March 31, 2025 – The era of physical media continues its steep decline, with just 28.3% of Americans still using DVDs and Blu-rays to watch TV and movies, according to a new survey of over 1,900 Cord Cutters News readers. The poll, conducted in early 2025, reveals a seismic shift toward streaming, with 71.7% of respondents favoring digital platforms or alternatives like cable TV over discs—a stark contrast to the heyday of DVD rentals and Blu-ray collections.
Breaking it down, 18.8% of survey participants said they use both DVDs and Blu-rays, blending old-school habits with modern tech, while 9.5% reported sticking exclusively to these formats. The remaining majority 71.7%—have largely abandoned physical media, opting instead for streaming giants like YouTube TV (30% of respondents in a prior survey) or smaller services like Frndly TV and Philo, alongside traditional cable or satellite options. This aligns with broader trends and even stories that are stopping the sales of physical media. In 2023, Best Buy announced plans to stop selling most DVDs and Blu-rays, followed by other stories about stopping the sale or cutting back, like Target.
The survey echoes a 2023 Statista report pegging U.S. physical media use at around 30%, now eroded further by the proliferation of 4K streaming and unlimited cloud DVRs. Even nostalgia can’t save discs, with only a niche group clinging to their collections for rare titles or bonus features unavailable online.
For the 28.3% still spinning discs, reasons vary. Some cite ownership—physical copies don’t vanish if a streaming license expires—while others lack reliable high-speed internet, a factor for the 9.5% DVD/Blu-ray-only crowd. Yet, the 71.7% majority reflects a cultural pivot: Xfinity reports over 70% of its internet traffic is entertainment-driven, fueled by live sports and on-demand hits, dwarfing the need for physical playback.
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