Is Ultraviolet dead? Anyone else considering jumping ship (to Apple/Google/Amazon)?

[mrewster]

Things are going from bad to worse:

"Please check the insert that came with your disc for instructions on how to redeem the code.

You may also be able to redeem the code at your favorite UltraViolet retailer?s website."

[Dive86]

Ultraviolet will maybe merge into movies anywhere when all Studios paramount and Lionsgate join.

[Tom Erik Smith]

Things are going from bad to worse:

"Please check the insert that came with your disc for instructions on how to redeem the code.

You may also be able to redeem the code at your favorite UltraViolet retailer?s website."

This is really looking bad for UV, and their customer service is shocking. I just had a UV copy insert that specifically says - "to redeem please go to myuv.com/redeem", a page that now says "check the insert for instructions". I inform them of this and say that this should be fixed and I get this reply -

"The redeem page was removed since it replicated efforts by various Retailers. Please follow the directions provided on the insert that came with your purchase."

I'm lost for words at the complete lack of comprehension and thought put into this reply.

Ultraviolet will maybe merge into movies anywhere when all Studios paramount and Lionsgate join.

I really hope so, once they get all studios on board I hope they figure out how to get TV shows as well.

Does anyone here have insider knowledge?

[Chedwiggen]

Ultraviolet will maybe merge into movies anywhere when all Studios paramount and Lionsgate join.

Disney didn't join UV so I really doubt they'll want to merge MA with UV. I said it before and I'll say it again I think the best we can hope for is for Vudu to come up with their own sharing system so we don't have to worry about UV's longevity anymore.

[Stackfan]

With Vudu being UV and MA compatible.... the only real downside of sticking with Vudu would be losing the UV sharing function correct?
If i were to migrate to another service that uses MA, i'd potentially be losing potentially about 25% of my movies who haven't jumped on board with MA, and my television content.

If weighing the pro's and con's, at the moment it seems to make sense to stick with Vudu. Am i missing something???

Seems like this is 99% out of the customers hands, and all comes down to MA getting full support, and UV potentially going away. If UV goes away, i'd still have the same, if not more content with Vudu vs. other services.

[quackman]

I'm in the same boat, but I'm okay with that because I think Vudu is the best. Now that we have MA and it appears UV will eventually die, my Christmas Wish is that ALL studios join up with MA and Vudu starts their own sharing option that is similar to UV. This may just be a pipe dream though because most likely Vudu is not allowed to provide sharing outside the home as a condition of partnering with MA. Vudu Support, can you confirm if this is true or not?

[Kotor29]

I have a feeling that UV is on the way out but that they will find a way to port all of our movies and TV to Vudu and MA. To not do so would cause an uproar. I know that MA doesn't support TV shows for the time being but Vudu fortunately does.

[awarlock]

Just saw the new Universal releases - The Snowman and Happy Death Day are Movies Anywhere only. All new 20th Century Fox titles are only MA. One big advantage to Ultraviolet was the ability to share titles with up to (5) family members or friends. Disney has never supported this concept. Disney makes everyone purchase their own copy. That isn't very family oriented . . . !! If anything, Vudu will lose sales because with the fact that Apple now has 4K titles at the same price as the Vudu HDX titles, I will probably purchase more titles at Apple if they are Movies Anywhere only titles. Vudu still seems to be lacking somewhat or a lot with respect to 4K titles. Why purchase a Movies Anywhere HDX title at Vudu for $14.99 if I can purchase the 4K Movies Anywhere version on Apple for the same $14.99 and it will still show up on Vudu as an HDX title. Vudu does not seem to automatically upgrade your HDX version to the 4K version like Apple does. If anything, Vudu makes you spend another $15 to $30 to purchase the 4K version when it becomes available.

[diamond204]

Just saw the new Universal releases - The Snowman and Happy Death Day are Movies Anywhere only. All new 20th Century Fox titles are only MA. One big advantage to Ultraviolet was the ability to share titles with up to (5) family members or friends. Disney has never supported this concept. Disney makes everyone purchase their own copy. That isn't very family oriented . . . !! If anything, Vudu will lose sales because with the fact that Apple now has 4K titles at the same price as the Vudu HDX titles, I will probably purchase more titles at Apple if they are Movies Anywhere only titles. Vudu still seems to be lacking somewhat or a lot with respect to 4K titles. Why purchase a Movies Anywhere HDX title at Vudu for $14.99 if I can purchase the 4K Movies Anywhere version on Apple for the same $14.99 and it will still show up on Vudu as an HDX title. Vudu does not seem to automatically upgrade your HDX version to the 4K version like Apple does. If anything, Vudu makes you spend another $15 to $30 to purchase the 4K version when it becomes available.

From my understanding Google Play allows you to share your collection including Disney. iTunes also has a sharing solution but I know less about that one.

[sloner52]

From my understanding Google Play allows you to share your collection including Disney. iTunes also has a sharing solution but I know less about that one.

google play is pretty easy to set up to share.... just make sure the accounts you set up to share are between the ages of I think 13 - 17 (you'll have to look that one up).... between those ages you can set up a pin code for purchases...... if you dont do that anyone you share with can use your payment method.

[SinGA]

From my understanding Google Play allows you to share your collection including Disney. iTunes also has a sharing solution but I know less about that one.

Unfortunately with Google, you have to tie your sharing to a credit card. That's not an option for me since i share with people outside my household.

Also MA does not support 4k / HDR / Dolby Vision *deal breaker*

Also MA does not support TV titles.... *another deal breaker*

[diamond204]

Also MA does not support 4k / HDR / Dolby Vision *deal breaker*

Also MA does not support TV titles.... *another deal breaker*

Not yet for 4k but coming soon. MA records the 4k ownership but doesn't display it or stream it yet.

Also the Gm of movies anywhere made a general reference that they are working on expanding movies anywhere to include other content and it was inferred that TV was a part of that.

[Tom Erik Smith]

Also the Gm of movies anywhere made a general reference that they are working on expanding movies anywhere to include other content and it was inferred that TV was a part of that.

Where did you find this info? I hope it's true because I would love another decent source for my tv shows so that when Vudu has a bad copy that they take ages to fix, or in some cases never fix, I have somewhere else to watch it without having to buy it again.

[SinGA]

Not yet for 4k but coming soon. MA records the 4k ownership but doesn't display it or stream it yet.

Coming soon doesnt really work for me because we all know these giant companies have a funny definition of "coming soon". It could be 2019!

[Kotor29]

Coming soon doesnt really work for me because we all know these giant companies have a funny definition of "coming soon". It could be 2019!

Agreed but it is in their financial interest to expand their catalog. They want people buying and watching the widest selection of content.