In a tangible melancholy tune of the end of an era, Disney pulls the curtains on its physical media releases in Australia.
According to 7news, the last breath of this physical form of entertainment will come in the form of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 DVDs and Blu-rays, slated for release later this month. The decision to pull the plug afterward is reportedly fueled by the downward trajectory in physical sales as the meteoric rise of streaming continues to grip the nation.
Yet, this shift towards a more virtual world is hardly a phenomenon exclusive to the Land Down Under. Many markets, like a handful of areas in Asia, have already seen an end to DVD and Blu-ray releases from major players like Disney, signaling the dramatic transformation of how consumers access media. As the charm of a stacked shelf of steel books fades, the world inches closer to a future where access trumps ownership.
The rise of streaming services has painted the landscape of media consumption with myriad colors of convenience. Yet, it’s a decision that has simultaneously created an unstable terrain, where consumers’ access to titles is more at the mercy of a media conglomerate more than ever.
Stories of Disney purging content from their streaming platform, Disney+, and Warner Bros. Discovery pulling down titles from Max, serve as unsettling reminders of the volatile nature of digital ownership.
However, as the sun sets on Disney’s physical media in Australia, there’s a beacon of hope for enthusiasts and collectors alike. While the Australian market won’t be restocked, international markets might still hold the key to quenching the thirst for physical media.
Until the last copies of Disney’s DVDs and Blu-rays run out, fans can hold onto these remnants of an era that emphasized personal collections.
Disney’s decision not only marks the end of the road for its own DVD and Blu-ray releases but also encompasses all titles from 20th Century. This decision inevitably stirs memories of a bygone era, when the releases of Blade Runner, Goodfellas, and The Wizard of Oz marked the advent of the DVD format in 1997, gradually signaling the end for VHS tapes. It’s an echo of the same tune now, as physical media looks set to follow a similar fate in the face of the streaming onslaught.
The move to cease physical releases has understandably left the community of collectors and physical media fans in a state of disappointment. In this digital age, the allure of a physical collection, the thrill of tangible ownership, seems to be fading into oblivion. The shift is perceived as an indication that the public’s access to media will increasingly hinge on the whims of the media companies themselves.
Yet, amidst this dramatic shift, it’s possible that this doesn’t necessarily signal the end for physical media releases. Instead, their fleeting availability makes them more elusive and exclusive, thereby more treasured. This would mirror the days when movies were periodically re-released in local theaters, which ironically stopped save for special occasions after the rise of physical media and home viewing.
While the transition from physical to digital stirs raises questions about the future of media consumption, it seems that the tide of change is unavoidable.
As the end credits roll on the era of physical media in Australia, we’re left with a sense of anticipation about what the next act in this dramatic evolution of media might hold.
