Blockbuster’s financial outlook not so good
Blockbuster just might be on the ropes. The Dallas, Tex. movie rental chain said in a recent SEC filing that it may not be able to make good on some of the performance-based stipulations for an outstanding loan. If the rental giant isn’t able to… Continue Reading
Netflix delivers its 2 billionth movie — and it’s a Blu-ray
“I can tell you I never want to see the movies that come by mail,” is what Blockbuster chief executive Jim Keyes had to say during his company’s most recent earnings call. Well, apparently, someone does.
Netflix announced today that it has delivered its 2 billionth movie… Continue Reading
Blockbuster wants to be on Apple products. Apple may have something to say about that.
I’ve already broken down why Blockbuster’s latest attempt to spread its content is a bit sad. It simply always seems to be one step behind in a fast evolving landscape. For example, it has said in the past that it wants to be on portable… Continue Reading
After its own set-top box bombs, Blockbuster partners with TiVo
I feel like I keep writing the same sentence over and over again: Blockbuster has a new plan to reinvigorate its business. Sadly, I feel like I’m going to keep writing that sentence until Blockbuster goes under.
Unfortunately, what the company has been trying is not… Continue Reading
The end (or at least bankruptcy) is near for Blockbuster?
Trading of Blockbuster stock was halted today after its share price plunged more than 77 percent, all the way down to the miniscule $0.22 a share. Why the bloodbath? Bloomberg says the movie rental company has hired a company to explore Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing,… Continue Reading
Netflix streams already rushing past DVDs in 2009?
The business of renting DVDs through the mail has proven to be hugely popular for Netflix. The service came out of nowhere to pillage revenue from movie rental behemoth Blockbuster, and now Netflix is thriving as Blockbuster struggles to hold on. But Netflix’s business model… Continue Reading
Roundup: Twestival is tomorrow, Palm talks Pre and patents, Google pays up and more
Here’s the latest action:
Twestival: Bad name, good cause — Tomorrow, over 175 cities around the world will host Twitter festivals (really, meetups), or Twestivals, to raise money and awareness for charity:water, a project aimed at giving some 1.1 billion people on the planet access to clean… Continue Reading
Could the Wii be Blockbuster’s savior?
If the future of movie rentals involved trekking long distances to brick and mortar stores to overpay for a movie, Blockbuster would be all set. Unfortunately for Blockbuster, the future of the business lies online. Even worse, all of their competitors realized this before them…. Continue Reading
Blockbuster claims to open the distribution floodgates — floodgates holding the details remain shut.
On one hand, you want to give Blockbuster credit for at least trying to save itself. But on the other, it’s hard to give credit to a company that perpetually seems a day late and a dollar short.
Yes, Blockbuster has another announcement to make regarding… Continue Reading
Blockbuster and Microsoft: Two peas not in an iPod
When I was growing up, if you heard the term “movie rental,” Blockbuster immediately sprung in your head. That’s not the case anymore. Thanks to Netflix, video on demand from the cable companies and an increasing number of options to rent films over the Internet,… Continue Reading
Blockbuster’s set-top box: Laughably late, but a good deal
First, Blockbuster said it was in no rush to get its content into the living room via a set-top box connected to the Internet. Then, just a few months later, it indicated that it was rushing to get one done in time for the holidays…. Continue Reading
Will Blockbuster’s new set-top box be selling its stock in the bargain bin?
Everyone remembers The Dollar Store. You could buy anything you want as long as it was under a dollar. That now includes Blockbuster’s stock, which has fallen off a cliff this morning, down over 23 percent to near 75 cents a share.
Let me repeat: 75… Continue Reading
Blockbuster in a rush to get you that set-top box there was no rush for
“Is there any real urgency for us to go out there and create a whizbang set-top box? No,” Blockbuster chief executive Jim Keyes told paidContent in August. So it’s somewhat surprising to hear that the company is now rushing to get a set-top box out… Continue Reading
Online movie distribution: Netflix has a wide variety. Blockbuster gets a late fee.
Netflix continued its assault on the living room today by announcing a deal to put its “Watch Instantly” content on TiVo digital video recorder boxes. This follows similar deals with the Roku living room set-top box, select Blu-ray players and the forthcoming update to Microsoft’s… Continue Reading
Beacon backlash continues: Class action lawsuit filed gainst Facebook
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Facebook and other sites for their participation in Facebook’s Beacon program.
The controversial program, which turned into a publicity disaster that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg apologized for, alerted a user’s friends about their activity on other sites, for example… Continue Reading
Blockbuster remembers it bought Movielink for a reason
While company after company enter the digital movie download realm including former outsiders like Apple and Microsoft, the company once synonymous with movie rentals has been noticeably absent: Blockbuster. This was especially surprising since it bought movie download site Movielink nearly a year ago presumably… Continue Reading
Blockbuster returns bid for Circuit City to the crazy store, just misses late fee
Blockbuster today issued a one paragraph statement to announce it was withdrawing its proposal to purchase electronic retailer Circuit City. This is the way a takeover bid ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Citing “market conditions,” Blockbuster determined it wasn’t in its best… Continue Reading
Blockbuster: Perpetually on the cusp of digital distribution
While nearly everyone and their mother is getting in to the digital movie distribution business, one name still notably absent is Blockbuster. Despite being nearly synonymous with movie rentals for the past twenty years, and buying the digital download service Movielink last year, Blockbuster still… Continue Reading
Netflix rides on Blockbuster’s ineptitude — but that won’t last long
You probably already know this, but the days of going to a video store are ending. Online DVD rental service Netflix announced its earnings earlier today and beat expectations in a number of key categories including profits (up 36 percent) and subscribers (up 21 percent).
This… Continue Reading
Blockbuster wants Circuit City: Sinking boat wants more water
Blockbuster was once a name synonymous with movie rentals. Then Netflix, the online DVD mailing service, came along and stole some of that luster. Recently, as the transition to digital distribution for home movie rentals/purchases has begun, Blockbuster has seemed almost comically behind. That reputation… Continue Reading