In September of last year, Netflix posted their final DVDs to customers as their mail-based service came to an end. With just under one million people estimated to still be subscribed to the DVD mail service, it wasn't losing money as much as it simply was not making enough. Marc Randolph, Netflix’s co-founder and former CEO, commented that they “knew DVDs would go away” and the move was a “transitory step” for the company.

Netflix’s DVD service offered films that are either very hard to find physical copies of or are completely unavailable via streaming, and a lot of people were left disappointed. This service was never available in the UK, but our most closely related version of the service, Lovefilm, was discontinued far earlier in 2017 after Amazon announced a decreased demand for discs as many customers turned to streaming services. Its closure also left many users disgruntled.

Whilst I rarely watch films that are only accessible on DVD, I’ve noticed some surprising films are unavailable for me to stream in the UK, such as Eraserhead (1977) and Near Dark (1987). What’s more, I learned recently that 28 Days Later (2002) is, for the time being, unavailable to watch on any streaming platforms after the ownership rights for the independently financed film were passed from Disney to Sony. After an intense bidding war, Sony won the rights to a two-part sequel of the original film, and it disappeared from streaming services for legal reasons.

Although Sony likely will re-issue a digital copy of the film at some point, the whole scenario got me thinking about how difficult it is becoming to easily access physical copies of certain films, particularly classic or older films. I find it disconcerting that, as it becomes harder to find affordable DVDs, access to films is increasingly dependent on companies who care more about profits and bonuses.

Whilst I see the value in streaming services and digital content - it is convenient, easy, and offers nothing if not choice - I do not believe it should restrict access to or replace physical media. Although Blu-ray and DVD sales have decreased, it doesn’t mean millions of people aren't still buying physical media. If anything, I am anticipating a resurgence in the popularity and appreciation of physical media, as people come to understand the issues associated with relying on streaming services.

Cards on the table, I love physical media, so this may not be the most balanced account. I don’t own hundreds of DVDs or anything, but I do invest now and again in a Blu-ray or an extended edition of a film I love, or hint, quite unsubtly, that they would make great gifts on birthdays or Christmas. I enjoy having access to my favourite films without googling where to find them or worrying about quality that's dependent on my Wi-Fi, not to mention the artistic value of additional content and bonus features. I also like the idea of my money benefiting the filmmakers in a fairer, more effective way than streaming allows for.

As such, I would like to advocate for the many positive aspects of buying, renting, and generally ensuring wide access to physical media, especially in comparison to a future dominated by streaming services, and highlight the reasons why it is important to preserve.

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