16 Comments
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Daniel Lona's avatar

Excellent article, Jeff. Very well-written. These tariffs are worrisome for physical media. But your article gives me hope. While increased prices on PM wouldn't cause me to stop buying movies & shows, it may force me to buy less. If that's the case for many other PM collectors, too, I hope the boutique labels can stay afloat. Thank you for shedding light on this troubling and unnecessary situation. Here's hoping we can see it through.

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Swabreen Bakr's avatar

Don’t even wanna know what books are gonna cost

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Mark Knight's avatar

It is not the tarriffs that are the problem, it is streaming itself. People has gotten so used to streaming more that these major studios are not supporting Blu-Ray more. I think it is time for the people of America to give up on streaming and fight against digital to shut down these services and let the major studios know to invest more into blu-rays.. Also you forgot to mention about Shout Factory and how they are doing well with their catalog of blu-rays

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Jeff Rauseo's avatar

I don’t think that’s the answer. There’s a place for both. I stream a ton of content, and I have a large collection of physical media.

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Furudal's avatar

Everyone can vote with their wallet. I would be glad if that happened. But in my circles I see the people that abandon streaming turning more back to piracy than discs.

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Joe Douglas's avatar

I love how these comments are "America for Americans" and then the same people bitch about not being able to get stuff not made in America. 🤦‍♂️

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Robert C.'s avatar

I used to buy Blu-rays and 4Ks when they were released. I now wait for a sale or find it second-hand on Amazon or eBay. It would be great if discs were made in America, but are Americans willing to pay more to support good-paying American jobs?

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Jeff Rauseo's avatar

For discs, I don’t think it’s a question of whether we would pay more. If the major studios were told to make discs in America they probably wouldn’t make discs. The economics just don’t make sense. The margins would be so small without the volume of the heyday of physical media, so they’d just go digital.

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Trippy Critic's avatar

Make the damn disc here in America for American films or even international films….Kino Lorber does it.

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Jeff Rauseo's avatar

The economics for Kino Lorber or Vinegar Syndrome are a lot different than Universal or Disney. It’s easy to say make them in America but the reality is that if that’s what was required, they probably just wouldn’t make them at all.

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Trippy Critic's avatar

Keyword “probably”

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Michelle Kisner's avatar

I import a lot of discs because I have a region free player and I can get movies that aren’t available in the US because of rights. It’s more complex than “just make the discs in ‘Murica!”

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Trippy Critic's avatar

Thanks for reminding me human beings aren’t designed to understand reality lol

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Michelle Kisner's avatar

No need to be rude, I wasn’t.

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Trippy Critic's avatar

I’m not being rude (mind reading? Interesting) anyways just stating a fact

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Michelle Kisner's avatar

I work with Blu-ray companies as a side gig, so I see what goes on behind the scenes which is why I’m saying it’s more nuanced than moving all disc production to the US.

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