Porn downloads (when DVD's stop being fashionable)

[max_tranmere]

I heard someone say recently that DVD's will become a thing of the past before long and everything will be downloaded, or will be watched on Satelite where you 'rent' a film for 24 hours (using your remote control or phoning them with your details). If you look at what has happened to the music industry since downloading everything has replaced CD buying (95% of people now get their music through illegal downloads and it has killed the industry), I am wondering the effect on the porn industry when all of this happens.

As there are many sites with the 'torrent' facility, and judging by what has happened to music, it would seem that when DVD's stop being the thing to have that people will probably download everything illegally and not pay for it. It seems like the porn industry, along with the mainstream film industry, could be largely destroyed - films will keep being made but profiting from them will be almost impossible. What do people predict will happen, when DVD's stop being the thing to have? What will happen to the porn industry?

[m100]

personally can't see a time when downloads will put an end to dvd's. firstly there is the anonymity of buying a dvd compared to the fact that google etc all track and keep a record of which websites you have visited. Secondly there is the problem of broadband speed which dictates how long it takes to download a scene - let alone an entire film. For those of us who live so remote that the only broadband we can get is mobile (slightly faster than dial up but not much during busy times) this will always be a factor. I think I've downloaded three short scenes which I haven't been able to get on dvd and if the proper dvd's they came from were available I'd buy them on dvd this afternoon but then again I've still got a massive vinyl collection and downloading music will never replace cd's etc for me.

[justickleme]

We all download, it's a fact of life, but there will always be a market for those of us who still want the physical satisfaction of a professionally manufactured disc / tape (not for much longer for tapes) arriving at your door.

I've personally bought very few DVD's recently but the only reason is having more important things to spend my spare cash on. Downloading is here to stay and many who currently outlaw it will just have to get used to it or will definitely feel the effects eventually.

I don't agree with the privacy argument. The majority of posted DVD's are now bought online anyway. Every web site keeps a record of the users name and address details for future marketing purposes. Most also keep credit card details, encrypted of course. So worrying about privacy is pointless. Ordering over the internet or by phone is no different, databases are still kept, regardless.

[videokim]

Downloading is fine but its nice to have the real mcCoy in DVD format etc, internet is good but its so much easier to pirate. At least years ago the pirates were working there nuts off for days copying material but its all done now with clever software & the push of a button. Porn will always survive & like food & drink its something that we all need (well most anyway). We ourselves have seen 2 different formats VHS/DVD come & go but there is always an outlet for porn, Blu Ray is the next big thing with many producers already finding a market. We do our films in PSP3, I-POD, Archos, Mobile & various M-Peg4 formats so even with the fall of DVD there are many more formats taking its place.

Kim xxx

[sparky]

I think disc format does have a long term future.

Even with the PC and TV becoming more integrated not everyone will either want or have the facility to watch internet streaming. Good real-time DVD quality resolution requires a fast internet connection and HD will need an even higher speed. So many do not have really fast reliable broadband now available at any price.

The operators will not want the video to be downloadable to watch later at a rental price since it will be so easy to share via DVD, as data DVD discs if not converted to DVD format, and file sharing sites.

The key to stop file sharing is a good affordable copy-protection system.
So many discs seem to have either no or very easily bypassed copy-protection.
I have one DVD that plays fine in a DVD player but totally locks up a computer as soon as it is loaded.

[nasty]

The internet will do to discs exactly what it's done to adult magazines and make them obsolete. As broadband speeds get faster, downloading full movies will become a lot quicker, and it's already pretty fast right now.

I don't like downloading mainstream films because I like the physical copy, artwork and all, sitting on my dvd shelves. But with porn, in most homes, they're not openly displayed sitting on a shelf. So a virtual download would be attractive to most.

Just like people with vinyl collections were reluctant to switch to compact discs, there'll be people who'll be reluctant to switch from dvd to downloads, but the majority will and I can't see porn producers catering to a minority, so dvd will effectively be dead!

[Floydoid]

It's all fine and dandy downloading (legally or otherwise) movies or music, until your hard drive (or MP3 player) goes tits up and you lose the lot. It doesn't cost as much to replace a faulty optical disk as it does to buy a new hard drive and shell out (again) for all those downloads.

For music I much prefer to buy the CD and then rip the tracks to PC as desired. And for comfort I would much rather lounge on the sofa and watch a movie on the TV than on the PC monitor.

[justickleme]

[quote]It's all fine and dandy downloading (legally or otherwise) movies or music, until your hard drive (or MP3 player) goes tits up and you lose the lot. It doesn't cost as much to replace a faulty optical disk as it does to buy a new hard drive and shell out (again) for all those downloads.[/quote]
Backups !! 2 x 1TB Mirror RAID drives work well

[Floydoid]

Yeah I know you can do that, and I do back up important stuff, but I don't want to get cluttered up with too many drives.

[justickleme]

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=466

One unit, 2 drives, great value. I have two, they work flawlessly.

Anyway, don't want to detract from the original subject, just wanted to point out that "where there's a will, there's a way". That goes for copy protection too, there is always (and always will be) a way around it - unfortunately.