el_filipo OP t1_j9y3xr9 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 12:11 PM

Reply to comment by KremlinHoosegaffer in Why are Succession's S2-S3 not on BluRay yet? It's one of HBO's most successful dramas. by el_filipo

As convenient as streaming is, the bitrate is nowhere near as good as BluRay.

Most streams have a bitrate of about 6-8MBps for 1080p or 10-12MBps for 4K. That's not sufficient for a good picture, it results in lots of color banding and artifacts. BluRays have 20-30MBps for 1080p and 50+MBps for 4K.

Not to mention the audio. The best you can get in streams is an AC3 640KBps, while BluRays have 3-4MBps of DTS-HD/TrueHD.

To put it plainly, a 1080p BluRay stretched on a 4K TV would look and sound better than a 4K stream on a 4K TV.

KremlinHoosegaffer t1_j9y462v wrote on February 25, 2023 at 12:14 PM

Oh yeah, absolutely. Quality is better. There's no question about that. There was a serious waste problem in the early 2000's with CDs, DVDs, PC gaming, etc. Now, in a world with recovering supply chains and an emphasis on using the least amount of materials, mass producing discs is a total hassle. They're being both cost and environmentally effective by limiting DVD releases. Does that mean we have the best quality shows? Nope. But, we also have far more access than ever before.

el_filipo OP t1_j9y52zw wrote on February 25, 2023 at 12:25 PM

Definitely makes sense about the e-waste. I didn't think of it as much, but with the current supply situation and the environmental damage, could be the case.

KremlinHoosegaffer t1_j9y59ji wrote on February 25, 2023 at 12:27 PM

I also believe this arrangement gives the Movie Theaters an enduring quality. Sure, they aren't something we all may visit even once a year -- but when we do, we're due for a truly unique experience. Whether that's a sporting event, a film, or the premiere of a show.