The CINEMA CENTRIC meet up for an episode with physical media advocate, collector, and author Jeff Rauseo, a voice in cinephile circles whose obsession with formats, physical media, and how we watch movies runs deep. Jeff has built a reputation exploring the intersections of technology, culture, and film-lover habits, and now he’s dropped a book, Lost in the Stream: How Algorithms Redefined the Way Movies Are Made and Watched, that unpacks how streaming platforms, algorithms and physical formats are reshaping cinema’s future.
In this episode titled “FORMAT WARS”, we dive headlong into the battlefield of home video formats: from the early days of Betamax vs. VHS, to LaserDisc’s creation of audio commentaries, to DVD, Blu-Ray, UHD/4K, and the recent twists in television and audio formats that keep even the savviest collectors scratching their heads. Jeff guides us through the timeline and technology, where each format excelled, where they failed, and how some “obsolete” formats still hold advantages today when it comes to quality, archival value, and collector appeal. Using his deep knowledge (and thousands-strong collection) Jeff explains why certain older formats might actually outperform streaming or newer media in specific cases.
We also touch on how Criterion has embraced formats, how special editions, LaserDiscs of the past, Blu-Rays and UHD releases reflect not just technology but curatorial practice and preservation. This episode isn’t just a tech talk, it’s about what format says about film culture, ownership, and the act of watching itself. It’s also about why labels, brands, and proprietary formats (HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray, Dolby Vision vs. HDR10+, etc.) created confusion for consumers and shaped the war of formats in more ways than just “which disc looks better.”
Whether you’re a collector hunting rare tapes, a viewer exhausted by streaming thumbnails, or a lover of Criterion, this episode with Jeff Rauseo will give you a clearer map of the home-video terrain and a renewed appreciation for how we watch movies.
Jeff Rauseo
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