Disney tests self-destruct DVDs

**Trash Man** · 10-09-2003, 04:19 PM

Just reading about this on the BBC website.

Video rental stores could be hit by the technology
Disney is to sell its movies on disposable "self-destruct" DVDs in a pilot scheme to test consumer reaction.
The discs, which become unreadable after 48 hours, will be on offer in convenience stores and pharmacies.

They will go on sale in four cities to test whether US film watchers will choose them over rented DVDs.

The red DVDs turn an unreadable black 48 hours after their packages are opened, exposing them to oxygen.

The oxygen reacts with the disc in a process similar to how Polaroid film develops.

The DVDs, which are being distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, will carry a suggested price of $6.99 (£4.43).

Advantage

Some retailers are expected to sell them for as little as about $5 (£3.16), said Alan Blaustein, chief executive of Flexplay, which owns the self-destruct technology.

The advantage to the disposable DVD format - known as EZ-D - is that such discs can be sold anywhere and never need to be returned.

This potentially makes any retailer a competitor with established US video rental stores such as Blockbuster.

Stores in Texas, Illinois, South Carolina and Missouri will begin stocking the disposable DVDs including titles such as Signs and The Recruit.

Toys R Us, Phillips 66, Circle K, CVS and Walgreens are some of the chains participating.

But conservationists have attacked the idea, fearing disposable discs will simply cause more waste for the environment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...lm/3093792.stm

What do you think? I like the idea of being able to say rent a film on a Wednesday and then watch it on the Friday or Saturday, and how many times have you rented a film and never got around to watching it? I know I have done it a fair few times, so you are either stuck with the choice of taking it back and not seeing or paying another nights rental so that you can watch it.

Doubt that will we ever see it over here though.

**Aaron** · 10-09-2003, 04:26 PM

Well, I'm sure 48 hours is long enough to copy/rip the DVD.

**Trash Man** · 10-09-2003, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by Aaron
Well, I'm sure 48 hours is long enough to copy/rip the DVD.

But that would be totally illegal

**Jonny M** · 10-09-2003, 05:36 PM

So it's about £5 to buy these discs when it's converted into UK money in the same way most things are converted

. When you can have a non self-destructing disc for around a tenner if you shop around, where's the incentive to buy the self-destructing ones?

And surely it costs more to burn the movies onto these new DVDs, so if they can sell these for £5, why can't they sell all films for that price?

**Trash Man** · 10-09-2003, 05:42 PM

If they ever did make there way over here and they did charge a fiver for them they would be shooting them selfs in the foot as like you said you can buy them for a few quid more.

**Richie** · 10-09-2003, 06:30 PM

And putting them in a fridge extends the life of these DVD's (supposedly)

**Trash Man** · 10-09-2003, 06:43 PM

I can see how that would as the are destroyed by mixing them with oxygen. I guess the cold would slow down the process of the chemical mixing together.

**Bindibadgi** · 10-09-2003, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by Aaron
Well, I'm sure 48 hours is long enough to copy/rip the DVD.

LOL! Indeed

**Wurzel** · 10-09-2003, 07:27 PM

The americans are already wastefull enough without stuff like disposable dvd's

**steve threlfall** · 10-09-2003, 10:59 PM

/sighs are these companies not raking in enough money as it is?

**SilentDeath** · 10-09-2003, 11:24 PM

dvds cost almost nothing to produce, they can charge what they like, and imo have been so far. id like to see the price go down, but if these are released, then £5 for a newish film, which i burn a copy of (for backup purposes - incase it oxidises early b4 i have a chance to watch it, and noone could blame me for forgetting to throw the backup away after 2 days

)

americans are very wastefull, but if it makes them money, then it must be the right thing to do.

**Ivor Life** · 11-09-2003, 03:02 PM

lol which old tv show used to have the mission briefings on self destructing tapes!

i doubt it will ever catch on!

**Thorburn** · 14-09-2003, 07:30 PM

Ivor Life - Mission Impossible

Talking about disposible discs, I bought a Region 1 copy of Mission Impossible 2 then dad sold our multi-region DVD player before it even arrived and won't get the new one cracked, hoo-****ing-rah

**scouse** · 14-09-2003, 11:37 PM

crazy idea, cannot see the point as like others have said for a few quid more in some cases for the same price you can buy a proper lasting one, especially with the sales HMV do all the time

**Ivor Life** · 15-09-2003, 02:30 AM

Originally posted by Thorburn
Ivor Life - Mission Impossible

Doh

How slow am i..

**sexeh** · 17-09-2003, 06:19 PM

mine are usualy covered in fingerprints after 10 mins anyway

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