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Rumor: Warner is Doubling the Rental Embargo to Eight Weeks
Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 09:30 AM ETTags: Redbox, Netflix, Blockbuster, Warner, Rumors and Speculation (all tags)
This embargo affects not only Redbox and Netflix, but Blockbuster stores as well.
Warner Home Video has never been a fan of the whole Redbox and Netflix thing. They say that the low priced rentals are hurting sales and are doing what they can to cut down on the effects. It's not surprising then that Warner is looking to expand their existing 28 day embargo to 56.
What does seem a bit out of character is that Warner isn't just targeting Netflix and Redbox this time. Not only is the company expanding the embargo on low priced kiosks and subscription services, they're applying that eight week embargo to Blockbuster stores as well.
It hasn't been officially announced at this point, but it seems fairly likely. Adding the delay would be a move not only to increase DVD and Blu-ray sales, but to push the digital copy storage locker UltraViolet which is getting a big push this year.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Disc-By-Mail Services May Face Delay Thanks to New USPS Plan
Wed Dec 07, 2011 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Netflix, Blockbuster (all tags)
If this goes through, it may spell doom for disc by mail services.
Blockbuster and Netflix disc-by-mail subscribers may be in for some bad news - movies are going to be getting to you even slower. This isn't something you can blame on Netflix or Blockbuster though. This one goes to the USPS.
Apparently, our postal service isn't doing so well. They've been losing money hand over fist and there doesn't seem to be any sign of it stopping. They've talked about ending Saturday deliveries but now there's an option on the table that would make disc-by-mail incredibly inconvenient.
The proposal would put an end to next-day delivery of First Class mail, instead allowing up to 72 hours for your letter or disc to get to its destination.
Source: Hacking Netflix
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Cheap Blu-rays, Free Giveaways, and $50 Blu-ray Players at Blockbuster This Weekend
Fri Nov 18, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Blockbuster, Blu-ray deals (all tags)
The Blockbuster Open House runs November 19th and 20th and features plenty of discounts and even a game tournament.
Blockbuster seemed like it was down for the count, but the sale to Dish has helped things start to turn around. It's not there yet, but the company is at least looking in the right direction. The one big hurdle, of course, is getting people back into those brick and mortar locations.
The Blockbuster Open House this weekend should do a lot to help that along. The company is offering up 49 cent rentals on older movies, 99 cent game rentals and sales on previously viewed and played titles.
In fact, for movies and games priced $15 and below you'll be able to bundle your own deal. You can get three for $20 or five for $30. Five Blu-rays for $30? Not too shabby.
Blockbuster also advertises that with a 1-year subscription to the Blockbuster Combo Pass or Blockbuster Total Access you'll be able to get a Blu-ray player for $49. The Blockbuster stores we contacted did not have a brand or model number handy.
Source: Blockbuster
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Blockbuster Kiosks Increase Pricing in Hopes of Keeping New Releases
Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Blockbuster, Blu-ray Rentals (all tags)
Changing the price structure at the same time as Redbox should help soften some of the criticism.
The one big advantage that Blockbuster has right now over Netflix and Redbox is new release Blu-rays. Well, they have that advantage with every studio but Warner, but it's still a pretty good chunk of the new content that comes out.
As you can imagine, Blockbuster wants to keep that advantage. As a step towards keeping things friendly with studios, the company has raised prices on kiosk rentals of newly released movies.
Pricing for rentals will now fall at $3 for the first day and $1 for each additional day. After the first 28 days - the standard window for new release rentals - pricing will drop to $2 for the first and a $1 every day thereafter. At the 90 day mark, movies will cost $1 a night.
This move definitely separates Blockbuster kiosks from Redbox in terms of pricing, but Blockbuster has high hopes that a more up-to-date selection will sway renters.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Warner Puts a 28 Day Delay on Blockbuster and Other Video Stores
Fri Oct 28, 2011 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Warner, Blockbuster (all tags)
This puts Blockbuster on even footing with Redbox and Netflix in terms of release dates.
One of the things that Blockbuster has been holding above the heads of rental companies like Redbox and Netflix is that there's no delay for Blockbuster titles. You can swing in to a store on the day of release and pick up a brand new Blu-ray.
Well, it seems that's not something Blockbuster can boast about anymore. Warner has issued a 28 day delay on all titles to the video giant. Starting on November 1st, movies like 'Crazy, Stupid, Love' and, much more importantly, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2' will suffer the four week delay.
What does this mean for Blockbuster? It means they can't brag about that advantage anymore, at least when it comes to movies from Warner. It also means that the company will be under a bit more pressure than it already was.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Blockbuster Has Another New Rental Scheme
Fri Oct 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Blockbuster (all tags)
This time it's an in-store subscription plan for games, DVDs and Blu-rays.
The folks at Blockbuster are doing whatever they can to fire up business, and part of that effort is to try out new rental programs until they find something that clicks. The latest iteration actually sounds like a pretty sweet deal if you're not averse to swinging by the store to get your discs.
The rental plan is called Blockbuster Combo Pass and it allows you to rent one DVD, Blu-ray or videogame at a time with no due dates for $14.99 a month. You'll also get a special rate of $7.49 for the first month.
Of course, things get a little confusing when you try and decide between Blockbuster Total Access and Blockbuster Combo Pass. It seems like Total Access - the disc by mail service that allows in-store exchanges - would be a better deal for those just getting movies, but Combo Pass is the way to go for gamers who have to pay extra to trade in for games with Total Access.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Dish and Blockbuster Take a Marketing Tip from Timeshares
Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Blockbuster, Free Stuff, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
Listen to the pitch, get free movies and games.
If you've been to any hot vacation destination, you've probably been approached to attend a timeshare meeting. They're slick deals if you don't mind blowing a little time and you have the force of will to resist a hard sell. In exchange for that time you'll get things ranging from show tickets to gift cards.
Blockbuster and Dish are rolling out a similar promotion. If you go into a Blockbuster store and listen to a Dish Network pitch then you'll get a free game or movie rental on the spot and a free subscription to Blockbuster by Mail for 30 days.
"You set up an appointment with one of our representatives and they give you the whole run down," explains one Blockbuster employee, stating that they will then "give you all the information and they can sign you up for a free membership."
This isn't running in all Blockbuster locations, but if you want a free rental and you don't mind sitting through a sales pitch to get it, this might not be a bad setup.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Blockbuster Canada is Closing its Doors
Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Blockbuster, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
The remaining 253 Canadian stores will be shut down and the company liquidated.
Sure, Blockbuster was a slow moving giant. And yes, we all saw it coming. A company that's unable to adapt to a quickly moving market is bound to go down in flames. Still, hundreds, even thousands of employees are losing their jobs and we at High-Def Digest are of the opinion that this is a bad thing.
253 total stores will be shut down and liquidated, finally ending Blockbuster's presence in Canada. Offers for sale were considered, but a satisfactory agreement was unable to be reached.
Aside from the existing problems that were plaguing Blockbuster, Dish Network filed papers that would stop Blockbuster Canada from using the Blockbuster name. Not only is that a big blow for the company, but it negatively impacts potential sales which would, in part, be buying brand recognition.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Blockbuster is Keeping 1,500 Stores Open
Mon Jul 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Blockbuster, Industry Trends (all tags)
Apparently the last few months have been pretty good for them.
When Blockbuster finally announced that it was over and the company was being sold, it seemed likely that retail locations would all be closed up. After all, if the company isn't making a profit then the model isn't working.
Dish Network seems to have things figured out though. They've shut a few hundred stores, sure, but they're going to be keeping 1,500 open with around 15,000 employees working at them. Blockbuster president Michael Kelly even says that the stores that did close were more due to issues with landlords than the market.
"By lowering pricing and offering competitive summer promotions, we’ve brought millions of customers back into Blockbuster stores in the last three months," says Kelly. If that's the case then Blockbuster may start to stabilize and even stand a chance to make a comeback.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Blockbuster Offers Subscription Free Rent-By-Mail
Thu Jul 14, 2011 at 02:30 PM ETTags: Blockbuster, Netflix, Industry Trend, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
Expect to see a lot of changes from Netflix competitors in the wake of the new price structure fiasco.
Netflix has changed its pricing pretty significantly and a great many customers have seen this as a perfect time to cancel their accounts, while others are beginning to explore other options. Blockbuster wants to be that option for those favoring discs over streaming.
Their latest addition to the service might be the very thing that gets them back into the minds of movie enthusiasts. Instead of requiring a subscription to rent DVDs and Blu-rays, Blockbuster is now offering week long rentals by mail at the price of $4.99.
While that's not entirely appealing when it comes to DVDs, keep in mind that Blockbuster charges the same amount for Blu-rays. That means that those new release Blu-rays that Redbox and Netflix don't have can be delivered to your door for five bucks. It's definitely going to be enough to tempt some away from Netflix disc service.
Source: Blockbuster
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MORE BLU-RAY NEWS TAGGED "BLOCKBUSTER":
- Blockbuster Gift Cards No Longer Being Honored May 16, 2011
- Dish Network Wins Bid, Acquires Blockbuster Apr 06, 2011
- Dish Puts in a Bid on Blockbuster Apr 04, 2011
- Amazon, Best Buy, and Coinstar Are Potential Blockbuster Buyers Feb 28, 2011
- Blockbuster Express Launching 3,000 New Kiosks in 2011 Feb 07, 2011
- Blockbuster On Demand is Live on Over 100 Devices Dec 02, 2010
- Blockbuster Kiosks Get 28 Day Warner Brothers Delay Mar 25, 2010
- These Are Not Blockbuster Times for Blockbuster Mar 22, 2010
- These Are Not Blockbuster Times for Blockbuster Mar 22, 2010
- Blockbuster Closing 960 Stores – Opening 9,500 Kiosks Sep 17, 2009
- Blockbuster to Go Blu-ray Only in 1400+ Stores Jun 18, 2007
- Rumor Mill: Blockbuster to Stock HD DVD, Blu-ray? (Updated) Nov 01, 2006
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