DVD sales figures: WIDE SCREEN vs FULL

[stevelabny]

does anyone know where I can find sales figures that compare how many copies of a DVD sold were widescreen as opposed to full screen?

I'm pretty positive that Widescreen way outsells Fullscreen but I want to see the numbers to be sure.

I dont know if anyone else has noticed, but if a DVD comes in two seperate versions, Blockbuster is only stocking the Full Screen.
Which is completely ridiculous.

steve

 

[WayneLigon]

I don't rent many movies, but I've certainly noticed a change in at least two rental places: Blockbuster and Movie Gallery. Maybe it's just here, but do they not bother catagorizing movies anymore at all? Both chains here just have 'Drama' and 'Comedy', which is kinda useless to me.

 

[stevelabny]

id rather they DONT try to categorize movies.
they NEVER get them right

any cross-genre movie gives them nightmares.

 

[Mistwell]

Personally I prefer full screen, and I am so sick of only having access to wide screen editions for purchase at places like CostCo and Target.

 

[stevelabny]

ok, i have to ask...

WHY oh why do you prefer FULL SCREEN?

do you prefer having 1/2 the movie chopped off?

do you not plan on buying a HDTV in the next few years to take advantage of all the TV shows that are already or soon going to be broadcast in widescreen HD?

the only way i can see someone preferring FULL SCREEN is if they have a TV smaller than 25 inches. and if thats the case, they should be buying a new TV before they buy a DVD player.

steve

 

[Ranger REG]

I have a 20-inch, and all of my movie DVD collection are widescreen version.

I still have my collection of VHS that are all fullscreen, and to be honest, it doesn't compare to the widescreen DVD. The reason why I went with widescreen DVD is the movie experience, and the despite the fact that I use a 20-inch TV with S-Video input but no Hi-Definition, with a DVD player with no Progressive Scan ... it's pretty clear.

 

[Argus Decimus Mokira]

Whoah - easy Steve ... the man likes pan 'n scan, 'nuff said.

Personally I hate it more than anything. I remember the first time I saw a movie with "the black bars" - on The Empire Strikes Back, one of my fav movies ever. That prolly has some kind of weird subconscious effect on me, forcing me to love widescreen.

Oh, something useful in regards to the actual thread? No, not a clue where you'd find that.

-Matt

 

[Ristamar]

'Fullscreen' is an evil misnomer that should be eradicated from existence. The people I know that prefer fullscreen don't even realize that half the movie is being chopped off, and generally convert to the Widescreen faithful once the truth is made clear to them.

I have to say, though, it's a good marketing gimmick for selling an inferior product...

 

[Welverin]

Personally I prefer full screen, and I am so sick of only having access to wide screen editions for purchase at places like CostCo and Target.

You sir are an evil, evil man.

 

[Holy Bovine]

'Fullscreen' is an evil misnomer that should be eradicated from existence. The people I know that prefer fullscreen don't even realize that half the movie is being chopped off, and generally convert to the Widescreen faithful once the truth is made clear to them.

I have to say, though, it's a good marketing gimmick for selling an inferior product...

This is very true. I had some friends who couldn't understand why all the movies I have (on VHS and DVD) had black bars at the top and bottom of the sceen. Then we watched some of the director's commentary of Star Trek IV where Nimoy shows exactly what happens to a Pan n' Scan movie to format it to a square TV.

They have never bought a PnS movie since and actually became angry when we would go to rent something and could only find PnS versions.

Fixed that by going to Roger's Video (a huge cable supplier here in Ontario) - I have never not been able to get the widescreen version of any recent movie there.

The term 'full screen' is a wonderful marketing gimmick - my friends thought they were getting a bigger picture with it!


edit - there's a link to show what happens to PnS movies - warning this may shock and upset you

http://kdfalin.topcities.com/fullscreen_vs_widescreen.html