Below is a timeline for every significant event in the history of movies in the home (with more being added). It should be noted that this website uses the term, “Home Video,” in two different ways. Firstly, it uses it as an umbrella term for the viewing of movies in the home, physical or otherwise. Secondly, its also the label given to the era in time where movies are being released on physical video formats.
June 20th, 2006 (Wall Street Journal, 2006/06/20, p. D1)
Sony and MGM Release the First 7 Titles on Blu-ray
The very first titles are released on the new HD format, Blu-ray. They include 50 First Dates (2004), The Fifth Element (1997), Hitch (2005), House of Flying Daggers (2004), Underworld: Evolution (2006) and xXx (2002). The studio will also distribute The Terminator (1984).
September 7th, 2006 (Business Wire. 2006/09/07, p.1)
Amazon Launches Unbox To Download and Stream Movies
Amazon’s Unbox program becomes available through their website. For a rental or purchase price, users could download or stream “DVD-quality” movies and television. Their name would change several times, including “Amazon On Demand” and “Amazon Instant Video.” It would eventually settle on Amazon Prime Video.
January, 2007 (New York Times, 2007/01/25, p. C1)
Netflix Begins Rolling Out Their Streaming Service
Netflix slowly rolls out their movie streaming service at 250,000 customers at a time. Its a subscription-based streaming only service. Depending of the subscription, users are given an allotment of viewing hours each month. There are 1,000 titles to choose from at launch. The rollout is expected to complete by July.
March 22nd, 2007 (Worldwide Computer Products, 2007/03/22, p. 1)
Apple TV (1st Generation)
Apple TV, the first widely popular internet streaming device for television sets, begins shipping to retailers. It streams 720p video, has 40 GB of internal storage and play music and video content from ones iTunes account. Apple also announces in May that YouTube will soon be added to the device. Priced at $299.
May 20th, 2008 (PR Newswire, 2008/05/20)
Roku DVP N1000
Roku begins rolling out their TV streaming device. Built in collaboration with Netflix, the device allows the streaming of over 10,000 movies on the Netflix platform to your television screen. It costs $99.99.
January 14th, 2009 (Pioneer Press Release, 2009/01/14)
Pioneer Discontinues Laserdisc Players
Due to rising manufacturing costs resulting from the introduction of DVD and Blu-ray, Pioneer announces they would be haulting their production of laserdisc players. “The company has seen worldwide sales of its LD players reach more than 9.5 million units to date in a market that saw worldwide sales top 16.8 million devices.”
February 10th, 2010 https://www.engadget.com/2010-02-10-sonys-200-bdp-s470-is-companys-first-3d-ready-blu-ray-player.html
Sony BDP-S470 (Blu-ray 3-D)
Sony releases the very first Blu-ray 3-D compatible player, costing ($200). Viewing the movies also requires a 3-D TV and a “Blu-ray 3-D” firmware upgrade.
September 23th, 2010 (The Economist Online, 2010/09/23)
Blockbuster Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
After several poor decisions related to their DVD-by-mail program, and accruing a debt valued at $900 million, Blockbuster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Over the next year, they would begin closing stores from their 3,300 store chain. Unable to meet the terms of their filing, the company is auctioned off to Dish Networks on April 6th, 2011 for $320 million. The remaining opened stores would continue to close.
February, 2016 https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/8/10936792/uhd-4k-blu-ray-samsung-player-on-sale
Samsung UBD-K8500 (4K UHD)
Samsung launches the first player for the new 4k UHD Blu-ray disc. It’s the very first format to offer 4096 x 2160 resolution. The player sells for $250.
February 14th, 2016 https://hd-report.com/2016/02/23/1st-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-movies-released-by-sony-pictures/
Sony Home Entertainment Releases The First 6 UHD Blu-ray Titles
Sony Home Entertainment releases their first 6 titles on the new 4K UHD format. They include Chappie (2015), Hancock (2008), Pineapple Express (2008), Salt (2010), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and The Smurfs 2 (2013).