Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

DVD is a relatively new format for home entertainment. As with any new format, it takes time for an industry standard to be achieved. That being said, each movie studio has developed their own unique DVD strategy. While most new theatrical movies are being released day and date on DVD with VHS, there will always be exceptions. For the most part, these delays result in fully-loaded Special Edition discs. As for older catalog movies, again each studio follows a different plan. But usually, each studio offers between 5 and 25 older titles a month on DVD in addition to their theatrical offerings. The bottom line is that while some titles may never be available on DVD, the majority of them will be available in the next 5 years.

You said title "X" was going to be available on a certain date, but I can't find it at my local video store.

Each individual video store determines which titles to bring in and how many to bring in according to a wide variety. We pride ourselves on complete title listings that studios are offering, however not every store buys each and every title.

Where do you get your information?

Our information comes directly from the studios. Anytime a title goes from an estimated release date to an exact release date, it's the studio that provides us that information. As with any industry, release dates change often. We strive to make those changes on our site as soon as possible after we're notified.

How often do you update your site?

We update our site as the information trickles down from the studios. Almost assuredly, there are changes made every day. Frequently, we make multiple updates over the course of a day to insure that the information is accurate and up-to-date.

Do you have information on video releases for other countries besides the United States?

Currently, we only cover U.S. video release dates.

What about foreign titles released in the U.S.?

We've found that after doing this for many years, many foreign films have trouble finding U.S. video distribution. That being the case, we've found it to be a futile effort to estimate their release on video. So, we don't include foreign movies until we get firm dates and title information from the studio. At which time, they are included on our site like any other title.

What does UMD Video mean?

Universal Media Disc, or UMD, is a new global format with great capacity and copy protection. The UMD is a newly developed compact, high capacity optical format that can store up to 1.8 GB of digital data on a 60mm disc - or an entire feature film on a single UMD video. Currently, the only way you can view a UMD is on the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) video game system.

Why can't I find old video release information?

After receiving your feedback, we've made it possible to access the previous two months worth of video releases. If you're looking for a specific title, you can always search our database for it. The video release date will be included on the movie information page.

Where do you get your information for the Star Report and the Rumor Mill?

The information is culled from a variety of sources, including but not limited to, eyewitness testimony, Bothan spies and UFO abductions. In other words, read it and laugh and don't think too much or you might put us out of a job.

How can I get your really cool video release information on my site?

Well, you too can have all the excitement of VideoETA on your very own web site. We've created some nifty image links here that update automatically with each week's new releases. Your friends will be amazed!

Who are you?

VideoETA, Inc. is owned by a national video distributor.

How can I buy the movies listed on your site?

Most of these movies can be purchased (after the date of availability noted on our site) from your local video store. You can also purchase them over the Internet through various online retailers.

Why are some movies available for purchase right away while others are higher (rental) priced?

The decision to offer a movie at a sell-through price is entirely made by each individual studio. It's a combination of factors including but not limited to box office performance, movie content, public demand, and seasonal factors. Higher, or rental, priced movies will usually be available for purchase a few months after it comes out for rental.

When a movie is released in theaters, how long before it's available on video or dvd?

Again, many factors determine a movie's video release date including box office performance, time of the year, genre, and target audience. Each studio has their own way of determining video release dates that varies from title to title. Hence, this is the reason we estimate a movie's video release month before we get confirmation from the studio. However, our long relationship with the studios has made us pretty adept at picking the correct month.