Blockbuster announcing streaming set-top box this month?

The Hollywood Reporter is stating in no uncertain terms that Blockbuster is developing a set-top box to stream video into the home. Now the real bombshell: it should be announced "sometime this month." The device is expected to make the most of Blockbuster's access to Movielink's 6,000 strong Movie catalog just as soon as the content is migrated to Blockbuster.com (sometime before June). While delivering movies into the home electronically certainly challenges Blockbuster's brick and mortar business, really, what choice do they have in the relentless face of progress.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Apr 10th 2008 8:15AM]

It's a bit too bad for me then. Just quit em' for these buck a day redbox rental boxes in walmart and jewel. Way better really.

[Michael @ Apr 10th 2008 9:56AM]

you pay your dollar for your redbox dvd then when it doesnt work, who do you report it to? its under that "its only a buck" warranty so yeah...you also have no back catalog of movies to select from...just 'new' ones... what happens if i want to rent Real Genius cant do that from a redbox can i?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Apr 10th 2008 10:08AM]

Hey, here in Chicago, Blockbuster gave new movies as fast as they could. But when redbox got the area, new movies have been delivering faster than a cheetah with too many starbuck's lattes

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Apr 10th 2008 10:10AM]

Misread your comment, sorry. There actually is a back log in my local redbox I can tell you that much. So far, a redbox hasn't broke down on me. And Jewel says if the redbox breaks down, you get 20 bucks. It's really good for me, dunno about you

[Adrian Williams @ Apr 10th 2008 10:32AM]

my cousin uses Redbox those movies are out a week before Netflix and two weeks before my Netflix movies arrive

[Mark @ Apr 10th 2008 11:50AM]

redbox is ok.

... but with streaming movies online

... why would I want to drag myself out to a redbox and wait behind some smelly people or that idiot who can't figure it out?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Apr 10th 2008 12:03PM]

I'm just saying it's too bad for me 'cause I quit blockbuster for redbox after my blockbuster all time member ship was making redbox look like a bunch of free luxury items.

[SLARITY @ Apr 10th 2008 8:25AM]

I'm half excited about this. I use blockbuster online and it works great. Not sure if my 10mb internet will download HD movies fast enough for me. Hopefully I can queue two or three at a time and download them while I'm at work.

oh yeah...also... GIVE ME WI-FI. Don't need more cables running to my living room.

[Timmy @ Apr 10th 2008 8:28AM]

Does Blockbuster still demand hat the Studios edit their movies for content?

[John @ Apr 10th 2008 8:44AM]

I have not seen that in a while. They have been getting more and more directors cut movies on the sheff so I would say that is not happing anymore.

[Jerome @ Apr 10th 2008 10:37AM]

Actually, when titles are released with a rated version and an unrated version, Blockbuster will only carry the unrated version for rental along with a couple rated copies for purchase. I guess they decided to go the complete opposite direction with that.

[Isaac @ Apr 10th 2008 8:30AM]

Blockbuster is really a non factor to me because netflix has taken over my life.

[slarity @ Apr 10th 2008 8:32AM]

Does netflix do blu-rays now? And how easy would it be to get them, queue times for blockbuster's blu-rays are a long wait. I usually have to get DVDs and I trade those in the store for blu-rays, still their selection is pretty limited.

I WANT MY HD CONTENT!!!

[Adrian Williams @ Apr 10th 2008 10:37AM]

Netflix been doing BD and HD-DVD for awhile

[freediverdude @ Apr 10th 2008 8:47AM]

This would be smart for Blockbuster, if they can get it out the door fast enough before the iTunes catalog gets huge, and AppleTV catches on and becomes big. There's probably a niche for them though if they do the subscription model and Apple sticks with purchasing or renting individual titles.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Apr 10th 2008 8:47AM]

Finally Blockbuster are going to do what their name implies. They're going to "break out of the brick and mortar". A blockbuster . Git it, Blockbuster. LOL. it's too early for me

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Apr 10th 2008 8:48AM]

By the way. The site is looking very vey SLEEK today. Nice Updates! Looks very nice on the LN-T4061F I have from Sammy. Loads alot faster now, on my 10 year old PC!

[Homeboy @ Apr 10th 2008 8:48AM]

Say hello to 15 minutes of commercials before every movie starts.

[BTomazic @ Apr 10th 2008 9:55AM]

Does that just add to the "theatre experience in your home" effect?

[treacherous @ Apr 10th 2008 10:55AM]

I'd rather have a non-STB solution so I can put a plugin in Vista Media Center (yeah, VMC has become my life)

[h0mi @ Apr 10th 2008 11:17AM]

Just what we didn't need... another set top box.

Vudu, Tivo, Netflix's, this one, apple tv....

You'd think they'd spend more time/effort partnering with existing CEs who make set top boxes already and try to make them multifunction.

[Joe T. @ Apr 10th 2008 11:38AM]

Hmm-- more movies than AppleTV, better financed than Vudu, shipping sooner than XStreamHD.

This is getting interesting.

[Andy @ Apr 10th 2008 12:01PM]

They need to integrate into PS3/360 in a nice smooth way. Better than a completely separate box.

[Bryan @ Apr 10th 2008 1:05PM]

ok...That willbe nice for me...i use Redbox lots....ummm first im deaf...im require to use engish subtitle or Close Caption...if i use streaming online movies...will its show Subtile or Closed Caption...can u check it to see if it work.
im getting interestin on Streaming Online..Because i just got Cable last week.

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 10th 2008 12:31PM]

I'm game. As long as it streams movies so by the time you get to the third one in your queue it will be downloaded already I'd be happy.

[HalfJoey @ Apr 10th 2008 12:39PM]

I've been waiting for Netflix to make a similar announcement for some time. I wish they would hurry up.

[dan @ Apr 10th 2008 1:35PM]

In a product snapshot over on gizmodo we can see the remote for this looks like a men's dress shoe.

What are designers thinking?

[Joe T. @ Apr 10th 2008 2:14PM]

That's a photo of the Vudu box with a Blockbuster logo 'shopped on it. That remote has gotten rave reviews.

[tells @ Apr 10th 2008 2:46PM]

Cool. But when are they gonna bring movies straight to my glasses?

[Jon @ Apr 10th 2008 7:23PM]

Sony need to create PS3 api so that this sort of stuff (and streaming TV shows from networks) can be integrated into the xmb.

[Cassini @ Apr 10th 2008 8:07PM]

Normally, I might say, "Netflix better get a move on." But frankly, streaming has limited appeal to me (and certainly to many others).

We have it with Comcast, and sure, it grants a certain level of instantaneous satisfaction. But streaming stinks in many ways.

What I want is an STB with a HDD, because you can only accomplish so much with streaming, and local storage is the only way to currently solve the drawbacks. What are the drawbacks?

- No access to Special Features
- No access to subtitles
- No moving ahead or back by track or chapters
- Button presses take forever to respond - WAY too much system latency

Those flaws make for an unsatisfying experience. Yeah, yeah, you got your movie, but if none of those things matter, then why are they offered on DVD's?

We need an STB that offers a HDD so movies can download and be stored locally. Then we could have access to all of the above and it would be no different than popping in a DVD. It would also allow Netflix to maintain the integrity of their current rental / business model - but instead of physical media, it would just be in virtual form, which is what I've been desiring for ages now. That would all allow for a MUCH better solution.

So go ahead, BB... have fun with your streaming box. I'll stick with Comcast and Netflix in the meantime, and hopefully, Netflix will offer what I suggested above.

[David Peavy @ Apr 11th 2008 3:00PM]

It was just a matter of time.....Netflix already has it in the works. Now if Netflix had retail stores....
Don't you just love competition........