Blockbuster to Offer In-Store Download Kiosks
Being the forward-thinking dinosaurs that they are, Blockbuster have announced a new plan to help save their dwindling movie rental business. Starting next month, they will begin a pilot test of digital download kiosks in various stores that will allow customers to download full movies to their portable media player of choice. While it may seem like a clever way to keep consumers flocking to the actual physical store locations, I can’t see many people choosing this method of downloading over a little thing that previously existed known as the internet. Still, I suppose the one advantage they have here is that the download time of the kiosk is expected to be approximately 30 seconds, which is a heck of a lot quicker than downloading most torrents.
Details regarding the rental procedure and how the digital movies will be protected from being copied and shared online are still somewhat vague. The exact number of movies and the studios involved in the trial run also have yet to be revealed. Blockbuster chairman and CEO James Keyes did say, however, that they are looking at possibly offering a monthly subscription fee of $10 for the downloads, and may also add video games in the future. Can you see yourself using one of these kiosks? Personally, I can’t see it really taking off. The future of movie rental and distribution is online and on demand!
Comments (3)
They just don’t know when to call it quits. They are the Hillary Clinton of the Movie Rental business.
If they want to stay open, they need to take drastic measures such as SERIOUSLY slashing rental prices, and/or becoming more of a sell-thru business.
Posted by Jon Rocks on May 30th, 2008“They just don’t know when to call it quits. They are the Hillary Clinton of the Movie Rental business.” : )
This idea is really fucking stupid.
Their future is retail only. The investors need to wise up because in five to ten years there will be a great iTV like thing that will cut all physical renting in existence. I hope execs start saving their cash.
Posted by Ryan on May 30th, 2008Movie Retailers needs to use this kiosk technology if they want to stay in the game. They need to be more innovative and stop following everyone else. I found this site, but I have never seen the machine. Check it out.
http://www.ondemandrentalkiosk.com
Posted by Mike on July 15th, 2008Leave a Reply