DVD Today & Tomorrow: A Prognosis
By Peter M. Bracke
A Format On The Brink
By all accounts, things have never looked better for DVD. So many of the stumbling blocks that had peppered the path of success for the format (and were so kindly ampllified by a largely negative press) have been overcome. All the major studio holdouts have joined the format, with the exception of DreamWorks (although they are expected to join soon). Steven Spielberg , who previously had been holding his titles off of the format, has given DVD a strong jolt recently by allowing his first titles to be released. Consumer reaction has been very encouraging, with hardware and software sales setting records for a new format. And DIVX, who only a year ago were crowing that they would usher in a whole new paradigm for home video, are finding that accomplishment far, far more difficult than even they may have anticipated. To top it off, the mainstream press has made a bit of a turnaround in recent weeks, with glowing reviews and recommendations flowing forth from major publications such as Billboard, Entertainment Weekly and many other major news outlets.
So although there are still bumps in the road, namely the Recordable DVD format mess, the major bugs and snafus in the nascent DVD-ROM format, and the unknown factor of DVD-Audio, DVD still looks like it is on the road to major success. After deciding to prepare an article on the state of DVD as it enters what is largely considered to be "Phase II" of its introduction (i.e., the point when a format moves beyond the early-adopter phase) The DVD File had the opportunity to conduct a few informal and revealing discussion with many of the major players of DVD. Although the present and future certainly look bright for DVD, it is important to note that DVD is now poised to move into a new area never before explored by any video formats past or present. With this exploration will come changes, but not all the changes that result from a newfound mainstream success are necessarily going to be positive or welcomed, especially by the current consumer segment that has already embraced DVD. Some thoughts on the place DVD holds today, and where it might go tomorrow, are the focus of this article.
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