I think disc sales are in trouble. DVDs are still have the biggest share of the AV disc market at 60% with BD sales at only 35% and 4K HD disc sales only 5% of the market.
I think this is not helped by onerous DRM issues for 4K. The compatibility problems surfacing with HDCP 2.0 and 2.2 are a big issue. HDCP 2.3 is here now.
I understand licensing is now very expensive. With disc sales declining that makes it tough for manufacturers to be encouraged to bring players to market. I suspect that is why OPPO have made an exit. This seems to be the whole reason for the Samsung exit. Sony seem to have complaints about connectivity with their 4 K units.
It remains to be seen whether the Panasonic player will get traction.
I personally feel that going from 4 to 2K was not necessary and should not have been done. I think it will reap an grimmer and grimmer harvest.
Meanwhile CDs head towards niche status.
Agree. As much as we may go elsewhere for our music, Walmart's and other big box stores phasing out CDs was a big blow to the format.
Independent record stores are losing sales to streaming, so they lack the working capital to maintain and replenish standing stock. It's getting so bad that used CD stores in my area have better variety, which suggests that owners are dumping the format altogether (so I'm raiding that stock before anyone else does, the closest thing I will get to becoming a hoarder).
So while CDs still out sell vinyl by 10:1, they are heading to the same niche status. When that occurs, prices will rise or co tent will become NLA.
I find it a little troubling. Not because I like shiny discs. Not because the fidelity of the format is very good. It's because CDs may well be the last form of unfettered physical ownership of music -- one that lets a person enjoy their music without a broadband connection, tracking, or DRM to restrict how you may lawfully use it.
