I remember the first post on Wheresspot where someone asked when agencies would start accepting DVDs (as opposed to 3/4″), somewhere back in 2000. At that time, home-burned DVDs still didn’t play reliably in DVD players, so the best way ways to replicate 500 or more. I also remember in 2003 hearing about the first agencies that stopped accepting 3/4″ altogether. Within 1 year, 3/4″ quickly disappeared… because NO ONE wanted to keep sending and schlepping those big ass tapes around anymore. But until that day, everyone kept saying “But agencies won’t accept anything besides 3/4″. Well, I believe we are in that transition period again. Recently two major agencies have declared that they will no longer receive DVDs and want ONLY online reels. Two years ago, the mix was 90% DVD and 10% Wiredrive reels. Now it’s 50%/50% and within 2 years it will be 10% DVDs and 90% Wiredrive Reels. Mark my words! All it takes is a few brave agencies and the rest will follow. We have seen this shift accelerate within the last few weeks – people who three months ago were wondering why they needed online reel delivery capabilities are now calling for favors to get work sent immediately.
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