Joe Oliveto has over a decade of experience covering tech, physical media, and entertainment. His work has appeared in such digital publications as HuffPost, Thrillist, Yahoo!, Time, Elite Daily, Cracked, and numerous others. Along with collecting physical media, his hobbies include hiking, reading, going to concerts, and attending repertory film screenings throughout NYC.
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To me, the benefits of physical media aren't vague or subtle. I've written about this topic with an emphasis on research. There are genuine scientific reasons why someone might prefer watching movies on Blu-ray, discs, 4K discs, and DVDs. In addition, embracing physical media gives a consumer the opportunity to support small businesses in ways that are virtually impossible when watching content via streaming services or digital downloads.
I'm passionate about this topic. Despite this, I find I tend to stick with streaming platforms when watching TV shows. Even though I'm proud of my physical media collection, I opt to stream series far, far more often than buying seasons on physical formats.
For many viewers, streaming makes more sense when watching a TV series. Consider the following reasons why:
DVD and Blu-ray sets of TV shows take up excessive space
Watching a show on streaming is more convenient because no discs are involved
There are some realities of the physical media experience you have to accept if you're committed to growing a library of discs (and even VHS tapes). For example, streaming versions and digital downloads of content don't take up actual space in your home. A physical copy of the same content does.
This isn't necessarily a drawback all the time. In some cases, Blu-rays and other such discs come in packaging that can essentially double as decoration in your home.
That said, I do find it's necessary to account for certain practical realities when deciding whether to invest in a boxed set of a TV series I want to watch. These sets can be bulky, taking up a lot of valuable storage space. This is an instance in which one of the perks of streaming may win out over physical media.
A TV series isn't the best content to demonstrate what makes physical media impressive
There are many reasons to invest in discs of your favorite movies instead of watching them on Netflix or downloading them from a similar platform. One of the top benefits physical media offers is superior picture and audio quality.
However, you might already understand that not every piece of content is equally impressive in this arena. This might be something you consider when deciding whether to see a movie in the theater or not. If a movie is a visual masterwork that embodies the meaning of the word cinema, it might be worth spending money to experience it in the appropriate setting. If it's a more visually subdued film, you may decide the financially sound decision is to wait for it to be released on home video formats.
I apply a similar math when deciding whether to buy a DVD or Blu-ray set of a show that I could easily watch on a streaming platform. Although there are certainly exceptions, most TV series aren't as cinematic as most movies. As such, watching a series on physical media doesn't offer the same thrill as watching a movie in these formats. I can watch the show on a streamer and enjoy it just as much as I would when watching it on a disc.
Watching shows on streaming services saves me a lot of money
It would be cost-prohibitive to watch TV series on physical formats
We're living in a golden age of televised (streamed?) content. That's a bit of a double-edged sword. While I would never complain about having too many good shows to watch, I also receive no shortage of recommendations from friends and family insisting I need to dive into the latest series they think I'll love.
You can probably relate. Naturally, I can't justify going out and buying a season every time someone tells me I need to watch a particular show. I also don't have to. Often, these shows are on streaming platforms to which I already subscribe. Even if they're not, temporarily subscribing so I can binge the show will usually cost me significantly less than I would spend if I were to buy the show in a physical format. This is all to say that streaming a TV show is often the far more sensible option from a financial perspective.
There are reasons to buy DVDs and Blu-rays of TV shows
Streaming isn't the only way to watch a series
Don't get me wrong: There are some TV series I own physical copies of. Sometimes, a show is cinematic enough to justify owning it on DVD or Blu-ray. Sometimes, a show isn't available on streaming, or you want a physical copy you know can't be deleted from a platform. Maybe you're just a really big fan of a series and wish to own a physical copy of the show accordingly.
Trust me, I thoroughly understand. There are definitely reasons to own physical sets of some of your favorite series. That being said, we shouldn't discount the convenience streaming offers. In various circumstances, such as when you're checking out a show a friend recommended, streaming is still a worthwhile option.