OP-ED – DISNEY PIXAR FOX MARVEL LUCASFILM – STOP SELLING DVD and BLU-RAY in AUSTRALIA.
Disney+ VOD streaming Australia, for all Australian Consumers, deliberately un-invents DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY.
. . . MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES . . . Disney+ VOD Streaming is the cheapest way for Australians to watch DISNEY productions. Of course purchasing DVDs and BLU-RAY is much more expensive, than the cost of having a monthly internet Disney+ VOD Streaming account. 2008 until end 2019, worldwide DVD sales volumes have declined by 86% during those eleven years. From August 2023, Disney Australia DVD sales volumes immediately declined by one hundred percent, to a total sales volume of DISNEY DVDs of zero per annum. Many retail stores fill their shelves with DVDs and BLU-RAY, and during the 2022 year “Technicolor Home Entertainment Services” expected to provide as many as 750 million brand-new DVDs. Typically DVD watchers are predominantly aged 25 to 39 years, so you should fully expect that DISNEY DVDs and BLU-RAY will experience a massive resurgence in the used second-hand markets for DVDs and BLU-RAY.
So why would a huge multi-national company, un-invent DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY? YES it is all about the money, and the ever decreasing DVD annual sales volumes from Australian retail sales of DISNEY product. During 2023 producing JUST NOT enough money per annum, especially for a much-loved consumer product, that always sells itself with minimal advertising costs. No longer selling DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY, is all about moving all Australian consumers to be customers of Disney+ VOD Streaming.
The ultimate lack of permanence, from buying on-demand movie films for twenty-four hours PLUS buying digital copies of movie films OR included with the DVD purchase price, there was the one digital copy of the movie film, valid to watch for around twelve months from the date of DVD manufacture. Join all the existing streamers, who already know the time-wasting and mostly painful extra costs, when each of their favourite movies/shows have decided to leave to go to yet another different streaming service OR more often fully disappearing entirely. You can keep your physical DVD for as long as you like, with NO ongoing payments required. Having in your possession and immediately ready to watch, your own permanent DVD copy, is perhaps the most attractive reason to buy a physical movie.
* Every Australian should want to still be permitted to purchase Australian-issued DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY titles. We need to remember the good old days, the world where DISNEY is famously known for refusing to sell digital titles and DVD and BLU-RAY titles because they were “in the vault”.
* Disney+ VOD streaming Australia is immediate and easy, BUT has the usual lack of picture/sound quality when compared to physical media. There are advantages to owning DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY titles, particularly when it comes to availability quality, selection, convenience, and nostalgia.
* Remember the many extra features are DVD-only, including commentary tracks, deleted scenes, alternate takes, directors version, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and other interesting things that always failed to include all the EPK goodies. EPK is the Electronic Press Kit for each movie film, prepared for and then delivered only to journalists.
* YES you still have just a few weeks to remember the glory days, and fully unexpected experience that is of the death knell of the ubiquitous cultural force of owing your home entertainment with physical media, that is quickly being forgotten by Disney+ VOD streaming Australia.
OKAY full disclosure – so if you continue to fail to already own the uncensored DVD VERSION of your favourite DISNEY productions . . . then you might feel nostalgic BUT permanently regret throwing out your DISNEY DVDs.
ALTERNATELY some of your Disney DVDs could each be worth far more than a small fortune – some people are paying stupid prices at amazon.com AND at eBay.com for (i) the uncensored Disney DVD limited editions OR the uncensored out of print Disney DVDs (ii) PLUS because Disney+ VOD deliberately censors their product original content, for use on Disney+ VOD streaming, most DVD collectors do want to own, the uncensored DVD original full versions of Disney movies.
From August 2023, Australian fans and collectors of DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY are immediately required to make overseas purchases of each of the newest USA VERSION international movie film releases by using the internet, from the various United States retailers, each time Australians want to buy DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY. First go to ebay.com.au and with their free eBay delivery, purchase for AUD$39.00 (DVD RegionCode disabled) the “Laser DVD Player Multi-Region DVD-HD012”. Second you are now ready to purchase from both amazon.com AND ebay.com and titles are typically in-stock, ready to be immediately exported to Australia, there is an amazing selection of USA VERSION DVD Disney productions, fully available to purchase from both amazon.com AND ebay.com PLUS brand-new OR used second hand too.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Three” Highly Recommended soon to be available on Australian-issued DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY in very limited quantities, and is the last physical product release in Australia, and will fill up retailer shelves on 9th August 2023. Previously released Australian-issued DISNEY DVD and BLU-RAY will continue to be available BUT only while existing stocks last. Their anti-Australian crazy anti-business decision, affects the many many movie film studios owned by Disney, including Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, 20th Century Studios, etc. Of course, no more new SIMPSONS DVD BOX SETS annual releases, etc. Purchasing DVD Region One, instead of the Australian DVD Region Four.
*** A little bit of collecting history, from during the last one hundred years (quick version) ***
(a) People collected 78rpm records as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(b) People bought an AM RADIO as the cheapest way to listen to their preferred musicians, and people ,stopped collecting 78rpm records and of course disposed of their collection of 78rpm records.
(c) AM RADIO content changed to include massive radio advertising campaigns, so people again collected 78rpm records as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(d) Long playing 33.3rpm stereo records were invented, so people collected them, as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(d) Music cassettes were invented, so people collected them, as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(e) Music Compact Discs were invented, so people collected them, as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(f) Music DVD Audio Discs were invented, so people collected them, as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(g) Videotapes invented, so people collected them, as the only way watch to their preferred musicians.
(h) Laserdiscs invented, so people collected them, as the only way watch to their preferred musicians.
(i) DVD invented, so people collected them, as the only way to watch their preferred musicians.
(j) BLU-RAY invented, so people collected them, as the only way to watch their preferred musicians.
(k) APPLE MUSIC invented, so people signed up to monthly payments, as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians.
(l) AMAZON MUSIC and GOOGLE PLAY MUSIC and SPOTIFY invented, so people signed up to monthly payments, as the only way to listen to their preferred musicians, and people stopped collecting COMPACT DISCS and of course disposed of their collection of COMPACT DISCS.
(m) Disney VOD streaming Australia un-invents DVD and BLU-RAY DISNEY titles, so people signed up to monthly payments, and people were immediately forced by DISNEY VOD streaming to stop collecting DVD and BLU-RAY DISNEY titles and then disposed of their collection of DVD and BLU-RAY DISNEY titles.
All of your Disney streaming future, will be full of disappointments – – – ONE TWO THREE – – –
(1) DISNEY streaming, randomly will suddenly remove your favourite movies and television shows, titles only available on their streaming collection, so that you need to own the DVD VERSION to continue to watch your favourite movies and television shows.
(2) DISNEY streaming censorship of your favourite movies and television shows, titles only available on their streaming collection so that you need to own the DVD VERSION to continue to watch your favourite movies and television shows.
(3) DISNEY streaming is constantly vanishing, cancelling, disappearing shows with no mercy – huge numbers of DISNEY titles from its library. of your favourite movies and television shows, with such titles only available on their streaming collection, so that you need to own the DVD VERSION to continue to watch your favourite movies and television shows.
Perhaps the newest executives at DISNEY have already forgotten exactly how many DVDs they have sold so far as at July 2023, you can see exactly how DISNEY sales volumes compare with the other Hollywood studios, and listed below are the TOP10 DVD sales so far.
10
The Incredibles (2004) – DISNEY sold 15,600,000 DVDs
09
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) – DISNEY sold 16,500,000 DVDs
08
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – DISNEY sold 16,600,000 DVDs
07
Transformers (2007) – PARAMOUNT sold 17,000,000 DVDs
06
Shrek 2 (2004) – PARAMOUNT sold 18,200,000 DVDs
05
Avatar (2009) – DISNEY sold 19,000,000 DVDs
04
The Dark Knight (2008) – WARNER sold 19,200,000 DVDs
03
Spider-Man (2002) – SONY sold 19,500,000 DVDs
02
Cars (2006) – DISNEY sold 23,100,000 DVDs
01
Finding Nemo (2003) – DISNEY sold 38,800,000 DVDs
Disney+ Censorship = The following is a non-exhaustive list of content censored on Disney+ in the United States of America.
A Goofy Movie (1995) = Between Max and Roxanne, the sexuality was toned down.
All Hail the King = A racial slur was removed.
Adventures in Babysitting (1987) = The film’s TV edit is used instead, complete with toned-down profanity.
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin = All racial slurs were muted.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. = Violence was toned down.
Aladdin (1992) = Three lines were censored in the movie, two of the edits already existed on the DVDs. Those two edits were made due to people complaining about sexism and racism. The Disney+ version has additional censorship.
Andi Mack = Scenes involving Cyrus’ homosexuality were toned down. All episodes with Henry “Ham” Mack were banned due to his actor, Stoney Westmoreland being convicted for sexual offences and fired from Disney.
Bluey (2018- ) = The visual content, of this Australian family show was made more family friendly. 1st season episode “Markets” modified the Unicorn. The episodes “Teasing” and “Flatpack” both not available on Disney+
Bizaardvark = Scenes involving Dirk Mann were toned down due to his actor, Jake Paul being fired from Disney due to his controversial and reckless behaviour.
Clock Cleaners (1937) = Donald Duck is actually saying “DUCK YOU”.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People = There are actually two versions of the film’s soundtrack. Several of the original Irish actors’ accents (notably Darby, Widow Sheelah Sugrue, King Brian, and the Leprechauns) were deemed too difficult for American audiences to understand and were consequently overdubbed with easier-to-understand voices, possibly from different voice actors. The original soundtrack also contains some dialogue in Irish, especially from King Brian and his leprechaun subjects, which was subsequently changed in the overdubbed version to English alternatives.
Darkwing Duck (1991-1992) = episode “Too Dark Even For Darkwing”. One of the episodes are banned due to some controversial material. Scenes that have either flashing lights or fast-moving backgrounds, have been slowed downed or darkened.
Deadpool = During the scene in which Deadpool and Weasel enter the strip club to find Vanesse, two of the strippers within the club have their lower privates blurred out. (Note: Deadpool is only shown outside USA on the international versions of Disney+)
Disney theatrical shorts = Several shorts were censored due to those shorts causing just one parent, to complain about characters swearing (they do not swear, but it sounds like that due to Donald’s heavy accent), along with violence, suicide, alcohol, racism, and cannibalism.
DuckTales = Two episodes were banned for racism. The episodes are “Sphinx for the Memories” and Launchpad’s Civil War”.
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) = Violence was toned down.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier = On March 29, 2022 (about one year after the initial release), violence was toned down in one episode. However, the uncensored version was quickly restored after a day or two.
Fantasia = A warning plays before the movie starts. The movie uses the DVD edits, meaning “racist scenes” were altered or removed, and Deems Taylor’s voice is still overdubbed by Corey Burton.
Free Solo (2018) = Profanity was removed. The F-word was substituted. A use of the word “goddamn” was edited out.
Gargoyles = Violence was toned down.
Goof Troop = An episode was banned on Disney+.
Hamilton (2020) = Muted F words in the songs “The World Turned Upside Down” and “Washington on Oour Side”.
Hannah Montana (2006-2011 = 2nd Season episode “Yet Another Side Of Me” = ISIS was renamed ICE due to the association of the acronym “ISIS” with the Islamic State, though a similar Isis reference in Even Stevens is not censored.
Knick Knack (1989) = Bust reduction for an inanimate object, a female doll wearing a blue bikini.
The Little Mermaid = The scene where Eric is about to marry Ursula is still censored to remove the minister’s knee (which some viewers thought looked like an erection).
Lilo & Stitch (2002) = Lilo hiding in a clothes drier, now Lilo is hiding in a cupboard with a pizza box door.
Marvel’s Inhumans = Violence was toned down.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) = Bobby Benson’s cigarette is removed, and all of the puppets’ arm rods have been removed.
No Smoking ((1951) = Goofy Cartoon is not available on Disney+
Obi-Wan Kenobi = This series premiered just three days after the worst school shooting in the United States in a decade, where a gunman killed 19 fourth graders and a teacher in Uvalde, TX and coincidentally, the opening scene of Obi-Wan Kenobi was part of the Order 66 sequence scene in Revenge of the Sith, which showed a class of Jedi Younglings going through meditations moves with their teacher, only for the Clone Troopers barging in and start shooting at them (no Youngling died on screen, but their teacher did after a protracted fight). Disney+ quickly put a disclaimer warning about it: pointing out that this was a continuation of the Order 66 scene in Episode III, which was made in 2005, which showed Younglings in the Jedi Temple as it came under attack – but warning that in light of recent tragic events it may be upsetting to some viewers.
The Rescuers = The naked woman seen briefly in the background is still censored.
The Santa Clause (1994) = Muted the spoken “Spank Me” adult hotline telephone number.
Saludos Amigos (1942) = editing out the tobacco cigarettes.
Santa’s Workshop = A warning now plays over the film and a number of “racist” scenes were removed.
Schoolhouse Rock = The episode “Introduction” is missing due to the original master being lost.
Schoolhouse Rock = The episode “Presidential Minute/The Campaign Trail” was banned for political reasons.
Schoolhouse Rock = The episode “The Greatest Show on Earth/The Weather Show” is missing due to legal issues with Barnum & Bailey.
Schoolhouse Rock = Season 7 (Earth Rock) episode is missing from Disney+
The Simpsons (1989- ) = 3rd Season episode “Stark Raving Dad” is not available on Disney+ due to child sexual abuse accusations towards Michael Jackson, as made during “Leaving Neverland.”
The Simpsons = In the episode “Sunday, Cruddy Sunday”, the scene where the Super Bowl commercial narrator says “The Catholic Church . . .” was changed to “The church . . .”
The Simpsons = In the episode “Gorgeous Grampa”, during the opening couch gag, Disney+ removed the “Homer Shake” parody couch gag, along with the whole opening theme song, except for the cloud at the start.
The Simpsons = The episode “Goo Goo Gai Pan” is not available to users in Hong Kong upon the launch of Disney+ in the region.
Song Of The South (1946) = movie is missing from Disney+
Splash (1984) = Censored Female Nudity by Daryl Hannah by adding a thick and much longer/wider mane of blonde hair, AND scenes zoomed in, to prevent her naked bottom from being visible.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope = All edits shown on the Special Edition were used. The scene where Han shoots Greedo was modified for the Disney+ release. In the Disney+ version, Greedo says “Maclunkey”.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back = All edits shown on the 70mm version were used.
The Sweatbox (2002) = documentary is not available on Disney+
The Sword in the Stone = One of the lines in the movie was altered.
The Three Little Pigs = Jewish stereotypes were removed and a content warning plays before the movie starts.
Toy Story Two (1999) = removing the words of the Stinky Pete “casting couch” joke with the twin Barbie Dolls, during the End Credits sequence.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) = Risqué scenes removed from the film, along with a line that contained a word mistaken for a racist slur. The scenes were present on early VHS home videos, but some details did not become visibly noticeable until the LaserDisc release. The latter is a line during the “piano bar battle” scene in which Donald says “Doggone stubborn little—!” to Daffy. Due to Donald’s heavy accent, some mistook the word “little” for a racial slur.
Wizards of Waverly Place = Nudity was censored from this series as well, but it is mostly minor blurring like small exposure to breasts (cleavage).