The Costco Connection - December 2015

By Erik J. Martin

THESE DAYS, THERE’S a way to collect and watch your favorite films and TV episodes, one that allows you to grow your library of entertainment and enjoy it wherever you go: digital copies. Digital copies are stored as streaming video files that can be instantly accessed on smartphones, tablets, computers, streaming players and smart TVs.

From physical to digital

Atlanta-based technology industry analyst and Costco member Jeff Kagan says digital copies are set to dominate.

“Everything is moving to digital files.
[This] change is transforming the movie and
television industry.”
Digital copies are available from major
studios such as Disney, Universal, Sony Pic-
tures, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox and
Paramount, and are accessible through a vari-
ety of services (see sidebar). They can be
owned or rented. And they can be either
downloaded directly to the device you want to
watch it on or stored securely in the cloud in
a digital “locker,” such as UltraViolet, that
requires a password-protected account and an
Internet connection to retrieve.

An online library

Consider the perks. Streamable digital
copies are guaranteed to be compatible with
any future device you watch them on. Digital
lockers offer unlimited online space to store
your titles. And many of these services allow
you to share your library with friends and
stream simultaneously to multiple devices.

“Consumers have different consumption habits. Having a digital copy of [your] movie allows flexibility and portability across multiple devices,” says Costco member Dan Rayburn, streaming expert/analyst with Frost & Sullivan in New York City.

Jon Hernandez of Long Beach, California, has amassed an UltraViolet library of approximately 1,250 films.

“I enjoy having my collection at my fingertips and being able to view any of my films using a cellphone, iPad or Chromecast [a thumb-size media streaming device that plugs into a computer or Smart TV],” says Hernandez. “If I want to travel, I can stream my collection to my phone or Chromecast or fill my phone’s memory card with a bunch of movie files.”

Intangible media, imperfect solutions

Digital copies do come with caveats. They can be more expensive to purchase than physical media. Not all movies and TV series are available digitally. You need Internet access to tap into your online library. Plus, there’s no guarantee that the service you access them from will remain in business.

“Most of this media is locked using digital
rights management, which means you can
only enjoy it on specific devices, like your
phone or tablet, using specific apps,” says Dan
Tynan, San Francisco–based editor in chief of
Yahoo Tech and a Costco member. “Also, you
have to remember where your digital copy is
stored and keep your digital locker account
active so you can still access the content you
have there.”
Despite these limitations, experts and
consumers alike agree that digital copies
provide an opportune complement to discs
that allows you to easily tap into a cyber
vault of TV episodes and films worth col-
lecting. C

Erik J. Martin is a Chicagoland-based freelance writer.

Building on your DVD entertainment
library with digital copies

Disc

revolution

CONSUMERS CAN currently access digital copies, in either standard or high definition, in four ways.

• Redeem a free downloadable or streamable copy, bundled with many new Blu-ray or DVD discs, that you own forever. The file can be (a) a Digital Copy, compatible with iTunes and Windows Media and devices that use them; or (b) an UltraViolet copy, compatible with third-party apps like Flixster, Vudu and M-Go and supporting devices. Redeem by inserting a prepackaged Digital Copy disc into your computer or by entering online a code found on a paper insert inside the disc case.

• Convert a title you own into a streamable copy, which you own forever, via a disc-to-digital service like Vudu, Flixster or CinemaNow, which scans your disc using your computer or one at a participating store and allows for upgrading from standard to high definition.