Warner to Charge DVD Consumers for Friday the 13th Digital Copy

Warner is spreading the divide between DVD and Blu-ray with this move: they’ll be charging $1.99 for a digital copy of Friday the 13th should you decide you don’t want to purchase the Blu-ray copy. Warner argues that the demand for the digital copy simply isn’t there if you’re shopping for DVDs still. The word:

Both single-disc standard DVD versions, Friday the 13th Theatrical Cut and Friday the 13th Killer Cut, are priced at $28.99. The titles feature links to an online digital copy, presumably accessible through individual registration codes received after the $1.99 payment.

The Friday the 13th Blu-ray version, priced at $35.99, embeds the copy on disc for no extra fees.

Studios, including Warner, have been increasingly adding free digital copies to titles to boost their attractiveness. Warner is one of the few companies to now charge for the extra.

Some consumers will likely dislike this pay-for-copy strategy. But Warner earlier confirmed that the most robust users of digital copy are Blu-ray buyers, not DVD purchasers.

With the no-charge digital copy, Warner also further distinguishes the Blu-ray Friday the 13th over its two DVD versions.

What Warner doesn’t realize is that in a few years we may see all disc based formats fading out as VOD steps in. One can only hope, at least. Tip of the hat to VidBiz once again.