Blockbuster
Obituary: Blockbuster Video
November 7, 2013 | Christian Hokenson
Blockbuster Video, once the most boffo of all video store chains, died this Wednesday after a long period spent in a persistent vegetative state. The once mighty brick-n-mortar retailer of top-rated movies was 28 years old.Read More
Blockbuster On Demand app now available for Apple iOS devices
May 2, 2013 | Jeff Chabot
Blockbuster has just released an iOS version of their On Demand app that allows Apple mobile devices to instantly stream movies in HD (even 1080p) with 5.1 surround sound (although high-definition quality calls for a consistant 3Mbps connection). The free … Read More
Dish Closing 300 Blockbuster Stores
January 22, 2013 | Christian Hokenson
Dish Networks will be closing 300 Blockbuster video stores in an effort to further thin out the once powerful brand, and is advancing its plans to move Blockbuster’s headquarters from Dallas, Texas to Meridian, Colorado where Dish’s current operations are based.Read More
Redbox/Warner agreement expires, but customers benefit
February 1, 2012 | Jeff Chabot
Redbox has decided not to renew an agreement with Warner Brothers which allowed them to acquire movies directly the studio, instead they will purchase titles “through alternative means” — meaning, retail. This might not turn out all bad though for customers, Read More
Blockbuster plays Santa with free batteries
December 19, 2011 | Jeff Chabot
On Christmas day Blockbuster will give away two free packs of AA or AAA batteries — no purchase necessary. The stores will be open from noon until 10 p.m. and the batteries are available while supplies last. Blockbuster is hoping the promotion will get customers into stores on X-mas day to pick up a new movie or gaming title. The Blockbuster stores will also sell HDMI cables (no brand name supplied) for $9.99 each. And, additional batteries will be available for 99-cents each pack. Now why didn’t Radio Shack think of this? Read More
Dish to launch ‘Blockbuster Movie Pass’ streaming service
September 23, 2011 | Jeff Chabot
Dish Network formerly announces a streaming service to compete with Netflix and Amazon…but for Dish TV customers only.
Dish Network has taken the antiquated movie rental company Blockbuster and turned it into a completely relevant multi-service provider. Their newest announcement, Blockbuster Movie Pass, will provide streaming content to subscribers much like the service Netflix provides. Not to be undone, Blockbuster’s Movie Pass package will also include discs-by-mail (with no added charge for Blu-rays), video games-by-mail, in-store exchanges, and access to premium movie channels such as MGM, Epix, and Sony Movie Channel. Read More
How to save Blockbuster
August 6, 2011 | Jeff Chabot 1
Even though Blockbuster sent a bottom-dwelling collection agency after me for a late charge on an out-of-state account that was over 10 years old, I believe with new ownership from Dish Network the one-time household name can be saved. But Dish must make some quick moves to save the dying giant, and the ol’ school method of doing business isn’t going to work. Read More
Blockbuster to keep 1,500 stores
July 22, 2011 | Dave McCarty
Blockbuster, now owned by DISH Network, has announced they will keep 1,500 stores open in the U.S. after a New York court approved closing of the stores under bankruptcy protection. The company says they have made agreements with the property owners to keep the stores running, which in effect will employ 15,000 people. Read More
Blockbuster offers unlimited free rentals through July 4
June 15, 2011 | Dave McCarty
If you’re a Blockbuster customer you may have received a postcard offering “Unlimited Free Rentals” though July 4th. Well, here’s the catch. You get a free 1-day rental whenever you rent a new release for $2.99. The free movie must be a $1.99 rental or less, and you can only have one out at a time. The promotion doesn’t include games (or, oddly enough defensive driving courses). New movies include such titles as Black Swan, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part. 1, and Kung Fu Panda. Read More
Dish offering free Blockbuster trial
May 19, 2011 | Jeff Chabot 1
With all the madness surrounding the PSN outage and the excitement of the NBA playoffs we had almost forgotten about the Dish Network acquisition of Blockbuster. Well, Dish has made its first move in rebuilding the Blockbuster brand by offering three months of free Blockbuster By Mail. But there’s a hitch. Read More
Dish keeps Blockbuster stores but rejects gift cards
April 19, 2011 | Jeff Chabot
Dish Network, who recently purchased bankrupt movie rental chain Blockbuster, will keep about 600 of the remaining 1,726 stores — that according to the Dallas Morning News. That means Dish plans to continue operating the stores, at least for a while, and will most likely push their own satellite TV products using the store fronts. Read More
Dish Network wins Blockbuster at auction
April 6, 2011 | Jeff Chabot
In an auction ending about 1:30 a.m. last night Dish Network won a bid for the bankrupt Blockbuster Inc. for about $320.6 million. According to The Wall Street Journal, the auction ended at Manhattan law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft after starting in bankruptcy court on Tuesday morning. $228 million of the total will be paid in cash. Read More
Blockbuster On Demand now on 100 devices
December 1, 2010 | Jeff Chabot
Blockbuster says they have reached a milestone of 100 devices that support Blockbuster On Demand rentals. Newly added devices include the new Samsung Galaxy Tab with 32GB of expandable storage and the Samsung Continuum Android-powered smartphone. Additional Samsung products supporting Blockbuster On Demand include Blu-ray Disc players, TVs and home theater systems. Read More
Blockbuster adds On Demand device access
November 3, 2010 | Jeff Chabot 1
Blockbuster has added more accessibility to its BLOCKBUSTER On Demand service by partnering with six new electronics distributers that include Onkyo, Sylvania, Yamaha, Integra, and Western Digital. A total of seven new devices are now capable of utilizing the service — most of them Blu-ray Disc disc players with the exception of Western Digital’s TV Live Hub media box. Read More
Blockbuster brick and mortar biz dead?
July 9, 2010 | Jeff Chabot 6
It’s hard to believe the company that opened thousands of stores nationwide and lead the movie rental business soon after launching in 1985 could possibly go belly up. But video-on-demand, kiosks, and movies-by-mail may have toppled the giant. Read More
Blockbuster On Demand added to Philips Blu-ray players
July 7, 2010 | hdreport
The newest Blu-ray Disc players from Philips will feature Blockbuster On Demand support, allowing streaming movie purchases without having to go to a rental store. The Philips 5320 and 7320 Blu-ray player models have supposedly added support for the service. However, good luck finding one of the BD models to purchase. We checked the Best Buy, Radio Shack and Amazon stocks but came up short. Here’s a link to the BDP7320 on the manufacturer’s website. Read More
Toshiba announces Blu-ray players that stream Netflix & Blockbuster
June 2, 2010 | Jeff Chabot 2
Former Blu-ray rival Toshiba has officially announced availability of two reasonably priced Blu-ray Disc players. The BDX2500 ($179.99) and BDX2700 ($249.99) include Wi-Fi, 7.1 channel audio, 24 frames-per-second, and compatibility with Netflix and Blockbuster On Demand. Read More
Best Buy to take on iTunes and Amazon VOD
May 18, 2010 | Jeff Chabot
Big box retailer Best Buy doesn’t plan on watching Apple and Amazon dominate the online movie sales business, or sit back waiting for Walmart’s Vudu service to take off. The company will begin selling movies via internet this month through CinemaNow, an online distribution service acquired by Sonic Solutions in 2008.
Read More
Blockbuster announces new deals with Fox and Sony
April 7, 2010 | Jeff Chabot
Blockbuster has made new deals with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to provide customers with day-and-date titles from stores or by mail. Last month Blockbuster also renewed an agreement with Warner Bros. to provide new titles immediately to customers. Read More
Blockbuster renews Warner deal, On Demand added to Samsung products
March 23, 2010 | Jeff Chabot
Blockbuster has renewed a previous agreement with Warner Bros. to offer new titles immediately for rental by mail or in-store. Movies include today’s release of The Blind Side and next Tuesday’s (Mar. 30) release of Sherlock Holmes. The renewal continues a 25-year relationship between the two companies. The existing digital agreement will stay in-tact. Read More
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