If you’re like many entertainment enthusiasts still holding onto your DVD collection, now is the perfect time to check if your discs are still in good condition. Reports have emerged indicating that several DVDs produced by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) between 2006 and 2008 are facing premature failure due to disc rot.
In an official statement to JoBlo, WBHE 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 at whv@wbd.com.
Disc rot is not a new issue in the world of physical media. As noted by ArsTechnica, DVDs that are properly cared for can last up to 100 years, according to Sony. However, WBHE discs have become a significant concern among collectors, leading to discussions on forums like DVD Talk and Home Theater Forum.
The 2021 video by YouTuber Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader highlights that disc rot appears to be affecting a wider range of titles from 2006 to 2009 than Warner Bros. officially recognizes. To identify problematic discs, look for playback issues, such as DVDs that fail to load, freeze during viewing, or have unplayable special features.
Crusader’s video description provides links to Google Docs, including a list of known rotted DVD titles that he compiled based on online reports and personal experiences. This list includes well-known series such as Batman: The Animated Series and films like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and all Superman films up to Superman Returns.
Another of Crusader’s documents attributes the disc failures—specifically those made between 2006 and 2009—to a Cinram manufacturing plant in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. While Warner Bros. has not confirmed this claim, Ars notes that discs produced there can be identified by codes printed on their inner rings.
Many collectors maintain their physical media as a safeguard against losing access to beloved films, TV shows, and games, especially as digital platforms face deprecation or distribution rights expire. However, this situation with Warner Bros. underscores the importance of ensuring your collection is intact, as manufacturing defects from years past may threaten your enjoyment.
It’s reassuring to see that Warner Bros. is taking steps to support its customers, offering replacements for affected DVDs. Nonetheless, this situation raises concerns about how other companies may respond if their discs experience similar failures. It makes a compelling case for adopting a digital preservation strategy, as discussed by 404 Media in their Digital Packrat Manifesto, emphasizing the need to back up your physical media regularly.
