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Blockbuster Video launches an iPad magazine
They must be pretty far down the idea list over at Blockbuster Video, because this one suddenly appeared out of left field. The video rental chain has released, of all things, an iPad-based digital magazine. Blockbuster Magazine, available through Newsstand, is a free publication featuring trailers, interviews and other content about new and upcoming movies -- specifically targeted at what Blockbuster has for rent. It does look like Blockbuster did a nice job on it, but does a digital magazine on your iPad really encourage you to go out and rent videos? We wonder. Blockbuster's been shrinking lately, as increased options for digitally downloaded movies and TV shows have made renting physical videos less interesting, especially for us well-connected Apple users. Considering all of that, maybe this is Blockbuster's attempt to grab us back. It seems doubtful, however, that a move like this will be the key turnaround that the rental chain has been looking for. Better keep going down that list, guys. [via App Advice]
Blockbuster On Demand pulls back from TiVo and others, is it on its way out?
From Zatz Not Funny comes word that TiVo owners are being notified their access to Blockbuster On Demand will come to an end March 31st, ending a run originally announced three years before. While this certainly affects TiVo's ability to offer the one box to search multiple services idea introduced with the Premiere, it could be more telling about Blockbuster's plans for the current incarnation of its internet movie service. As forum posters on TiVo Community point out, the list of supported devices is rapidly shrinking, with Vizio and Western Digital WD TV Live owners getting their own Dear John letters only a year or so after the app originally rolled out. Currently, the list of connected TV devices is limited exclusively to Samsung HDTVs and Blu-ray players, plus some cellphones and tablets. Once upon a time, Blockbuster desired an On Demand presence in "nearly every connected device" -- not to mention "major market presence" for the now Redbox-owned Express kiosks -- but after its purchase by Dish Network clearly those days are over. Now the only question is if / when we'll see a new service that better fits with the already announced Movie Pass package and what devices it might work on.
Warner pushes 28-day new release delay on Blockbuster, matches Redbox and Netflix
We suppose it's good news / bad news for Blockbuster. The good news is that after going through bankruptcy and being sold, Warner Bros. has decided it's healthy enough to take on the competition on even ground. The bad news, is that Warner has decided to give Blockbuster the same month long delay the studio loves so much before new movies can be rented out as its competitors, Redbox and Netflix. While Blockbuster has had delays at its kiosks already, being first to get new flicks in stores has been a part of its marketing for a while. The LA Times reports Blockbuster so far is turning to simply buying the copies it needs at retail to rent them out immediately, but we'll see how long that lasts. If you enjoy your discs via kiosk or mail don't think you're out of the woods either, as the paper mentions Warner wants to delay new flicks to those outlets even longer when their deals are renegotiated.
Dish completes Blockbuster purchase, receives more time to decide on store closings
Dish Network successfully completed its acquisition of Blockbuster today at a price of $320.6 million, and also was granted an extra 90 days to decide which stores it will continue to operate. According to MarketWatch, it successfully shot down objections including those of LionsGate and suggested it could both crossmarket its satellite service i the remaining stores, while offering Blockbuster's VOD and digital products to its satellite TV customers. We may have to wait until July 21 to know for sure which stores will stay open, but for now Dish says it's assumed about 400 leases and will have "near or below 1,000" stores when it's all said and done.
Blockbuster partnering with Motorola for OnDemand movies
Once upon a time Blockbuster could do no wrong, but lately its various schemes have felt, well, rather desperate. The launch of the Blockbuster Mediapoint set-top box largely fell on deaf ears, and what about the "talks" with mobile manufacturers we first heard about way back in 2007? Well, at least it looks like the latter is amounting to something. If all goes according to plan, the company's OnDemand digital download service will soon be available on select Motorola cell phones. There is no word yet on which devices will be supported, or when this will all go down, but all the same we can't help but wonder if this will amount to a much needed revenue source for the company, or just another of its painful death throes. [Via Phone Scoop]
Blockbuster selling Archos 10 netbooks at retail stores, we're not sure why either
Looking for a place to buy a netbook? Have you tried any of the thousands of online shops that offer them? Oh, they don't look quite desperate enough for you? Perhaps you'd rather go somewhere that really needs your money: Blockbuster. Yes, the struggling video chain has made yet another partnership, this time with Archos to sell its Archos 10 10.2-inch netbook at 1,000 of its "select" retail outlets around these United States. The totally predictably spec'd (1.6GHz Atom, 1GB of Ram, 160GB HDD, etc.) netbook lacks any sort of special multimedia customization, and with no optical drive is completely unable to play any of the films you can rent from that same location (those are so obsolete anyway), but does at least come at a decent price: $299. Of course, you can get it right now at Amazon for the same exact moneys, and there you won't have to fend off any salesmen with hungry eyes. But, if you're looking for a little attention, this could be your big blue ticket.
