Blockbuster set-top box: Better late than never
Blockbuster has become the perpetual late-comer in rolling out new business models in the home movie rental industry. After following Netflix’s unlimited rental and mail subscription business, Blockbuster is now mimicking the Netflix/ Roku box by releasing a set-top box for on-demand video.
Blockbuster is releasing the set-top box in conjunction with 2Wire, using the digital media distribution company’s Mediapoint line of hardware. The Mediapoint player can also discover music located on the network and allows users to upload photo albums to view on the television.
The Blockbuster Mediapoint player comes packaged with 25 movie downloads for $99. After that, you can download movies starting at $1.99 each.
The major difference between the Netflix set-top box as compared to Blockbuster is progressive playback. This means that the Blockbuster system won’t degrade the quality of your video experience based on your broadband connection.
The Mediapoint player has enough memory to hold up to five movies so that you can download a movie while watching another one. It’s not clear whether you’ll have to wait for a movie to finish downloading completely before you can begin viewing it.
You can output the video to your media system via either component cables or an HDMI interface, though Blockbuster’s service won’t offer any HD titles when released. While Netflix is just beginning to build its HD-quality on-demand offering, this could be a deal breaker for HD enthusiasts.
One potential benefit of the Blockbuster on-demand service could be its overall selection. The company says that new releases should be available via direct download within 30 days of release.
Blockbuster, once the dominant player in the movie rental business, has been losing ground to competitors offering innovative methods of delivery to consumers. It will be interesting to see whether a superior collection and strong ties in the movie industry can help Blockbuster remain relevant in an online world.
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November 29th, 2008
I love waiting several hours to watch a downloaded movies from Blockbuster as much as I need a hole in my head. Download video sucks ass. I’d never buy a download set top box.
I want an instant streaming set top box from a service provider where I can get high definition 1080p blu-ray quality video on demand and live tv from one place over a low bandwidth connection (3Mbps or less) on both PC Player for PC and set top box for TV.
Oh wait, it already exists, it’s called MyTVPAL! and Netflix! (WWW.MYTVPAL.COM) / ( http://WWW.NETFLIX.COM )
Blockbuster is just trying to keep it’s stock up until it dies! It has no flare innovation. Those who do not innovate do not survive.
On demand means instant playing. So we should call it “wait several hours then never use the darn box again because your fed up of download boxes, just like AKIMBO”. That’s right! Just like Akimbo.
Congratulations Blockbuster on once again missing the mark and sailing below our expectations.
Long live 1080p blu-ray instant streaming on MTP and NF!
Comment Guy