Summary

Disney has made the decision to stop releasing DVDs and Blu-rays in Australia, marking a significant shift away from physical media. This move comes as Disney focuses on streaming services like Disney+, making their theatrical content available for online viewing. Australian fans of Disney will need to turn to international retailers to continue collecting physical copies of Disney films, as local supplies will not be replenished.

Disney will no longer be releasing DVDs or Blu-ray in Australia, striking a major blow against physical media. Despite putting their theatrical content on their streaming service Disney+ after running in cinemas, Disney has continued to release physical media for all their films. This has allowed fans of Disney to keep physical collections of their favorite films without having to rely on streaming services.

Now, The Digital Bits reports that Disney won’t be selling DVDs or Blu-ray in Australia following the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in August. This story was corroborated by 7NEWS, which says that once existing DVDs and Blu-rays are sold out in Australia, they won’t be replenished by Disney any longer. Disney DVD and Blu-ray collectors will have to instead rely on overseas retailers to keep getting physical copies of Disney’s later releases.

Why Disney Is Shelving Physical Releases In Australia

According to The Digital Bits, Disney deciding to pull physical releases from a country or region has happened in the past. Due to underwhelming sales of DVDs and Blu-rays in parts of Asia and Latin America, Disney has pulled physical releases from some countries in those regions as well. It’s likely sales for physical releases in Australia simply weren’t selling well enough for Disney to justify continuing to release them.

The discontinuation of Disney’s physical media in Australia also reflects how viewers rely on Disney+ for new releases, with Disney compiling new shows and movies onto streaming. Because Disney+ makes films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 accessible without additional purchases, it’s no surprise more people would likely use streaming instead of buying DVDs and Blu-rays. While it may disappoint those who enjoy collecting their media, the ease of accessibility has made digital and streaming more viable. Although there is a fear among viewers that streamers will continue to remove content, making shows and movies completely inaccessible without physical media.

However, given underperforming films like Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in recent months, Disney may need physical media sales to balance out box office failures. While Disney is removing their physical media from Australia, they’re unlikely to do so for the entire world. Even so, Disney’s decision is a massive blow to physical media in Australia, and could be a sign to come as streaming becomes more relied on for new releases.

Source: The Digital Bits, 7NEWS