"Old School" Videophilia Takes Another Hit: Samsung Exits 4K Player Market

"Old School" Videophilia Takes Another Hit: Samsung Exits 4K Player Market​

(February 19, 2019) With hardcore videophiles and disc collectors still mourning the loss of OPPO’s 4K presence, Samsung has decided to pour a little salt in the wound. As recently reported by Forbes’ John Archer, the company has decided not to make any new 4K Blu-ray player models. That means Samsung’s UBD-M9500 – first released in 2017 – will likely be the last 4K BD player the company ever releases.

*Sigh*

While it’s true that Samsung didn’t arrive at CES 2019 with 4K Blu-ray players in tow, Archer says his Samsung contacts had privately relayed plans for a 2019 release of a high-end disc machine. Information, he claims, that didn’t jibe with dealer rumors being spread late last year.

So, what does this mean?

First off, it’s rather obvious that the 4K Blu-ray market isn’t healthy. In fact, it’s in a total disease-infested distressed state. According to Nielsen’s Q2 2018 “Total Audience Report,” the average US adult spends roughly 10 hours and 24 minutes per day interacting with audio and visual media (including gaming consoles, radio, live TV, etc.). Of that time, the average adult sources content from a DVD or Blu-ray device for a mere five minutes. Let’s repeat that: the average adult sources content from a DVD or Blu-ray device for an average of five minutes per day. That’s an insanely small sliver of time and it pales in comparison to averaged daily stats for media consumption from live TV (3 hr 49 min) and app/web based content on a smartphone (2 hr 19 min).

As grimly stated by Nielsen: “Some devices, such as DVD/Blu-ray players, are in the declining phase of their product life cycle as streaming devices gain prominence. As a result, DVD/Blu-ray player penetration dropped to 66% in June 2018 from 72% one year prior, while internet connected devices increased from 34% to 38% and enabled smart TV penetration grew from 31% to 40%.”

Secondarily, consider the fact that Samsung has been a major backer of the 4K Blu-ray market. After all, it was the first company to officially release a 4K capable Blu-ray player. And while it’s recent decision to distance itself from the format could be a sign that consumers simply favored gear from other brands, it’s hard not to take note of its abrupt shift in product strategy.

Of course, all is not lost. Both Sony and Panasonic are still active in an exceedingly niche 4K Blu-ray player market. But for how much longer? The numbers… the figures… the expert analyses… all point in the wrong direction for fans of the silver disc. As an enthusiast that desperately wants discs to survive (let’s be honest: they remain the only affordable option for access to the best quality movie experience), Samsung’s decision is a total gut punch. A real tough one to take.

 

[tripplej]

Check this out.. disc sales from mediaplaynews.

DVD's are not going to exit anytime soon.

Blu ray is not even half yet.

UHD, not even 10%

 

[Todd Anderson]

Thanks for posting that graphic TripleJ... I’ve seen a similar statistic before. Pretty amazing to consider that DVDs still makeup the majority of disc sales. The mere fact that manufacturers include a Blu-ray Disc in a 4K package speaks volumes about their confidence of selling a 4K disc on its own!

This folds back into my feelings about the building wave of 8k TVs.

 

[phillihp23]

All I know is that it is great when I find 4K discs in the Redbox. Here is another comparison on the three: rentals DVD $1.75 Blu $2.00 4K $2.50

 

[Todd Anderson]

I don't think we have 4K options in Red Box locally.

I am curious: does Red Box throttle the audio encode on 4K releases? It's been known to have Blu-ray releases with lesser-than audio presentations.

 

[phillihp23]

I don't think we have 4K options in Red Box locally.

I am curious: does Red Box throttle the audio encode on 4K releases? It's been known to have Blu-ray releases with lesser-than audio presentations.

I just watched Overlord in 4K from redbox and it says atmos right on the disc.