HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "BLOCKBUSTER"Receive High-Def Disc News via RSS

Rumor: Warner is Doubling the Rental Embargo to Eight Weeks

Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 09:30 AM ET
Tags: 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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Blockbuster is Giving Away Free Batteries on Christmas Day

Tue Dec 20, 2011 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Blockbuster, Free Stuff (all tags)

You can pick up two packs of batteries and grab additional packs for 99 cents each.

Let's set the scene. It's Christmas morning back when you were a kid and you wake up to a glut of presents from Santa. You excitedly tear open the box to reveal a Game Boy or a toy train that really lights up, but your happiness is dashed the moment you realize that there aren't any spare batteries in the house.

This year, Blockbuster has your back. If you swing into a Blockbuster location on Christmas Day - they open at noon, by the way - you can get two packs of AA or AAA batteries. Need more? Each pack after the first two runs just 99 cents.

Blockbuster has more deals of course, and is offering discounts on HDMI cables just in case those got forgotten too.

Source: Blockbuster

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Disc-By-Mail Services May Face Delay Thanks to New USPS Plan

Wed Dec 07, 2011 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: 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 ET
Tags: 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 Boasts a $3.3 Million Profit Since Dish Buyout

Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Blockbuster, Dish Network, Sales Figures (all tags)

Looks like the rental giant may have been counted out too soon!

It seemed like things were all over for Blockbuster and, if you look at it a certain way, they are. The company fought bankruptcy, dealt with creditors and did its best to stay afloat and eventually got sold to Dish Network.

Dish made some major changes to the company, resulting in some incredible results. In the time between April 26th and September 30th, Blockbuster has made $3.3 million. That's not a huge amount in the profit column, but being able to report a profit is downright impressive.

Dish says that the new Blockbuster streaming service has helped out with profits significantly and already gained 600,000 subscribers.

It's still too soon to tell, but it seems like this Dish acquisition could be a new start for Blockbuster.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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Blockbuster Kiosks Increase Pricing in Hopes of Keeping New Releases

Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: 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 ET
Tags: 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 ET
Tags: 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 ET
Tags: 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 Subcriptions Increase by Half a Million

Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Blockbuster, Dish Network, Blockbuster Movie Pass (all tags)

Apparently the Dish Network announcement made a pretty big impact.

According to Blockbuster, they've increased by 500,000 subscribers in the last 30 days. We're willing to bet a large number of those new members came on board in the last week, after Dish announced their impressive streaming/disc combo service.

The company hasn't disclosed how many of those subscribers might be getting a free trial, but either way 500,000 is a number that's hard to ignore, especially in such a short amount of time.

Hopefully this interest will lead the way to Dish Network opening this service up to non-subscribers for an additional fee. Getting games and movies and streaming content from one source instead of signing up for Netflix, Qwickster and Gamefly is something with a great deal of appeal.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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