Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!border-4.nntp.ord.giganews.com!border-3.nntp.ord.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!local-4.nntp.ord.giganews.com!Xl.tags.giganews.com!local-2.nntp.ord.giganews.com!news.giganews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail
NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2025 06:03:22 +0000
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2025 23:03:05 -0700
From: Pluted Pup <plutedpup@outlook.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
User-Agent: Hogwasher/5.24
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Message-ID: <0001HW.2D8FDB99052E80AB30F16138F@news.giganews.com>
Subject: Re: [NEWS] Some Warner Bros DVD releases suffering from 'laser rot'
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv, rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc
References: <vrftuq$25jrq$1@dont-email.me> <vrmrkb$do4a$1@dont-email.me> <0001HW.2D8FB7EA0528858730E8D238F@news.giganews.com>
Lines: 119
X-Usenet-Provider: http://www.giganews.com
X-Trace: sv3-wAAU80NoSON0+jfUUtuxChurwnH0uFdZwBIfjb0x/MzMQATI8AKnN3Ts8T2sqVkjnnxNi36Jp1tlm5A!e4rq7s28NMRJAct2sKOK0ej+kSJ3ICFQZVVDEo46ofHVj4CahJZgz1q7FhD0BDO3gpVQDUNE9Pca!oy6B
X-Complaints-To: abuse@giganews.com
X-DMCA-Notifications: http://www.giganews.com/info/dmca.html
X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers
X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly
X-Postfilter: 1.3.40

On Sat, 22 Mar 2025 20:30:50 -0700, Pluted Pup wrote:

> On Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:22:13 -0700, Nyssa wrote:
>
> > Your Name wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > You might be eligible for a replacement ... if one still
> > > exists (and possibly US only).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Still Clinging to DVDs?
> > > Some Warner Bros. Discs Have Started Rotting Away
> > > -------------------------------------------------
> > > You might be eligible for a replacement or a refund,
> > > depending on whether your malfunctioning DVD is still
> > > in print.
> > >
> > > If you're still hanging on to your physical DVD
> > > collection, you could be in for a nasty surprise.
> > >
> > > Many DVDs manufactured by Warner Bros. between 2006
> > > and 2008 have been hit by an issue known as "laser
> > > rot," where DVDs simply stop working due to a rotting
> > > of the layers, an investigation by movie review site
> > > JoBlo reveals. So far, it doesn't seem like Blu-ray
> > > discs or HD-DVD are affected.
> > >
> > > JoBlo highlights some of Warner Bros.' portfolio,
> > > including its Looney Tunes Collections or its
> > > portfolio of 30s, 40s, and 50s Hollywood classics,
> > > which were never transferred to newer formats like
> > > Blu-ray, meaning they could run the risk of
> > > disappearing without a trace. JoBlo:
> > > <https://www.joblo.com/warner-bros-dvds-dont-work/>
> > >
> > > Though collectors have noted the problem in recent
> > > years, Warner Bros. recently acknowledged the issue
> > > following JoBlo's report and has offered to replace
> > > the impacted DVDs - but only under certain conditions.
> > >
> > > "Where possible, the defective discs have been
> > > replaced with the same title," read the official
> > > statement. "However, as some of the affected titles
> > > are no longer in print or the rights have expired,
> > > consumers have been offered an exchange for a title of
> > > like-value."
> > >
> > > Warner Bros. encouraged consumers hit by the defect to
> > > contact its customer support at: whv@wbd.com. If you'd
> > > prefer to avoid the potential trauma of malfunctioning
> > > DVDs altogether, check out PCMag's guide to converting
> > > your old discs to digital formats.
> > >
> > > The era of malfunctioning discs may well be nearing an
> > > end anyway. Many of the largest home entertainment
> > > chains in the US have already decided to cut or
> > > severely limit the number of DVDs they stock. Best Buy
> > > made the leap to stop stocking DVDs altogether in
> > > 2024, while Netflix shuttered its DVD business in 2023
> > > after almost 30 years.
>
> What a dumbass last paragraph. I wish journalists would be more
> honest and put their dumbest statements at the beginning
> of their articles rather than at the end.
>
> In what way are the possibility of rotted discs ending
> because chain stores have stopped stocking DVDs? The
> damage was done by in 2006-2008 due to the bad manufacturing
> at Warners, and that doesn't change whether new DVDs are
> being stocked or not.
>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > <https://au.pcmag.com/home-entertainment/110030/still-clinging-to-dvds-some-warner-bros-discs-have-started-rotting-away>
> >
> > Oh, crap!
> >
> > I've got the whole 6 volume Looney Toons Golden Edition AND the
>
> WHICH Looney Tunes Golden collection, is it from 2006-2008?
> The original issues, the reissues about 2008 or the more recent,
> in print, Golden Collection issues, though I can't really tell
> which is which.
>
> Coincidentally I just bought the newer six volumes
> individually, and I tested from each volume to determine the
> bit-rate by checking the disc size, because my attempts to
> buy as a set was a failure, with the "half bit-rate" frauds
> being sold on Amazon thirdparties and at ebay.

I read a rumor in a thread that says Rhino's Volume 11 MST3K set
was made by Warners and had two rotted discs, but didn't say
which ones. I checked mine and I find the Tormented episode
to be rotted, failing at about 68 minutes, stuttering at first,
and refusing to play or access the rest of the disc.

>
> > entire set of Babylon 5 series and movies plus a gaggle of
> > assorted movies all from WB. :(
> >
> > So even if I find one or more of these DVDs to be defective, the
> > only thing I'd get for my loss would be vouchers for whatever
> > they've got left on their shelves that won't sell?
> >
> > The chances that any of what I've got in my collection is still
> > in their warehouse (and wouldn't any leftovers probably be toast
> > anyway?) is slim to none. Especially the Looney Toons stuff that
> > was "Limited Editions."
> >
> > Bummer ^2!
> >
> > Nyssa, who guesses she'll just have to keep her fingers crossed
> > that *most* of those DVDs are okay since there's nothing really
> > to be done to get back what's been lost