Viewers are losing interest in physical media, and Disney has taken notice. Sanity, a media retailer, warns that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is Disney’s final DVD and Blu-ray release in Australia and New Zealand. Note that The Walt Disney Company hasn’t confirmed this news (despite what some publications are saying).Sanity shared this information in a now-deleted Facebook post, stating that now’s the “last chance” for Australian shoppers to own their favorite “Disney classics, MCU flicks, Star Wars movies and more” on physical media. The retailer also stated that “there’s no way we would post this if we didn’t know it was happening.“Bear in mind that The Walt Disney Company owns several media brands, including FOX, Lucasfilm, Marvel, ABC, National Geographic, and History. This change will have a massive impact on physical media availability in Australia and New Zealand.
The news was later corroborated byÂThe Digital Bits, which reached out to other retailers in the Australian and New Zealand markets. Shoppers also note that several new Disney movies, including the live-action Little Mermaid, aren’t available for pre-order in these regions.
For reference, Disney made a similar movein Latin Americajust two years ago. And Sanity, the company that first shared this news, closedall of its physical locationsearlier this year and now operates as an online-only retailer.
Related:You Should Still Buy Blu-Rays and DVDs, Here’s Why
Physical media is selling poorly in most regions, of course. Disney may decide to end DVD and Blu-ray sales across the globe, though the process would probably occur over the span of several years. Some countries, specifically Japan (where physical media is still very popular), may be spared the wrath.
In any case, we’re now waiting for The Walt Disney Company to confirm this news. If it turns out to be true, customers in Australia and New Zealand will be forced to import new Disney releases going forward (or simply stream such releases through Disney+). Note that some retailers may import Disney DVD and Blu-ray releases from other regions to compensate for the change, though these imported discs will probably be a bit expensive.
