UV Codes for 4K UHD titles now showing up as UHD on Vudu (1 Viewer)

[Scott Merryfield]

I just bought the 4K UHD version of Lucy and redeemed the UV code on Vudu (the disc was on sale at Amazon and Best Buy last week for $15). That site now shows that I own the UHD version of the film -- not the HDX version as previous 4K UHD discs have. And even better news, on Vudu it also now shows that I own the UHD version of Jason Bourne, which I had redeemed over a month ago! The other titles I own in 4K UHD and have redeemed -- John Wick, Underworld, The Shallows and Labyrinth -- still indicate that I own the HDX versions, but Vudu does not currently have the UHD versions of those films available online.

 

[DavidMiller]

Yeah, I always check if they are there I redeem them. I hold off on the others.

 

[Cranston37+]

To my memory that's how those titles have always been.

The problem with redeeming UHD codes right now is the resolution you get varies by title as well as where you redeem it. It's also possible for a code to give you the UHD version in your UV locker while the provider only has an HDX copy for you to actually watch (that's the case with John Wick).

The following page is invaluable for all this...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZsJkCX4DIv2oeCKQ7zp2ArkR1qKEXCUuCMBbUtHtmh4/htmlview

 

[Johnny Angell]

To my memory that's how those titles have always been.

The problem with redeeming UHD codes right now is the resolution you get varies by title as well as where you redeem it. It's also possible for a code to give you the UHD version in your UV locker while the provider only has an HDX copy for you to actually watch (that's the case with John Wick).

The following page is invaluable for all this...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZsJkCX4DIv2oeCKQ7zp2ArkR1qKEXCUuCMBbUtHtmh4/htmlview

In the case of redeeming a UV movie on Vudu, it gets stored on the UltraViolet system. So who is the provider? All UV movies get stored on the UltraViolet system, if I understand this correctly. What is HDX?

 

[DavidMiller]

In the case of redeeming a UV movie on Vudu, it gets stored on the UltraViolet system. So who is the provider? All UV movies get stored on the UltraViolet system, if I understand this correctly. What is HDX?

HDX = 1080p
HD = 720p (no longer used)
SD = 480p

 

[Cranston37+]

So who is the provider? All UV movies get stored on the UltraViolet system, if I understand this correctly.

The UltraViolet system stores your license to show that you own a movie, but your provider (i.e. Vudu) has the actual copy you view.

The problem arises when you may have a movie's license on the UV system, but the provider doesn't have a copy of it for you to be able to watch.

For instance, in my UV account, I have a license for the movie "This Gun for Hire." Vudu doesn't have that movie, so I can't watch it there, but FandangoNow does, so I can watch it there.

The same goes for resolutions of movies. If buying a 4K blu-ray gives me a UHD UV license, but the provider I use only has an HDX copy of it, then HDX is the best I will be able to watch.

That all goes back to what Scott was experiencing in the first post. He had owned UHD licenses for a few movies, but Vudu originally only had HDX copies, and then he discovered that Vudu had upgraded what they had to UHD.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

HDX = 1080p
HD = 720p (no longer used)
SD = 480p

Just to add:
UHD = 2160p

 

[Johnny Angell]

The UltraViolet system stores your license to show that you own a movie, but your provider (i.e. Vudu) has the actual copy you view.

The problem arises when you may have a movie's license on the UV system, but the provider doesn't have a copy of it for you to be able to watch.

For instance, in my UV account, I have a license for the movie "This Gun for Hire." Vudu doesn't have that movie, so I can't watch it there, but FandangoNow does, so I can watch it there.

The same goes for resolutions of movies. If buying a 4K blu-ray gives me a UHD UV license, but the provider I use only has an HDX copy of it, then HDX is the best I will be able to watch.

That all goes back to what Scott was experiencing in the first post. He had owned UHD licenses for a few movies, but Vudu originally only had HDX copies, and then he discovered that Vudu had upgraded what they had to UHD.

Wow, did I misunderstand the way it works. I thought UV stored the movie and Vudu and the others provided a way to play it. Say I redeem the movie on Vudu and they don't have UHD but another provider does. Can I go over there and watch it?

 

[DavidMiller]

Wow, did I misunderstand the way it works. I thought UV stored the movie and Vudu and the others provided a way to play it. Say I redeem the movie on Vudu and they don't have UHD but another provider does. Can I go over there and watch it?

Yes, you can perfect example the original "Ghost in the Shell" is playable in 4K on Fandango Now, 1080p on Vudu. Limitless is available on Fandango, not on Vudu... Etc... This is why UV drives me nuts at times. I dumped using iTunes to simplify my world but it hasn't really because not even all UV people are equal.

 

[Cranston37+]

Wow, did I misunderstand the way it works. I thought UV stored the movie and Vudu and the others provided a way to play it.

Correct. The providers, not UV, hold the actual copies of the films. For instance, Vudu's copy of "Bride of Frankenstein" is in the wrong aspect ratio (it's stretched) but FandangoNow's is correct.

Sometimes this can be a good thing - for some reason Vudu's copy of "Casino Royale" is the unrated international cut whereas all other services (including iTunes) have the regular U.S. cut. Or if there is an error with the movie, a provider need only request a new encode from the studio,* but an error with a disc would cause a new pressing to be done and mailed out. Digital does have an advantage or two.

Say I redeem the movie on Vudu and they don't have UHD but another provider does. Can I go over there and watch it?

Ahhh, here is where it gets complicated.

Yes, redeeming on one UV service will allow you to watch it on any other UV service, but where you redeem the code also determines what resolution you get.

For example - you buy the UHD blu-ray of "Batman v. Superman." If you redeem the code on Vudu, you will only get a HDX UV license, enabling you to watch it in HDX on any UV provider. However, if you redeem it on Flixster, you will get a UHD UV license, enabling you to watch it in UHD on Vudu.

The UHD blu-ray of "Star Trek Beyond"? It only gives a HDX license no matter where you redeem it, even though providers have UHD copies.

There is no rhyme or reason to any of it. The only thing you can do (currently) is to visit the spreadsheet I linked to near the top of the thread to see where you should redeem each code. Personally, I just keep it open on a tab on my phone so I can easily refer to it when needed.

*a great example of that in action here...

https://forum.vudu.com/showthread.php?943740-Spy-Who-Came-In-From-the-Cold&highlight=cold

 

[Sam Posten]

So the way to get Universal titles in 4K has been to redeem them via Flixster, they then showed up in 4k. I did that for Kong yesterday and NO UHD on Vudu. It seems Vudu doesn't have the bits for 4K kong despite me owning it.

WRAAAAAAAA.

 

[Todd Erwin]

So the way to get Universal titles in 4K has been to redeem them via Flixster, they then showed up in 4k. I did that for Kong yesterday and NO UHD on Vudu. It seems Vudu doesn't have the bits for 4K kong despite me owning it.

WRAAAAAAAA.

It may show up eventually. Catalog titles sometimes take a long time to show up on VUDU, because, you know, no one cares about an older movie. I've always redeemed Universal titles thru their portal for two reasons - I'm more likely to get the UHD version (even though I have no way of accessing it due to VUDU's slow rollout to other devices) plus every once in a while, the studio will throw in a free movie. Sony is the same way.

 

[Cranston37+]

So the way to get Universal titles in 4K has been to redeem them via Flixster, they then showed up in 4k. I did that for Kong yesterday and NO UHD on Vudu. It seems Vudu doesn't have the bits for 4K kong despite me owning it.

Redeeming it directly through Vudu would have given you 4K. Did you check your UV account to see what license it gave you?

 

[everway9]

Hi there.

I've been searching Google for information about 4k UV streaming and saw your post. I'm wondering if it would be ok to ask for some advice. Just ignore me otherwise.

I'm in the UK and I've been looking for a UV provider that I can stream my owned UV copies in 4k. So far I've only found Flixter. The others I've tried keep on telling me the service isn't available in my region. I only have 1 4k UV code which I've redeemed which is Warcraft: The beginning. I got the code with the 4k BluRay I purchased. The problem is it will only let me watch in HD, not 4k.

Would you know of anywhere I would be able to stream in 4k which allow customers from the UK to register?

Sorry to ask out of the blue but it seems that you know what your talking about.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[everway9]

I'm sorry... when I posted I thought the thread didnt have any replies. It appears that the page was slow to load and I only saw the original post. It was only after I had posted my reply that I noticed it already had some replies. Sorry to butt in on your thread. I'll start another thread sometime. Thanks again.