Target has responded to a rumor from last week claiming that the retailer will stop selling physical media, including DVDs, in-store and online by 2025, clarifying that the reports are false and that it will continue to offer titles in store. A spokesperson has admitted that Target will be “transitioning the limited assortment of DVDs” they carry in stores, however, with “thousands of titles” reserved for purchase through its official website.
Target explained:
- “Based on our guests’ shopping patterns and broader industry trends, we’re transitioning the limited assortment of DVDs we carry in our stores to Target.com, where guests will continue to find thousands of titles.”
- “Moving forward, we’ll offer select DVDs in stores when they are newly released or during key times throughout the year when they are more popular, like for gift giving during the holidays.”
The original rumor:
Exclusive:
— President Of Physical Media (@PhysicalMedia_) April 17, 2024
Target Sources are telling me they reportedly will stop selling physical media in-store and online by 2025 pic.twitter.com/uTT971d1B9
IGN noted in its coverage:
The spokesperson also confirmed that its new policy will not impact physical games sold in its retail stores. This will only impact the physical copies of movies and TV Shows.
Discussion (11 replies)
Join Discussion →The handful of people buying physical media are going to bitch and complain but the fact is that as a business, Target would only get rid of physical media if carrying it isn't profitable. It's as simple as that. While I am glad you can still buy physical media, I can't recall the last time I actually did it.
CD's may have stagnated but vinyl is on a nice revival
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.billboard.com/pro/vinyl-album-sales-rise-growth-slowing/[/URL]
I don't necessarily mind the death of physical media but I completely object to losing the choice for access to the higher quality formats. Streaming has improved but still doesn't compare and if they're going to abandon discs then digital codes ought to give you access to the disc file versions instead of further compressed streaming ones. Even in my old age with decreased vision/hearing I can still see and hear the differences between them. Either way, though I know that's not going to happen.
The writing has been on the wall for a long time with this stuff and this is just another nail in the coffin for physical media. Prices have already been going back up for 4K discs over the last 24+ months and it will reach a breaking point when even those who want it bow out.
Yeah, I wouldn't care so much if video matched the quality of blu-ray, or if music had FLAC-level quality. But they usually don't. I don't buy blu-rays but I still get blu-ray media, because I grab BD rips. Also buying BDs is mostly a cost problem, because I don't have issues buying $5 BDs. But when they wanna charge like 30 bucks, they can get the f*ck outta here wif dat sh1t.
Also I don't use media that depends on Internet access while I am using it. I run videos and music from local storage.
Same, and that also goes for most people I know, all the way to people in their 80s.
Uugghh.
I usually buy when a local shop sels them for 3 for 25€ orso.
This is accurate, for reasons I cannot understand.
Guess Target wont be selling any new CD changers coming to market anytime soon.
Yep, you'll have to find a bigger bang for your buck elsewhere.
Well, article mentions a survey in which only 50% of vinyl buyers have a vinyl record player; which if accurate might suggest a collectible market baked in those numbers.
Vinyls had that halo effect of audiophiles and such I guess.
Not just them but a whole generation of retro fanatics. It got so bad that audio cassettes even had a resurgence.
Same here.