Warners Aware Of DVD Disc Rot Issue

One of the biggest selling points of physical media these days, in some ways even more than better picture/audio quality, is essentially ownership.

Digital libraries are just a bunch of licenses to view content and thus rely on an account being in good standing with a provider that will be around for many years to come like Apple or Amazon.

With discs however, the content is right there with you and can’t be taken away with a streamer update. Physical media also, as long as it’s stored well, tends to have a good lifespan.

If there’s one potential draw back though, it’s disc rot. While it’s rare with Blu-rays, it’s slightly more common with DVDs as they become susceptible to chemical deterioration over time and exposure to heat or humidity – resulting in the discs becoming unreadable either at a random point during the film/episode or right from the start.

The majority of cases of disc rot often appear to tie back to the manufacturing process, especially those made during the early days of the technology with an occasional dodgy batch of discs making it into during production.

It’s a problem I’ve seen on several old film and TV titles in my own disc collection, and now JoBlo editor Chris Bumbray has seen the same – it turns out there is a legitimate issue. In a statement made to the site earlier this week, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has acknowledged the issue:

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is aware of potential issues affecting select DVD titles manufactured between 2006 – 2008, and the company has been actively working with consumers to replace defective discs.

Where possible, the defective discs have been replaced with the same title. 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. Consumers with affected product can contact the customer support team.”

Various collectors have known about the potential for ‘disc rot’ for years, the topic one discussed on Reddit and in other places. Some have never experienced it, but others have dealt with multiple examples of it.

One theory, as indicated by Ars Technica, is that the disc which have the issues originate from a specific manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania which used subpar materials and cut corners.

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