Blockbuster eyes streaming to TVs

And speaking of Apple TV today, it looks like Blockbuster is considering an Apple TV competitor:

Apple TV is getting some competition from Blockbuster.

The home video giant is developing a set-top device for streaming films directly to TV sets and is expected to announce the offering sometime this month.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "We're talking to numerous companies and vendors about products, services, alliances and initiatives that can help us achieve our mission to transform Blockbuster into a company that provides access to media content across multiple channels -- from our stores, by mail, through kiosks, through downloading, through portable content-enabled devices -- so it's not surprising that there are rumors out there."

A couple of points here.

Blockbuster now owns MovieLink, and MovieLink-rented and -purchased movies already work just fine on a wide range of Windows Media-compatible digital media receivers.

Blockbuster offers a Netflix-like service that you might consider looking into if you have a Blockbuster retail store nearby: Pricing is identical, but you get a free movie rental every time you bring back a mailed movie to the local store. Additionally, Blockbuster sends out a free movie rental coupon via email once a month. For these reasons, it's a better service than Netflix.

Discuss this Article 10

daveinla
on Apr 11, 2008
I had blockbuster total access before, which is as Paul said a mix of Netflix + free in store exchange. I was great as many times it's easier to make up your mind by seeing the DVDs yourself rather than browsing online and then waiting. Plus you didn't have to wait. But the only pb for me was that with a busy life at home with the kids, we rarely have time to enjoy the DVDs, and saw maybe 2-3 per months at the most. So I switched to iTunes store rental via my MacMini media center, and now we end up paying less for a service that's even more flexible and hassle free ! I'm convinced it's the future of movie rental if well done, and that's why big guns like Netflix and BBuster are rushing in now. They will have to work on the pricing though because I find that outrageous to pay the same price as a real DVD rental for online rental. iTunes found the right pricing IMO.
JuryDuty
on Apr 11, 2008
Honestly, I don't know why anyone uses Blockbuster, Netflix, iTunes or TiVo Unbox when Redbox is $1/rental. Sure, it has a smaller selection than all the aforementioned, but as long as you're only watching a handful of the newest movies each month, it's the way to go.
mudster
on Apr 11, 2008
Well, you are a bit behind on the Blockbuster deals. At least with the rent 1 at a time, unlimited, Blockbuster is $2 higher priced and they only allow 2 free rentals per month when you return to the store. And they stopped the free rental coupons. Might seem like a small difference, but it was easily enough to have me switch to Netflix, which I found is much better.
mudster
on Apr 11, 2008
I use Redbox from time to time, but it's only really any good for new releases, which is maybe 20% of my viewing. And even then, I have had a few times going there and not found the new movie I wanted. Good service though but hardly one that you can use on it's own.
Cfischer83
on Apr 11, 2008
Netfilx has unlimited "watch now" which means you can stream an unlimited amount of movies, tv shows on top of getting movies sent to you. Netflix is a much better deal IMO, so until Blockbuster can stream directly to your TV, Netflix will remain a better deal.
pthurrott
on Apr 11, 2008
Hmm. I just got a new Blockbuster email coupon, so I'm not sure they're canceling them. I'm on the two movies at a time plan, so I do get two free movies (or three, with a coupon) every time I visit the store. In fact, I usually walk out of the store with two or three movies and two microwave popcorns for a total cost of $1. I consider this a smoking deal.
pthurrott
on Apr 11, 2008
Cfisher83: The "watch now" thing is nice if you're online and don't mind watching a movie on your PC. Blockbuster will obvious move in this direction eventually, but I find the availability of local stores and the free movies (we average 5 free DVD rentals a month) to be far more valuable. We already have fee On Demand via FIOS (as well as paid On Demand), and an Apple TV, both of which provide hear/now movie viewing, but on the HDTV, not the PC. This is what most people want.
theCheez
on Apr 11, 2008
I personally think Netflix is better as well because of their streaming video as the local blockbuster store here is very small, and the selection is very poor so it just doesn't seem worth paying the extra for the instore exchanges. Besides, imho netflix is faster at receiving and shipping the next movie out than blockbuster was (closer receiving center, but that could vary by where you're located at).
matt.brown
on Apr 12, 2008
I've been using Netflix for year now and am very satisfied with it. I just tried Blockbuster Total Access this past month to compare and canceled it the other day because 1) Their turn aournd on movies is slower than Netflix, 2) in the first week, I received two incorrect DVDs (i.e. right sleeve, wrong movie), and 3) they billed my card when I was in the free trial period and when I e-mailed customer support I receive no answer. Horrible experience.
subzerohitman721
on Apr 13, 2008
I'm so turned off by Blockbuster's incompetence that I can't recommend it to anyone. A lot of times their DVD's are not kept up, scratched, or regularly refreshed in a timely manner. The fact that there are supposedly no late fees yet I have been assessed many before. And don't give me the BS about the fine print.... No Late Fees common sense means zero... None. Can't honor that, not good enough for me. I have 2 kids now, making it to Blockbuster in a timely mannor isn't always possible. Netflix isn't bad at all. I would love to see it mature even further. Perhaps they might do a set top box in the near future. I'm intrigued by Apple TV too.

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