Trying to Better Understand HDX versus UHD

[mike1sc]

Just trying to get a better idea how Vudu decides when to issue a title in UHD versus HDX. Using the movie Looper as an example, I see Movies Anywhere, FandangoNow, I Tunes, and even Amazon ports this movie as UHD 4K, but Vudu is the only one of the 5 that ports it HDX. Is there something I can use as a guide that will help me better manage my library and/or answer questions like this? Thanks in advance.

[lujan]

Just trying to get a better idea how Vudu decides when to issue a title in UHD versus HDX. Using the movie Looper as an example, I see Movies Anywhere, FandangoNow, I Tunes, and even Amazon ports this movie as UHD 4K, but Vudu is the only one of the 5 that ports it HDX. Is there something I can use as a guide that will help me better manage my library and/or answer questions like this? Thanks in advance.

That's because Vudu doesn't have the 4k version of Looper available. If you redeem a movie that is 4k, you have to make sure that you redeem it at a retailer that has the 4k version available in their library, otherwise it might port out in the highest resolution available (in this case HDX).

218 UHD
827 HDX
3 SD

[mike1sc]

That's because Vudu doesn't have the 4k version of Looper available. If you redeem a movie that is 4k, you have to make sure that you redeem it at a retailer that has the 4k version available in their library, otherwise it might port out in the highest resolution available (in this case HDX).

218 UHD
827 HDX
3 SD

I understand that part of it. What I don't understand is the process. Let's take Looper as an example. Now personally, I probably like Vudu out of all the retailers (except lately I Tunes is getting a lot of my use since the arrival of the latest Apple TV 4K box). But, Vudu is still my favorite retailer. And what you stated is exactly what I do when purchasing a movie, and I long ago have shelved the idea of having one or two retailers with all the inconsistencies that exist within all the retailers. Everyone likes to use the general term like you did that "Vudu doesn't have the 4k version of Looper available". What does that mean? With MA, FN, Apple, and Amazon all providing this movie in 4K, and Vudu does not, does that mean that the other 4 retailers paid for the 4K version and Vudu didn't? I only ask this as an education process as I continue to manage my 4K libraries across a number of retailers.

[quackman]

Very good questions. I would like to know as well. I hope someone that knows will chime in.

[mike1sc]

Must be a brand secret as no one has responded. Many times when people post on here there is a portion of emotion included with the post and that is not the case here. I'd just like to know.

[gamescan]

There are two elements to any streaming video rights. There are the rights that the end user owns and the rights that the storefront has to provide.

These two CAN be handled separately (for example, Flixster and some studio sites would give you UHD UV rights, while only streaming HDX content; before MA got the rights to stream UHD, it did the same for MA, where you would redeem a UHD MA code, and get UHD MA rights in the key store, but you would have to go to another site to actually stream in UHD).

Vudu has made the business decision to marry those rights. So if you redeem a UHD code at Vudu and Vudu only has the content in HDX, then Vudu will only pass along HDX rights to MA/UV. This is not a requirement of either the MA or UV spec, but it likely makes things easier for Vudu.