Blockbuster joins the movie set-top-box game with 2Wire MediaPoint player

We've rubbed our eyes four or five times now, but the factual heat remains: Blockbuster -- of all companies -- has decided to dive headfirst into the movie set-top-box arena. We wanted to believe the rumors were false, but sure enough, it has joined VUDU, Apple TV, Roku and the Xbox 360 in the highly competitive market place for your digital download dollars. For a "limited time," the outfit will offer the 2Wire-built MediaPoint player for free with the "advance rental of 25 first-run movies, TV shows, foreign or classic films from Blockbuster On-Demand (previously Movielink) for $99." After that, rentals are $1.99 to $3.99 apiece, and a Blockbuster subscription is not required. The unit itself measures 8- x 8- x 1-inch and includes two USB ports, an SD slot, Ethernet / WiFi and an HDMI port, and it should be available at the company's website and in select retail stores very soon. So, are you interested in the à la carte approach?

[Google @ Nov 24th 2008 9:59PM]

Can it play Halo? Nope. My Xbox 360 can.

Advantage: Netflix.

[lowdef @ Nov 24th 2008 10:18PM]

can it play cry---? no...wait my pc cant either...damn

[nerdtalker @ Nov 24th 2008 10:21PM]

You *almost* said it, here's $5 that you're going to be low ranked for it anyhow. Very clever.

[Google @ Nov 24th 2008 10:23PM]

I like my chances.... I only used a word longer than 4-letters at the end of the comment... Most Engadget users are nearly as smart as they look.

[Cal @ Nov 24th 2008 10:02PM]

blockbuster still exists??

[absurdio @ Nov 24th 2008 11:49PM]

Ah, Blockbuster: the eternal playground of Obsolescence and Bankruptcy.
Maybe they should try buying Circuit City, again.

[gad get @ Nov 25th 2008 7:45AM]

Yes they exist, and had better not desist, or I'll have to start renting elsewhere.

[David @ Nov 25th 2008 9:37AM]

I know, only 8 years ago my parents were telling not to rent from blockbuster, the big evil company that were putting the little guy out of business, but they were they only people that carried the futuristic DVD format. I was warned that once the little guys had gone the price of rental would rise and the stores would shut down and I would have to drive 10 miles to get a movie.

I guess my parents and blockbuster didn't see the internet coming.

[jeffvan @ Nov 24th 2008 10:02PM]

NO.

[andres @ Nov 24th 2008 11:47PM]

YES

[nerdtalker @ Nov 25th 2008 2:32AM]

MAYBE

[lowdef @ Nov 25th 2008 2:58AM]

NES

[gad get @ Nov 25th 2008 7:46AM]

YO.

[alex @ Nov 24th 2008 10:09PM]

blockbuster is a dinosour company, I'll be amazed if they make it to 2010

[absinthe party @ Nov 25th 2008 7:12AM]

That's ridiculous. Dinosaurs can't work cash registers, alex.

[Ludologist @ Nov 25th 2008 10:53AM]

No alex, you're thinking of InGen.

[freediverdude @ Nov 26th 2008 9:11AM]

I'll take "Dying Movie Rental Companies Releasing Set Top Boxes as a Last Desperate Gasp" for $500, Alex.

[oakie @ Nov 24th 2008 10:12PM]

"will offer the 2Wire-built MediaPoint player for free with the "advance rental of 25 first-run movies, TV shows, foreign or classic films from Blockbuster On-Demand (previously Movielink) for $99." After that, rentals are $1.99 apiece"

based purely on their poor math (it'd have to be 50 movies, not 25) i will be choosing the Xbox360 or the Roku/Netflix box instead. not that they were even a consideration, ever.

[h0mi @ Nov 24th 2008 10:17PM]

Another set top box.

So I'm supposed to get a Roku box, vudu, apple tv and this thing? Why dont these companies get hardware makers to support all of their services (ok I expect apple to do it's own thing) that way I could buy 1 box and be able to use any or even all of these services.

[john Rothert @ Nov 24th 2008 10:19PM]

If I had a vacation home this would be a great option. Of course if I had a vacation home I also probably wouldn't be sweating monthly rental fees.

[Lobito @ Nov 24th 2008 10:26PM]

Another company that refuses to follow suit on a good idea. (American car makers come to mind).
It seems they are betting on the Brand Loyalty here too, rather than become more competitive by offering something new or improved.
Netflix still has an advantage over other rental services.

[chrisaroz @ Nov 24th 2008 10:31PM]

And how is this better than my Tivo and Amazon? Idiots... No wonder Blockbuster's going under. Long live Amazon and Redbox!!

[kastonie @ Nov 24th 2008 10:39PM]

so im guessing that possibly an AT&T blockbuster agreement could be possible in the future since this involves 2wire.......

[SOCOMRAIDER @ Nov 24th 2008 10:51PM]

You forgot PS3/PSN.

[Snitch @ Nov 24th 2008 11:03PM]

This could work really good if they could get some real movie content, something Netflix doesn't have, Netflix claims that they have 10,000 tittles of complete bullshit, Apple TV and Vudo have way less but everything is mayor films and new releases, so if they could compete with the apple box & the Vudo they might have something there. Xbox 360 is not even a option i think, Who in their right mind is going to buy that thing knowing they come defective or will break in a couple of weeks? they got the great games you have to give them that, but the thing is total bullshit

[Electromodo @ Nov 24th 2008 11:12PM]

Well, I guess it's time to switch to Netflix.

I've had Blockbuster online account since the time it started, and I was happy. The reason is - you don't need to wait until the next DVD arrives in mail (like Netflix), but you bring it to the Blockbuster store next door and get the free DVD from the shelf. And it cuts the time to send the DVD back in mail, because as soon as you bring it to the store they ship you another DVD. This model allows you to watch many more movies than on Netflix. So I was happy and waited for the download era to start.

The download era started with Roku but it was SD only, so I though "let's wait for Blockbuster's response". Blockbuster responded with movie downloads, $3.99 each. Bummer. Now Netflix started streaming in HD, and Blockbuster promised the set-top box too. And it came out, but they STILL CHARGE PER MOVIE!!!

This is no brainier now, switch to Netflix and get unlimited movies. That's what I am going to do.


P.S. Though Netflix is now much superior for online geeks, do not bury the Blockbuster. It's brick-n-mortar stores will stay there until the last American gets the high-speed Internet in his house. Or until DVDs and Blu-Rays become obsolete. Which will not happen soon considering how many poor people/immigrants America has.

So comments like "does Blockbuster still exist?" look very childish to me. Blockbuster will be there for a long time.

[Danger @ Nov 24th 2008 11:23PM]

Immigrants can't use DVDs or Blu-Ray discs?

That was a pretty spot-on comment until that P.S. part.

[Snitch @ Nov 24th 2008 11:37PM]

Yeah Netflix gives you unlimited movie alright, but it won't include the tittles you think they will, it's pretty much like Nacho Libre 1-9 and similar tittles

[Electromodo @ Nov 24th 2008 11:45PM]

@Danger

Sorry if I abused anybody, but what I meant was: not everybody can afford a high speed internet. The majority (not everybody, but majority) of immigrants coming to US are busy with establishing themselves, finding job and place to live rather than spending $60+ a month for fast speed Internet. And there are many Americans who just can't afford it anyway. So Blockbuster stores will remain the major place for them to get a movie on weekend.

Maybe I am too pessimistic, then sorry. I am all for the download era!!!

[zague @ Nov 25th 2008 12:55PM]

I can't even beleive you posted this. If I only had you in front of me right now.

[Ray Hernandez @ Nov 25th 2008 12:40PM]

I couldn't agree with you more. I've stayed a Blockbuster member (in-store, not online) for years now, cause I can pay $30 a month and rent as many games and movies as I want. Me and my wife watch movies every night so we'd easily be paying double if we rented the movies separately.

If blockbuster really wanted to compete, they'd take the monthly subscription idea and let you download as many movies as you want on their box for $30-50 a month (I don't know if I'd pay more than 50 a month). I would do that in a heart beat. It would save me time and gas. Not to mention they'd make more in the long run with a subscription fee.

That's my 2 cents.

[Joshua Walters @ Nov 24th 2008 11:48PM]

How is that free?

$1.99*25 =/= $100

If they threw this in with their BlockBuster online, it had good HD, a great library, AND you still got some in store rentals, I might be down with it. But I doubt they will ever do that.

Video rental stores are a dying breed.

[Joseph @ Nov 25th 2008 2:22AM]

≠

[Jetal @ Jan 6th 2009 5:40AM]

of course... the 25 you pay for up front are "First Run" movies which are 3.99 each normally, and the additional movies START at 1.99

This sounds like a Deal, even though I don't usually rent movies.
I keep my own DVD's safe in the closet and my backups in DivX on a D-Link DNS-323 NAS box. Currently Using a D-Link DSM-510 player which is even smaller than the MediaPoint(pro), but it was $170(con) and there are issues with the HDMI port(con).

I'd NEVER pay $99 for one day each with 25 movies, but if I could get a straight answer of whether MediaPoint will play Divx I might be happy to "buy" it for $99 and have the movies be free.

[List Pros Of Device, List One Con, Then Say I'll Pass or I'll Wait Guy @ Nov 25th 2008 12:06AM]

Pros:

- Great initial offer (25 movies)

- No subscription to blockbuster necessary

- Ethernet and WiFi Ready

Cons:

- Only one HDMI port?!?! What about those of us who have 4 HDTV's side by side and want to watch the same thing from a single source on all four televisions

- 8 x 8 x 1 inches? How do they expect us to keep this behemoth in my entertainment center? This was a make or break feature for me. Wayyy too big to be useful.



I'll pass.

[imatt @ Nov 25th 2008 12:08AM]

Am I the only one who thinks "2Wire" is an incredibly poor choice for a name of a consumer electronics device? People want fewer wires, not more. WireLESS is ideal, 1Wire if absolutely necessary. You may have dodged a bullet by not buying Circuit City a few months back, but this last-ditch effort to remain relevant and profitable in an age of Netflix, Gametap, and digital downloads is feeble. Move along, Blockbuster. Move along.

[Kermee @ Nov 25th 2008 2:06AM]

Actually, 2Wire is the brand name of the OEM who makes the STB. It's not the name of the model. 2Wire is actually quite a large company...

[Joseph @ Nov 25th 2008 2:25AM]

ethernet + power = 2 wires
these are popular wireless routers.

ironic that a wireLESS router requires 2 wires.

[Jason @ Nov 25th 2008 10:35AM]

I think they made a mistake chosing 2wire. I've been supporting their equipment for years, and If this set top box is of the same quality as their gateways and modems. It'll start breaking after about 3 months. You'll spend more time replacing set-top boxes than you will using them.

[Sameer Surampalli @ Nov 25th 2008 12:16AM]

First off, not all of us (and the average homeowner) can afford four HDTVs jackass.

Second, an 8x8" square isn't a behemoth by any standard. You must be minuscule for that to be a behemoth.

[Sameer Surampalli @ Nov 25th 2008 12:18AM]

This comment system fails... That was to "List Pros Of Device, List One Con, Then Say I'll Pass or I'll Wait Guy." Get a new name...

[PollockRoc @ Nov 25th 2008 1:50AM]

Ummm, you're reply system fails if you couldn't detect the sarcasm in that guys post.

[Joseph @ Nov 25th 2008 2:28AM]

yeah, come on. his name was the list 1 con. the second one wasn't a con. 8x8x1 being large was sarcasm. however his 1 con was: 1 HDMI port for his 4 TVs.

[DesertPyrate @ Nov 25th 2008 1:14AM]

Well I have Netflix and a 360, so far very pleased with it, between Xbox Live charging per flick, which this thing will do and with Netflix steaming shows (mainly older stuff and stuff on cable) I use Netflix for renting newer Blu Ray movies that I dont plan on buying, this device seems meaningless IMHO, its just up to the persons preference but I'd pass, I own a PS3 also and if this service was included, I'd still pass, I bought into HD DVD and then Blu Ray, not going to buy into two download services, I can collect HD DVDs from Ebay, but technically with Xbox Live, PSN, Netflix and Directv on demand, I think my steaming glass is pretty much full.

I'd say for this to be a big take off here in the states, it would need something like a PS3 pushing it, which just might be in the future, if I want to pay per film I'll just get it from Xbox Live or PSN and thats if I REALLY dont feel like waiting for Netflix to ship, this is almost too little too late, my entertainment center is about stuffed between all that other stuff I just mentioned and throw in the HTPC(Home Theater PC) and well yeah Blockbuster dont fit

[AJ in the East Bay @ Nov 25th 2008 2:06AM]

The only videos I get 'a la carte' are Redbox movies for $1 plus tax.

Sorry, Blockbuster. You still FAIL.

[james pierce @ Nov 25th 2008 2:29AM]

blockbuster stb

1080p video = no
live streaming = no
video subscription = no
ugly looking box = yes

Failed in all counts!

[absinthe party @ Nov 25th 2008 7:15AM]

Well, no, because it suceeds at being an "ugly-looking box." You fail at dishing out negative feedback.

[Paul @ Nov 25th 2008 3:20AM]

I truly don't get the negativity here. This is a little, likely quiet, likely lowish power box that is comparatively cheap with cheap pay-per-view movies and no subscription.

Someone compared this to their Tivo. That's a silly apples-to-oranges comparison. Sure you get Amazon movies, but you (generally) pay more up front, pay a monthly subscription for nothing, AND pay per-view for movies (and generally more than $1.99). If you already have Tivo, then perhaps this may be the better option, but otherwise it doesn't deserve comparison.

Compared to Apple TV, you have a far cheaper up front cost and cheaper movie rental. This seems only a better option for those extremely devoted to Apple.

The 360 and PS3 are expensive, big, power hungry, loud, and overkill for simple movie watching. If you already have one on the TV that you watch movies on, are willing to put up with the aforementioned negatives, and navigate through all of the complexities required just to watch a simple movie (thankfully the 360's new experience makes this a little less painful), then this may be the right solution for you.

Some folks are screaming about how superior Netflix is. Again, you pay for a subscription and you get a CRAPPY selection of streamed movies. If you want something that isn't available online (like just about everything made in the past 10 years that didn't get two thumbs down), then you have to queue it up and wait. This is a terrible comparison.

The best argument against is streaming vs. download model. Yes, I too like streaming's instant access. However, 1) likely you'll be able to start viewing a movie mid-download (just a guess, but likely), and 2) streaming almost always has inferior quality due to compression and stuttering.

No, this isn't the end-all-be-all perfect STB, but it seems pretty darned good. Especially if you don't already have one of the other options, there's little up-front investment and I'm betting that non-gadget-geeks might actually be able to use it. It'd be nice, sure, if it fully integrated with their other online services (especially streaming their selection of online movies for subscribers and perhaps integrated queue management), but this is v1.0. Give it a few months.

Is there something major I'm missing in my analysis or is this just a Blockbuster hate-fest?

[CaptCaveman @ Nov 25th 2008 4:36PM]

It's a Blockbuster hate fest. And there are lots of people with perfectly good reason to hate them also.

Though I'll have to admit that if you don't already have something in place that does this (PS3, Xbox, Tivo). And you don't want to hook up the PC to the TV or watch from your PC. Then this is one of the few choices that you have and the only choice in this price range. There's the Vudu box, but that would cost you 300 bucks up front and you still have to shell out some cash once you received it and actually wanted to watch something.

But if you already have something in place this box won't impress anyone. And for the people that simply doesn't like Blockbuster, I'm sure they won't mind paying a few extra bucks for something that does a bit more and has access to more sources (like the Tivo series 3).
And if you already have a PC hooked up to a TV or don't mind watching on your PC monitor. Then there are lots of other options for you out there that doesn't require any up front charges to get started.

I honestly don't see this a that big of a deal. Blockbuster is now doing what other companies have been doing for a few years now. And I think that anyone that was interested in on-line distribution of movies hasn't been sitting around waiting for Blockbuster to show us their offering. If Blockbuster really wanted to make a splash they should have teamed up with a platform that's already out there. Tivo comes to mind. Let Tivo owners decide if they want to rent from cable (it they are using cable cards), Amazon, or Blockbuster. Then after testing the waters release a stand alone box for people without a Tivo box. Or team up with the Media Center folks. Then they could have had HTPC users and people with Xbox extenders renting from them also (because I don't believe that Microsoft is going to let them directly compete with their Xbox Live rental service).

[spundot @ Nov 25th 2008 3:55AM]

Good price point (sub $100), good movie selection (first-run, not like crappy Netflix on-demand selection), good distribution (Blockbuster's immense B&M chain), and good timing (ubiquitous broadband in the US)...assuming Blockbuster doesn't go under, I like the chances for this thing.

The only way to beat this would be to integrate it into a box that people are already getting anyways (like a 360 or a telcom STB like the AT&T uVerse) to eliminate the up-front cost.