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Redbox, Lionsgate deal keeps new movies in kiosks
Lionsgate has signed a multi-year agreement with Redbox on its titles, including day-and-date distribution for its discs. Films from the studio will be available to rent at Redbox's 42,000 kiosks on the same day they go on sale. It's a good sign for the DVD rental operator, which continues to stay in business despite declines in disc sales and rentals since the advent of streaming.
Crunchyroll app now on Vita, Hulu Plus and Redbox Instant next week
Sony Computer Entertainment America is chucking new apps at the Vita to satiate ice hockey, anime and movie junkies. First off, anime streamer Crunchyroll and hockey hub NHL GameCenter Live are available now on the handheld, as is the Qello Concerts app. That trio of apps is being followed swiftly by another trio, starting with Redbox Instant and Hulu Plus on March 25 - new subscribers to Redbox get a free month of movies, in case you're feeling nice and comfy in that butt-shaped couch indent. If you'd prefer something healthier, the fitness and spirituality shows of Gaiam TV are due on Vita this spring. [Image: Sony]
Redbox Instant now supports AirPlay streaming
Redbox fans will be happy to know that the company has released a new version of its universal Redbox Instant by Verizon app that supports AirPlay streaming. Redbox is among a long line of iOS apps and services that have embraced AirPlay streaming due to its popularity with users. There are a few caveats to be aware of. First, as Redbox notes: "To use AirPlay with our Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch apps, your device needs to have version 6 or higher of the iOS operating system. Also, AirPlay will work with streaming content, but not with downloads." Engadget has pointed out additional issues. The stream will be broken if you get a text message, certain notifications, quit the app or lock your device. All these issues make it a pretty slim chance that you'll get through an entire film without interruption. Hopefully, Redbox will address these issues in the near future. Redbox Instant 1.4 is a free download. Note that Redbox Instant and the official Redbox app are not the same.
Newly-launched PS3 version of Redbox Instant has unique feature: Movies With Balls
Redbox Instant by Verizon, the digital extension of the Redbox video rental service, has come to PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Blog has announced. An $8 subscription to Redbox Instant will allow PS3 owners to stream videos from the Redbox library, and will also grant four DVD rentals per month from Redbox kiosks. For an extra dollar, subscribers can upgrade to Blu-ray discs. Even without a subscription, users can purchase or rent digital videos - they just won't be streaming. Rebox Instant also boasts a unique feature for PlayStation called The Playlist, which features a curated selection of movies based on themes like "Stuff Blowing Up," "Beards On Film" and "Movies With Balls." We'd write a joke about these titles, but what more can be said? Movies. With. Balls. The Playlist is only available to subscribers. Redbox Instant came to Xbox 360 in March, and required a Gold subscription to access. The PS3 version does not require a subscription beyond paying for Redbox Instant itself.
PS3 users get more streaming options with Redbox Instant and TuneIn radio apps
There's a lot of streaming media apps out there, and there's now two more on the PlayStation 3. On the video side of things, Verizon has brought its Redbox Instant service to the console, giving you access to thousands of streaming movies for the same $8 a month that Netflix costs (which also nets you four DVD rentals from Redbox kiosks each month). Unlike Netflix, however, you can also choose to buy or rent new release movies without a subscription. The other app making its debut on the console today is the TuneIn radio service, which offers access to some 70,000 radio stations. It'll also be making its way to the PS Vita next week, but there's no word yet on Redbox making a similar transition to Sony's handheld.
Redbox Instant, Flixster to join Sony's own live event streaming service on PS3, PS4 and PlayStation Vita
Sony's own PlayStation 3 just happens to be the most used Netflix-streaming device in the word, but that doesn't mean the outfit isn't offering a diverse array of streaming options. Today at its E3 press event, the company announced that the all three of its consoles -- PS3, PS4 and Vita -- will support a Sony live viewer service, Redbox Instant and Flixter, as well. Sony didn't say when support for these services would arrive, but made sure to mention that its own Music and Video Unlimited apps would be available on the PlayStation 4 at launch. Hit up our ongoing liveblog for additional coverage.
Redbox Instant, Flixster, Live Events Viewer coming to PlayStation, planned for PS4
During Sony's E3 press briefing, SCE president Andrew House has announced that both Redbox Instant and Flixster are headed to the PlayStation platforms. Redbox Instant will arrive on PS3 "very soon," said House, while Flixster is slated for this fall. Furthermore, the "Live Events Viewer" will bring on-demand service to the device. Finally, House added that Sony is "working hard to bring all of these services to PS4." Flixster and Redbox Instant came to Xbox Live earlier this year.
Redbox Instant, GameTrailers apps now on Xbox Live
Redbox's new "Redbox Instant by Verizon" video streaming service has moved out of beta and is now available to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The app itself will require its own additional subscription for unlimited streaming, though purchasing and renting movies can be done regardless.Two levels of Redbox Instant subscriptions are available: Four kiosk DVDs and unlimited streaming for $8 a month, or a Blu-ray version of the deal for $9 a month. A one-month free trial is available for anyone wishing to see how Redbox Instant's catalogue compares with its competitors.Meanwhile, Xbox Live's other miscellaneous entertainment offerings have also expanded by way of a new GameTrailers app, which brings the video portal's various reviews, original programming and, well, trailers to the Xbox. This way, everyone with an Xbox 360 can enjoy staged interviews with purported burn victims.
Redbox Instant exits private beta and launches to the public
Redbox Instant, the video-streaming service from Verizon, is launching to the public today. This launch follows a three-month closed beta test, and it comes about a month after the company's announcement that the service would come to the Xbox 360 as a console launch exclusive. To jog your memory, Redbox Instant offers users unlimited access to some 4,000 movies in addition to four DVD rentals at $8 a month. Content partners include heavyweights like Warner Bros and Epix , the latter of which offers content from Viacom, MGM and Lions Gate Entertainment. Speaking to GigaOM, Redbox Instant CEO Shawn Strickland said his product's focus remains movies -- both physical and digital -- which differs from Netflix's TV-heavy library and emphasis on web content. Strickland also said that, while talk of any exclusive content is "really premature," it could be an option down the road. In addition to offering Xbox 360 support, the service is open to iOS and Android users, along with those who own a Vizio, LG, Samsung or Google TV product.
Redbox Instant Xbox 360 app on the way
There is a strange cult of people out there – you may have seen them, huddled around those giant red vending machines outside your local gas station or grocery store. These people are actually renting DVDs from those machines, called Redbox. We know, it's so precious!Redbox is testing the streaming waters with a new beta program called Redbox Instant, and Major Nelson has announced a corresponding app will be available on Xbox 360. Nelson says those in the beta right now – if you want in, you can sign up here – will receive an email with their Xbox 360 download code "in the coming days."Redbox Instant is a combined monthly subscription service that provides unlimited online streaming of content and four one-night rental tokens for use at local Redbox vending machines. Redbox Instant subscribers can opt into the DVD package $8 or upgrade to Blu-rays for $9 a month. Other supported platforms for Redbox Instant include iOS, Android, Vizio, Samsung, LG and Google TV.[Note: Image taken from iOS Redbox Instant app on iPad.]
Redbox Instant by Verizon gets an iOS app
Movie rental vendor Redbox recently announced that it would be taking on Netflix with its own streaming service, powered in part by Verizon. The service is still in closed beta, but Redbox has wasted no time getting up and running on iOS, as there's now an official "Redbox Instant by Verizon" app on the App Store. You can download it for free, although it won't do you much good if you don't have an invitation to the service. But there are some screenshots on iTunes of what it looks like (basically like Netflix, not surprisingly). The fact that the app is out and running already shows just how quickly Redbox is planning to get this off the ground. Personally, I think it's great. I quit Netflix a few months ago because I wasn't happy with the selections there, and competition is always good. Hopefully if Redbox and Verizon pick up a sizable audience, we'll see lots more innovation in the video-streaming market. [via App Advice]
Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant
Redbox and Warner Bros. were at odds in January when Warner wanted to extend the window before discs hit kiosks to 56 days, but now the two have come to an agreement that keeps it at a 28 day delay. When their previous deal expired Redbox said it would find other ways to obtain discs and offer them day and date to its customers, although actually finding them in kiosks could be tough. The new two-year deal covers movies that debut after January 1st, 2013, and claims to improve economics for both Warner (which has apparently seen fit to eliminate the delay entirely for brick & mortar renters) and Redbox. Additionally, Redbox has joined with the DECE team and will support UltraViolet with its upcoming Redbox Instant service. With the new deal, it can offer UltraViolet digital access to Warner movies, and distribute movies through its subscription service. We'll have to wait for Redbox Instant to launch to know more information about that, for now check out the details in the press release after the break.
Redbox Instant targets launch by year-end, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD
The last concrete details we'd heard about Redbox Instant was that it was entering internal alpha testing, but now Verizon exec Eric Bruno has revealed more background information. Previous info indicated the service would focus more heavily on movies than the back catalog of TV shows that is a part of Netflix Watch Instantly and Amazon Prime Instant Video, and Bloomberg reports Redbox will break with their models by paying its content providers per subscriber cable TV-style, instead of a flat rate decided up front. What customers will get is a monthly subscription and allotment of disc rentals from Redbox's kiosks, as well as access to VOD movie rentals and downloadable purchases through the service. The alpha test is currently in the hands of about 500 Verizon employees, with plans for a short public test before launching in a late November / mid-December time frame. The main unanswered question however is how much it will all cost, but knowing what we do now -- how much are you willing to pay?
TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is 'exploring' Redbox Instant support
While some patent lawsuits continue to drag on, the battle between TiVo and Verizon over DVR technology has come to a resolution. In exchange for cross licensing their patents and dismissing all pending litigation, the two parties have agreed Verizon will pay TiVo $100 million up front followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling $150.4 million through July 2018, as well as monthly license fees for each FiOS DVR user above certain levels. Now that they're no longer at war the two companies may find a few things to work together on, and there is a provision for "certain commercial initiatives" which, if pursued this year, could count as credits toward the amount Verizon has agreed to pay. Additionally, the press release indicates they are exploring support for the upcoming Redbox Instant service (which Verizon is a partner in) on TiVo's DVRs. This all follows TiVo's $215 million settlement with AT&T earlier this year and last year's $500 million agreement with Dish Network. Meanwhile, lawsuits are still pending against Cisco, Time Warner Cable and Motorola. The press release is after the break and associated filings are linked below, with any luck this infusion of cash will help TiVo on new projects like dropping the price of the Stream. [Thanks, Dave Zatz]
Redbox Instant enters alpha testing with help from Verizon (updated)
It's been a long, long road but Redbox's streaming movie service is finally crawling towards reality. In February the DVD vending company announced a partnership with Verizon that would finally usher the Walmart staple into the 21st century. According to Fast Company, Redbox Instant will enter an internal alpha today, beginning the process of ironing out the bugs and fine tuning the offering. Heading up the joint venture will be newly appointed CEO Shawn Strickland, who served as a VP in Verizon's FiOS division. Both physical discs and streaming media will be available as a single package, but execs have been quiet on pricing and structure of those subscription plans. Supposedly we'll be getting more details later today, but in the meantime you can simply go visit the fist-pumping landing page at the more coverage link and sign up for more info. Update: The official PR has hit and you'll find a link to the PDF at the source. There's not much more information sadly, but the portfolio of products is expected to launch later this year.
