From DVD to 4K: the never-ending story of our video shelves

The goal of this panel discussion was to analyze the coexistence of video formats (DVD, Blu-ray, 4K) and the challenges of physical media publishing, particularly for classic and heritage cinema. Organized in partnership with the REV (Réunion des Editeurs Vidéos), it featured Nicolas Billon (Com' On Screen), Carine Bach (Extralucid Films), Alexis Hyaumet (VDM), and was moderated by Jérôme Wybon (film historian).

I. The Current Market and Format Coexistence

• DVD Persistence: The DVD remains the most democratized format and is still very important in the market.

  • The failed launch of Blu-ray, marked by poor communication and the confusion of the format war (HD DVD vs. Blu-ray), slowed HD adoption.

  • Institutions (media libraries, public libraries) mainly purchase DVDs for their patrons, who often lack Blu-ray or UHD equipment, and even lend out DVD players.

• Collectors and Cinephiles: A stronger genre cinephilia (and heritage cinema love) fuels demand for higher quality formats (Blu-ray and UHD/4K), as these audiences seek optimal image and sound quality.

• The Format War (HD DVD vs. Blu-ray): The abrupt abandonment of HD DVD (especially after Warner switched to Blu-ray) created confusion and distrust among early adopters who were left with quickly obsolete equipment, harming mass adoption of HD formats. Furthermore, there was an issue at the time in clearly conveying the difference in quality between DVD and Blu-ray to the public, with some people claiming they "couldn't see the difference."

II. Reissues: Justification and Costs

• New Masters and 4K Restoration: The main justification for reissues is the existence of a new master (2K, 4K restoration). Restoration is a long and costly process, especially for films with complex histories (e.g., Robert Enrico's La Révolution Française), whose shooting/editing underwent multiple manipulations for different versions (cinema, TV, different languages), requiring multiple reels to be scanned and compiled.

• Rights Exploitation:

  • Purchasing Blu-ray and UHD rights is often done separately and represents a significant investment. Furthermore, manufacturing Blu-ray and UHD discs requires paying a license fee to Sony for each format.

  • For major studio films (Monster Squad), obtaining licenses is difficult. Independent publishers must negotiate hard, including on the license duration (sometimes only 3 to 5 years, versus 7 years previously) or the number of copies they will release, to secure viable prices for the French market, which is not large in size.

• Editorial Content and Packaging:

  • Bonus features (commentaries, documentaries) often need to be repurchased or produced locally (creating new supplements), which requires translation and subtitling.

  • Packaging is crucial for the collector: limited editions, steelbooks, original artwork, and cardboard box sets transform the film into a quality object that justifies the purchase.

III. Audience Expectations and the Future of the Format

• A Healthier Market: Unlike the 2000s, which saw an inflation of superfluous reissues, today's publishers often wait for a new master or a significant time gap before reissuing a title (Monster Squad waited 18 years).

• Preservation: Physical media is an act of preservation. Unlike streaming (which can remove a title due to rights issues, like a video rental store), the purchased disc is permanent.

• Rarities and New Titles: The market is leaning towards releasing rarities and previously unreleased films on physical media, demonstrating a strong public curiosity for works that were previously unavailable.

• The Last Format? The question is raised as to whether UHD (Ultra HD) is the last physical format.

  • There are technological limits: the extreme resolution of UHD (and even Blu-ray) can reveal flaws inherent to the shooting of some older films (e.g., the silk stocking on the lens in Billy Wilder's Fedora), which were not visible before.

  • The general feeling is that UHD, particularly thanks to HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology, provides a genuine technical added value that could make it the ultimate physical format.