Blockbuster On Demand

Source: Home Media Magazine

Blockbuster has been experimenting with streaming content directly to Verizon customers with wireless devices for a while now and with the release of the new Motorola Droid X the deal has sweetened.

You don't need a Droid X to participate in the new Blockbuster video service as it will work on various devices equipped with Blockbuster On Demand, but it is probably the slickest way to watch the content.

"What content?" I assumed you asked. Well by using what is being called "Blockbuster On Demand Presented By V Cast Mobile" you can have access to the newest releases the day that they also hit the DVD shelves. You have the option to either rent or own, with rentals priced at a fairly reasonable $3.99 and $9.99 to own.

Looks like Blockbuster is getting its content streaming feet wet, even if right now it is just limited to Verizon customers.

Paramount Teams With Redbox

Source: Blu-ray.com

Recently Blockbuster had made a deal with several major studios for the exclusive right to rent out their movies for 28 days competition free. This was an attempt to remain competitive in a rental market that is quickly making going to the store for your flick fix obsolete.

Paramount Studios has decided to not to support the the 28 day rental delay for new releases and has, after a trial period, decided to allow it's new releases on both DVD and Blu-ray to appear in Redbox kiosks the same day the movies hit the shelves in Blockbuster.

They are only one among many studios (including Disney, Sony and Anchor Bay) that have realized that Blockbuster is only one of many ways people rent their movies and have taken measures to ensure that their movies get the widest audience possible. And while Paramount has decided to not support Blockbuster with 28 day exclusive rights to their new releases a few notable studios have, such as Fox, Universal and Warner.

Choice is always good and while I still never have used Redbox, I sure can see the appeal. Who are you siding with in this battle for rental control? Do you even really care as long as you can still rent movies?

Why Blockbuster Is In Trouble

Source: Gizmodo

This, my friends, is a direct quote from the mouth of Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes ... hold on to your pants:

"I don't have to figure out how to get it from my Nintendo machine to the screen. I know I can do it, but I don't want to - it makes my head hurt to think about it."

Wow.

Mr. Keyes up there is of course referring the complex act of inserting the Netflix disc into a Wii and the apparent headache that the entire process induces. If I had stock in Blockbuster I probably wouldn't for much longer. That above quote may be excusable for, say, my grandmother to utter but a CEO of a company that specializes in video rentals?

This actually explains a lot about Blockbuster and how it hasn't exactly been proactive in competing with online streaming services like Netflix. Blockbuster recently pulled off something of a media embargo and has exclusive rights for 28 days on new releases, but that is far from enough to keep them competitive in the rental market.

Yes it is true, Blockbuster now has a mailing service similar to Netflix and has a kiosk system similar to Redbox but it apparently has no plans to go digital as this candid interview with Jim Keyes proves.

CEO Jim Keyes is obviously a firm believer in the old school rental train of thought, he has had to be, and while I still feel that going and renting a hard copy of a flick still has its place it is by no means the most convenient method. Blockbuster needs to do something drastic if it is going to survive this new age of instant gratification, streaming is the future and it is time for the people like Mr. Keyes who run the company to come to terms with this fact.