Summary
Apple TV+ is making some of the best television in the history of the medium, but rarely if ever releases any of its movies or shows on Blu-ray or DVD.
The shows thatdomake it to physical media usually get there by way of a third-party that has an interest in the show or film, but it seems that if it’s a pure Apple production, then it remains locked to the streaming service itself.
Severance Got the Physical Release It Deserves
I have no complaints about the quality of content on Apple TV+. There’s both more of it than you might think, and it tends to be at the upper end of prestige television too.
Which means that I would really like to collect some of these TV series and films, but it’s just not possible. One exception isSeverance, which did get a season 1 release on Blu-ray.
Severance
That being said, I prefer buying TV series box sets when the show is complete, and at this point I don’t know how many of the seasons will get a physical release.
Apple’s Shows Are Worth Owning and Collecting
If Severance gets a complete release on Blu-ray eventually, I’ll almost certainly snap it up, but what about all the other great shows?
What about the sci-fi epicFoundation?I can buy ahardcover production art bookof the show no problem, but there’s no way to own the actual show itself. That’s right, there’s no way to own the show, not as a disc or as a digital download.
Of course, and somewhat ironically, Apple’s shows are not immune to piracy and those willing to sail the seven seas of the internet have access to offline copies of these movies and episodes, even though Apple won’t give its legitimate customers the option to do the same.
Apple Is Losing Money on Its Streaming Shows
While there is no official confirmation of this, I think at least part of the reason Apple doesn’t do physical releases might be that Apple is losing a billion dollars annually on its streaming service, as reported byVariety.
There’s No Downside to Releasing Physical Shows
I can’t prove it, but I think part of the reason Apple is shying away from physical releases of its media comes down to concerns that those move sales will cannibalize Apple TV+ subscriptions. If that is the case, I have to disagree for a few reasons.
Second, the Blu-ray version would be a distinct product with its own value proposition. Blu-ray discs offer significantly better image and audio quality than even the best streaming quality Apple offers. Which means there is an additional audience for it.
I also don’t see how this will hurt the streaming service financially. In fact, as far as I can see, it will only help. There’s profit in Blu-ray, and even more scope for premium collector’s editions that promise fat margins to a boutique collector market.
That’s without taking into consideration that the Blu-rays themselves are a way to funnel people back to the streaming service that birthed them. The same way Apple is happy to plug their service on the books some of their shows are based on.
So Apple, if you want to consider shrinking those losses just a little bit, why not give us more options to give you money? I know you like that.
