Blockbuster Seeking to Bring Movie Downloads to Apple Devices?

[Unspeaked]

I know I'm posting in defense of blockbuster a lot here, I'm not some fanboy, but I will defend them because personally I like their service. I also had no idea people had such a negative perception of the place!

mattster16, you make valid points but the fact of the matter is - as is clearly evident in the posts here - Blockbuster has spent whatever goodwill they ever had with consumers, and even if they offered a superior product (which is debatable), most people would rather turn to companies like Netflix and Apple - companies that haven't been in the video game long enough to have left a bad impression on a majority of customers - for their video needs.

I personally think Netflix is overrated, but Blockbuster is just too disliked to have a chance at succeeding going forward. As you mention yourself, over half of movie rentals are done in brick and mortar shops like Blockbuster's core business, yet they managed to contract their sales by over 10% this last quarter from the year before, and also find themselves nearly a billion dollars in debt.

(Compare that to Netflix, which is growing at nearly 20% and has over $250 million in the bank...)

 

[VoR]

Even if you've been stung by company X before, ignoring a superior product at the lowest prices seems a little silly. Ignore the brand name, the past, their bank balance and help these clueless corporates serve you better.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Isn't Blockbuster the same company that didn't have a single Blu-Ray Disc for rent or sale last December '08? It's a good thing they have one story buildings....

 

[***moviemaker**]

For what it's worth, this article entitled "Big Media Cartel About To Punish Netflix?" is an interesting read.

An excerpt:
The Wall Street Journal's astute Martin Peers warns tonight that Netflix "stock-price bubble may be close to bursting" because Hollywood studios and networks don't like the competition...

...At the same time, some of the studios [like Disney] are pondering their own online movie- or TV-subscription services.

Source:
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/big-media-cartel-about-to-punish-netflix/

 

[zombitronic]

Sure, it would be amazing for Blockbuster, but what would be in it for Apple?

Hardware sales. This is where Apple makes most of their money. A big pre-established base of subscribers could help sell more Apple TVs.

 

[bossxii]

More like one of the greatest living filmmakers expressing his opinion that one can't have the same movie watching experience on one's mobile phone that one can in a theater. Which I think anyone who has ever watched a movie in a theater and on a phone can agree with. Is seeing a jpeg of the Mona Lisa on one's phone the same as seeing it in person? No. There is content more suitable for mobile devices and there is content less suitable for mobile devices but everyone is different about their threshold of what'll they'll enjoy on such a tiny screen. Just like there are shoes more suitable for running marathons and shoes less suitable for running marathons and if you prefer running marathons in slippers that's your prerogative.

The 'digital age consumer', well pretty much any mainstream consumer, would sacrifice quality for convenience and while that's the nature of the beast it doesn't mean that everyone has to like it.


Lethal

Glad you enjoy his movies I don't, greatest... I don't care for him brand of movies. To each his own.

I'm sure if he would just use say F#@$ing a few more times he would better prove his point.

@ Westside Guy, I knew he was/is a director, but i don't care for his brand of movie. Am I suppose to be impressed your some sort of movie expert? Relax

 

[koobcamuk]

No, I just like my job (and having a job).

Sure.. but we can't keep the mines open just to keep people in jobs...

 

[LethalWolfe]

Glad you enjoy his movies I don't, greatest... I don't care for him brand of movies. To each his own.

I'm sure if he would just use say F#@$ing a few more times he would better prove his point.

@ Westside Guy, I knew he was/is a director, but i don't care for his brand of movie. Am I suppose to be impressed your some sort of movie expert? Relax

What does his 'brand of movies' have to do w/the point he was making that watching a movie on a mobile device is not the same experience as watching it in a theater? Or on a big, HDTV?


Lethal

 

[Yvan256]

Hardware sales. This is where Apple makes most of their money. A big pre-established base of subscribers could help sell more Apple TVs.

Too bad the TV was designed to limit the potential customers base. This thing should have at least had an S-Video output and 4:3 support built-in.

After all, if it's supposed to only support high-end TVs then why the heck does it support 480i? I can understand 480p for components, supporting 480i with no 4:3 support and no S-Video makes no sense.

 

[hitekalex]

What does his 'brand of movies' have to do w/the point he was making that watching a movie on a mobile device is not the same experience as watching it in a theater? Or on a big, HDTV?

Also, regardless of one's appreciation of David Lynch and his "brand of movies", I wouldn't call a legendary movie director an "idiot".. especially as the opinion he voiced is perfectly reasonable. If Lynch is an "idiot", I wonder what that makes bossxii, who I will bet accomplished much much less with his life.

 

[bossxii]

What does his 'brand of movies' have to do w/the point he was making that watching a movie on a mobile device is not the same experience as watching it in a theater? Or on a big, HDTV?


Lethal

That's his, and obviously your opinion. It's not going to change my life watching a movie on my laptop vs in a theatre. Sorry I don't place that kind of value on those things like you do.


Just agree we disagree, I'm not derailing another thread over pointless crap.

 

[gkarris]

Question:

Is BlockBuster still in business?

I just passed a couple on the way to work and they're closed down...

 

[bossxii]

Also, regardless of one's appreciation of David Lynch and his "brand of movies", I wouldn't call a legendary movie director an "idiot".. especially as the opinion he voiced is perfectly reasonable. If Lynch is an "idiot", I wonder what that makes bossxii, who I will bet accomplished much much less with his life.

You should show your parents how clever you are, they would be proud

 

[DHarrisDBS34]

I can't see this happening. Why would Apple let Blockbuster do this and compete with the iTunes Store?

 

[Alith]

How is it too little too late? Is there already some establish digital movie distribution channel I don't know about with majority market share encroaching on physical rentals/purchases? You might not believe it but the vast majority of people still physically rent/buy their movies and that won't change for awhile. Even Apple is struggling to get their service off the ground and penetrate the market. Blockbuster has as good a chance as anyone if they market their service well and offer what consumers want.

I was thinking more along the lines of the target demographic being more internet savvy and shopping or stealing things online. I have no data to back this up and don't care enough about the topic to look into it. I've just heard lots of anecdotal evidence from friends in the music industry that have watched it struggle and downsize over the last 5-10 years. I guessed similar industries were in the same boat.

 

[11800506]

I don't really see someone like Apple dealing with Blockbuster. It's completely against Apple's business model to have another company launch their service on Apple's device especially with Apple's on distribution model.

I agree with those who say too little too late. Our local Blockbuster (and a bunch in the area) finally closed a few weeks ago which finally gave us the push to try Netflix. We did, and we really love it. The free streaming is a really great feature as well and compared to Netflix, Blockbuster's effort seems overpriced. What would really be something would be if Netflix partnered with Apple to bring streaming to the Apple TV. That would be something that I think a lot of people would have more interest in.

 

[srl7741]

Not sure

I wonder if Blockbuster is reaching for life preservers as they begin to drown? Apple would be one option but I don't see Apple doing that.

 

[gkarris]

Too bad the TV was designed to limit the potential customers base. This thing should have at least had an S-Video output and 4:3 support built-in.

After all, if it's supposed to only support high-end TVs then why the heck does it support 480i? I can understand 480p for components, supporting 480i with no 4:3 support and no S-Video makes no sense.

AppleTV is more a media extender for iTunes. Apple won't compete with gaming consoles or those cheap Windows Media or Netflix boxes...

 

[LethalWolfe]

That's his, and obviously your opinion. It's not going to change my life watching a movie on my laptop vs in a theatre. Sorry I don't place that kind of value on those things like you do.

Yer missing the point. The point that David Lynch was making is that the you can't get the same experience watching a movie on a mobile device, like a phone, that you can in a theater. Which is true. Just like viewing an image of the statue of David on a phone isn't the same experience as seeing the statue of David in person. That doesn't mean that people can't/shouldn't/won't enjoy media on their phones just that there are concessions to be made for doing so. You are arguing against a position that no one has taken, IMO.


Lethal

 

[mrklaw]

Where in the article does it say Blockbuster mentions ipods or AppleTV? They could rent you stuff onto macs - which previously has been a PC only solution due to using windows DRM, perhaps they'll use silverlight 3.0 to support downloadable movies on mac? Or even adobe AIR?

 

[Jelite]

I wish someone would bring a film download service in the UK to compete with Apple.

I can buy the 2 Disc Dark Knight DVD for £5.99 or £10.99 just for the main feature from Apple.

 

[KCMichaelB]

Blockbuster reminds me of AOL (a worthless overpriced product which only the naive still use), a worthless service that over charges for its products and has the worst customer service in the world, due to greed rather then being an actual good business.

I will never step foot into Blockbuster again and I hope they fall just as bad as AOL.

I couldn't have said it any better. I haven't stepped one foot into a Blockbuster since 1999 when they accused me of not returning a movie and tried to charge me $29 for it.

 

[RedTomato]

Haha what an idiot. Once again the old generation that likes newspapers and hardcover books have no clue what the digital age consumers want. There is rarely a movie, as I call it "theatre worthy" as 95% of them are trash.

Yes, Lynch is one of the greatest film-makers alive. I don't like Lucas / Spielberg much and I think Lucas butchered the new Starwars films, but I do accept they are amongst the greats.

You can dislike someone's work and still respect their dedication and the impact they have had on their field of work.

You are also slightly wrong on the 95% figure. More like 99% of current film output is complete utter stinking poo, and shouldn't be seen by anyone. We are in agreement there.

However, when you get to know the film world, you start to know which people you respect, and start keeping an eye out for their films. It could be famous people, it could be obscure 1930's silent comedians (I'm currently in a Buster Keaton obsession) - but the point remains that it's better to see the films you love on a big screen rather than on a laptop or iPhone.

I do agree cinemas are crappy and over priced. That's why I'm buying a video projector to watch films on the big screen for free with my girlfriend and my mates. David Lynch probably watches his auteur films at home too, on a projector, not in the cinema.

Digital age films don't necessarily mean small screen.

 

[Steve Jobs=God]

Can see this being a interesting business idea for Apple,

Seeing as it's Blockbuster doing the initial approach to Apple, i can them outsourcing their rental services to BB for a large sum and a higher percentage of each rental then they are currently getting.

Unlikely to happen but would be interesting

 

[jw2002]

Do you realize blockbuster employs roughly 50,000 people? The last thing we need is another company going out of business and increase the amount of unemployed people.

And how in the world is delivery of online content to mobile devices going to keep those 50k employees in their jobs? And what is there about the Blockbuster experience that would even attract customers? Their stores have always had a terrible selection.

Maybe you should think before you post your garbage.

Thanks for the personal attack. I stand by my words. Blockbuster is being killed by Netflix big time. I live in the DC area, and tons of Blockbusters as well as pretty much every other brick and mortar video store have closed down. Their stock is down 75% from a year ago and 90% from 4 years ago, so even the market knew they were a dinosaur -- even before the 2008 economic meltdown. Blockbuster knows that the video store is dead, so they have been forced to compete against Netflix at something that Netflix already does a lot better and at a big profit to boot.

It's only a matter of time before Blockbuster is gone for good. Same goes for TiVo -- I love their product, but it is being eclipsed by other media delivery approaches.