself! And make copies myself!

Physical media could benefit from a more robust format. It’s hard to say whether my cheap little dvds will play 20 years from now, but physical media like records are back with a vengeance because they are collectible, feel cool, and long lasting. If you made blu ray disks 3x as heavy, and metal, they’d sell for double the price they are now.

These types of things just demonstrate the actual insufficiency of the reductive philosophy driving society, which says that the song is the same if it's a file on a phone or stored on physical media. But, at the very least bc of the way humans work if not as a consequence of the nature of being, clearly there is something lost in this transition to mp3 players + the continuing condensing of more and more utilities into one device that also hosts the music. Having streaming with endless choices ironically devalues the music relative to purchasing each piece of your collection individually, it separates songs and albums, and really pigeonholes music into a purely entertainment medium instead of an artistic one

Iv been collecting physical video games for over 20 years! Iv bought digital before and lost it forever. Now I’ll always buy physical.

Personally I went all digital for my games for awhile then I got my gf a switch and I found I couldn't gameshare like xbox&playstation so I swapped back to buying physical games and I've always bought all my movies physically and I would buy the ones that had digital and bluray in the box for newer occasionally if a movie is super cheap like 2 bucks or something for a digital purchase I will buy it

All im saying is thank god piracy exist because here is south Africa its much harder to get physical movies Because most of them in my area are gone and media players are much rare now then ever before,even finding older retro games are near impossible because the second hand stores don't sell them and the few that do some extreme amount of money so yeah

Hell yeah

I'm all for physical media. But why oh why do people still buy DVD????? SD died years ago. Everybody has at least a 1080p TV nowadays and the price difference between a blu-ray disc and a DVD isn't that big. So why on earth would you watch a movie in upscaled crappy standard definition on your large 4K TV while watching a youtube video in higher quality on your frackin phone? They should've killed the format long ago already.

Forever Physical

Yeah agreed

Or you could become a pirate *WINK* *FREE SOFTWARE* *WINK* ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I have thousands of songs and only one CD left. In my life I have gone from vinyl to 8-track to cassette to CD to mp3. I have bought some music in 5 different formats (Beatles). It's a great way to sell the same music over and over again. Go Capitalism! Yay!!!!

I like weird films. Do you think any of them are available on streaming services? Hell no. I must own them

Down with valve

4:05 Blu-ray video isn’t uncompressed lol Even DCP video isn’t uncompressed. You really don’t know the first thing about video.

Digital!

Love blu ray

Uhd 4k bluray future of film media, about time streaming died with its poor quality sound and picture.

You don't own anything on the internet. That is why physical copy is still the best.

Take that lipstick off bro

For videogames, physical media is not the solution, because it often requires internet to play the good version of the game, or just play at all. Just look at The Crew, even those who bought the disc, now only have a cup coaster.

Glad to be the 214th subscriber. You will have many subscribers very soon.