DVD Market Questions for you all.

N

Nyu

Pokémon Master
Right, working on a new article and i require some intelligent feedback from you motley bunch. I'll have this up for a week or so, so you have time to think about what you want to say.

No essays either please, just keep it short and sweet. Anyway, these are just a few questions that i'm putting forward to you lot. Any help is appreciated as always.

1) In your opinion as a fan, what do you think the biggest problem/delay/setback in getting a DVD from various markets to our shores?

2) Do you think the UK industry suffers as a whole because of this? Would you rather import a series from America if the wait was too long for the title to be released here (state examples if you wish)

3) Would you use a pay per episode download system, similar to say iTunes/Xbox Live etc. Or do you prefer paying that extra premium for the physical product.

4) If you had one thing to say to the UK Industry, what would it be?


Again short and sweet is the best, dont try and deviate too much from those questions as anything else isn't much help.

Thanks.
 
1) Only the extra few days to have to wait for it to arrive (big deal), and the worry that there could be a customs charge if it's a big order.

2) Yeah, if the series is taking ages for an R2 release or probably never will, I'll import. Pokemon DVDs NEVER come out here (except some movies), so I just import R1...same with DBZ stuff. I intend to import Funi One Piece too.

3) No. Xbox Live pay stuff is too unreliable...if the console dies, you're screwed with the DRM crap. My PC isn't great either, so I can't watch anything in particularly good quality.

4) If I've got £20, I'll spend it on nine hour wrestling boxset over four episodes of anime. Or maybe 12 episodes of imported anime. Your stuff is too expensive!
 
1. Most likely encoding it to our region or adding subs and dubs that make sense to the original release.

2. IO always import its cheaper, I have a multi region dvd player and it saves waiting for the UK releases

3. NO, I love to have the dvd's and especially any boxset extras or specials

4. Pull your act together and start realising that the reason you don't sell many releases is the over pricing £15-£20 for one dvd with maybe 3 episodes on it and it takes so long to release them that fans go to the US or other importers for our fix.

Sorry just my opinions above before anyone starts sending me death threats for my views
 
1) In your opinion as a fan, what do you think the biggest problem/delay/setback in getting a DVD from various markets to our shores?

The US market gets priority, of course. Licensing problems, market perhaps not large enough to warrant more expensive licenses.

2) Do you think the UK industry suffers as a whole because of this? Would you rather import a series from America if the wait was too long for the title to be released here (state examples if you wish)

Not particularly. There are many anime releases, anyway and anime is now available on TV on two devoted stations, so the wait for series doesn't damage the UK industry on any large scale. No, I don't import because of region coding restrictions.

3) Would you use a pay per episode download system, similar to say iTunes/Xbox Live etc. Or do you prefer paying that extra premium for the physical product.

I much prefer having the physical product. However, I think such an idea would be fantastic.

4) If you had one thing to say to the UK Industry, what would it be?

Release more boxsets, more gimmicks (stuff like the BECK starter set, Mushishi starter set, merchandise-laden Azumanga Daioh boxset) and, most importantly, get your products to high street retailers and ensure that they are priced reasonably!
 
1) Our range of choice available. Because we live so far away from Japan, we have to either pay large fees and waits for companies here to buy them, or we get it from the US, with a still hefty postage price etc.
With the costs and waiting in mind, not many companies would go out their ways to buy whole batches of different series to make a vast selection, compared to US or their natives, Japan.

2) Hmm, if I was die-hard about the series, I would import. But I don't do it often. I think it might be similar with others, so the UK market shouldn't suffer that much.

3) Probably the physical product. If we payed for the file download, and be able to keep on PC/burn to CD, then I may do it for the larger series. But I'd rather have the actual product.

4) Build awareness! Make people want to get more anime, so that they can get it. Try to get to understand these people and then pick series that are popular from them, i.e. visit forums. (Just dont post adverts in insane lots!)
 
1. As CitizenGeek said America gets priority, mainly because it's bigger and more culturally diverse. Europe is smaller and we're not as culturally flexible. The dubbing and subbing process seems to take a while in my opinion

2. A bit but not that much. I would probably wait until the series comes out here to help the UK Anime Industry though.

3. I would prefer to have the physical product. Don't really know why, it just makes me feel more of a fan of the series.

4. Most people don't know much about anime more than Pokemon and DBZ, I suggest more advertising and expanding your sales to more shops. HMV and Play have few anime which I think is a disappointment.

Hope this helps, good luck!
 
Just posting an idea here
but it would be conventional if Japan done subs (for the people who prefer subs) and had them shipped straight here since we share the same reagion coding. so the only delay would be the sub/shipping wouldn't you aggre?

but when it comes to bluray...well :roll:
 
SchoolRumble4Ever! said:
mainly because it's bigger and more culturally diverse. Europe is smaller and we're not as culturally flexible.
Click to expand...

ok...no.

Otaku-san said:
Just posting an idea here
but it would be conventional if Japan done subs (for the people who prefer subs) and had them shipped straight here since we share the same reagion coding. so the only delay would be the sub/shipping wouldn't you aggre?
Click to expand...

That wouldn't work. Extra cost for the Japanese industry which they do not need nor want. They would have to have in-house translators for every possible market. It's much, much easier for the translations to be done off site and post production.

Thank you for your replies and input so far guys and girls. Please keep them coming.
 
SchoolRumble4Ever! said:
America gets priority, mainly because it's bigger and more culturally diverse. Europe is smaller and we're not as culturally flexible. The dubbing and subbing process seems to take a while in my opinion
Click to expand...

America is not more culturally diverse than all of Europe. Definitely more diverse than the UK, but not all of Europe. Anime is very, very popular in France and when I was in Spain, I noticed that every book shop had a manga stall, every DVD store had anime and there was a 24-hour anime channel. The problem is with the UK, I think, not all of Europe.
 
CitizenGeek said:
America is not more culturally diverse than all of Europe. Definitely more diverse than the UK, but not all of Europe. Anime is very, very popular in France and when I was in Spain, I noticed that every book shop had a manga stall, every DVD store had anime and there was a 24-hour anime channel. The problem is with the UK, I think, not all of Europe.
Click to expand...

Okay, that's the last time I take advise from my brother. Now I understand, I have seen lots of Spanish subs around.
 
Nyu said:
SchoolRumble4Ever! said:
mainly because it's bigger and more culturally diverse. Europe is smaller and we're not as culturally flexible.
Click to expand...

ok...no.

Otaku-san said:
Just posting an idea here
but it would be conventional if Japan done subs (for the people who prefer subs) and had them shipped straight here since we share the same reagion coding. so the only delay would be the sub/shipping wouldn't you aggre?
Click to expand...

That wouldn't work. Extra cost for the Japanese industry which they do not need nor want. They would have to have in-house translators for every possible market. It's much, much easier for the translations to be done off site and post production.

Thank you for your replies and input so far guys and girls. Please keep them coming.
Click to expand...

well okay then how about having the subs being done in the UK?
 
1) The fact that the UK anime market isn't that big. If no-one much buys the stuff, we ain't gonna be gettin a lot of stuff.

2) Suffers? Well, I think it puts strict limits on expansion. I'm always very hesitant about importing though, I'm patient enough to wait if it looks like it might come out here eventually.

3) I might pay for downloads, it'd depend on quality and price.

4) To all but Manga Entertianment - keep up the good work.
 
1) Really, just how long it takes.

2) Do you think the UK industry suffers as a whole because of this? Would you rather import a series from America if the wait was too long for the title to be released here (state examples if you wish)Yes, i do think the UK market suffers. They're so slow that we import from America who are cheaper and quicker at getting releases. We're not gonna buy something twice when it - eventually - comes out in the UK.

3) No, i wouldn't. Personally i like having the pyshical product and it looks nice on my shelf. Also, if i buy something i don't wish to finish then i can sell it. You can't re-sell on itunes can you?

4) Prices need to be cheaper. I understand they can't be dirt cheap like i'd like them to be, but really, they don't have to be £15-£20 either. How much money do they think we have? I'd happly pay £10 for a 5 episode volume. I think that's fair.
 
1) In your opinion as a fan, what do you think the biggest problem/delay/setback in getting a DVD from various markets to our shores?

I believe it's the restrictions enforced by US licensing. The best example is Naruto on Jetix - which began as a one episode a day series, until it quickly ran into a wall and had to be shown only once a week (which is hardly engaging considering the length of the series - if it continued at this rate, it could be on UK TV for another ten years!). The DVDs are also lagging even further behind, coming out at an absurdly slow pace.

2) Do you think the UK industry suffers as a whole because of this? Would you rather import a series from America if the wait was too long for the title to be released here (state examples if you wish).

I think the industry is damaged immensely - with a lot of fans pursuing other avanues, from fansubs to foreign imports. The dignity of the industry is damaged as much as its economics, however, with American anime fans laughing at the UK industry. I only buy a series from America if the delay is unreasonable or if there is a boxset that's cheaper or offers more extras than the UK equivalent is likely to get anytime soon - if ever.

3) Would you use a pay per episode download system, similar to say iTunes/Xbox Live etc. Or do you prefer paying that extra premium for the physical product.

Not really, the premium is fine with me. I'm a big fan of having the boxes and disks - that way I can play it on any DVD player, I can take it to friends' houses and arrange it in my collection. I also love the art and extras. In a way, its the same problem you get with reading a book online - it just doesn't feel right.

4) If you had one thing to say to the UK Industry, what would it be?

If you can, find a way to get around the American licensing problems - negotiate with the American and Japanese industry if possible, and get them to agree on something more reasonable. If not, then more (boxsets), more (extras), more (anime).
 
1) I'd say the red tape surrounding the licences - it's a problem that won't go away I suppose but there's nothing more frustrating than seeing a popular or good quality DVD release getting caught up in the complicated mess of contracts at the hands of overseas companies when the demand over here would make it financially viable.

2) I don't think the UK suffers as much as we think. It's getting better if nothing else - I was genuinely surprised when Berserk began to become available. That said, there are some titles that I've imported or am considering importing out of necessity/impatience, that are crying out for a UK release. Most notably a number of Gainax classics: FLCL, Kare Kano, Gunbuster and Wings of Honneamise. While we're on the subject of classics, what about a R2 edition of the original Macross?

3) For series I have a moderate interest in (i.e. most of what I'm following on fansub) I wouldn't mind downloading like I do now and paying for them. If it's something of outstanding quality, I prefer a DVD edition every time - for me the picture/sound quality is the most important thing.

4) Don't give up on us! The industry's suffered all manner of setbacks over the years but it's getting better, slowly but surely.
 
1) Local distributors being local arms of Stateside / European companies with skeleton crews of PR people and little else. We always wait for what the rest of the world deems worthy of licensing and get hand-me-down cover-art, dvd masters and what have you as a result, so it hardly feels worth that wait. Whilst the comparative size of the UK market makes it hard to imagine any kind of different scenario, there could be a hell of a lot more to be done in terms of consolation. In fact, where other industries (say, Computer Games) give European users more extras to keep us happy, the Anime industry tends to give us less.

2) In all honesty, if a series is not available in the UK, but it is in America, I will probably download it. Due to the imposition of DVD Regions, and the adherence of anime distributors to those Regions, I fail to see the difference between me not giving anyone any money, and not giving you, the UK distributor any money. In fact, i'm sure that local distributors would prefer I download shows rather than buy alternative copies, because if that means I have no decent copy of the show, I still may just go and buy theirs (and that will likely be the case).

3) If I owned a home entertainment system capable of playing media with a similar or better result than simply buying the DVD, I would certainly consider downloadable media (I have downloaded games through Steam in the past). UK Anime DVD boxes tend not to be so very spectacular, and I'm running very low on space anyway. However, I DON'T own a decent enough system, so this currently has zero appeal.

4) Single DVD releases choke the market and ensure that you'll never sell too many copies. Start to be a little more ambitious with your episode count and the pricing, before the growth experienced in the last few years starts to nose dive in the face of consumers spending their hard-earned on cheaper pursuits. Like Fabergé Egg collecting. (edit: I would take Manga Ent as a trend-setter in this area, though their releases do sometimes lack in other areas...)
 
1) In your opinion as a fan, what do you think the biggest problem/delay/setback in getting a DVD from various markets to our shores?-
Don't have any real problem with the more recent series getting to our shores, as the lag time is a lot shorter than it used to be. At least they generally let you know if it is going to be released over here before it is over there. My main gripe is with the older series, eg Scrapped Princess, El Hazard or Mahoromatic season 2, good series but unlikely that we are going to get it over here.


2) Do you think the UK industry suffers as a whole because of this? Would you rather import a series from America if the wait was too long for the title to be released here (state examples if you wish)
Kinda, but this is more a turn off for the hardcore fan (i.e. all those who do fansubs), for the more regular (DVD/TV only) the gap between DVD's is more a turn off.

3) Would you use a pay per episode download system, similar to say iTunes/Xbox Live etc. Or do you prefer paying that extra premium for the physical product. Maybe... depends on price and quality. If they where noticeably cheaper and watchable yes. If they are like they are now... same price and I've seen better fansubs on youtube ... no

4) If you had one thing to say to the UK Industry, what would it be?
Quicken time between DVD's of the same series, more signs only subs, and look to Australia or directly to Japan for material. It'll be cool if we dubbed some stuff in the UK rather than relying on the Yanks.
 
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