Blockbuster Express Tests Premium-Priced New Releases

Blockbuster Express Tests Premium-Priced New Releases

By : Erik Gruenwedel | Posted: 07 Dec 2010
egruenwedel@questex.com

NCR Corp. Dec. 7 began offering select embargoed new release movies on street date as part of trial run at 900 Blockbuster Express kiosks in the San Francisco, Phoenix, Miami and Atlanta metropolitan areas.

Duluth, Ga.-based NCR owns and operates about 8,000 Blockbuster Express kiosks nationwide through a license agreement with Dallas-based Blockbuster.

As part of the test, Blockbuster Express is offering Christopher Nolan’s mind-altering thriller Inception and Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz actioner Knight and Day for $2.99 on DVD for the first day and $1 per day thereafter.

A separate test for Blu-ray Disc releases priced at $3.99 for the first day ($2 per day thereafter) is slated to begin in the near future, according to NCR spokesperson Jeff Dudash.

NCR is subject to 28-day delays for new release titles from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment in exchange for better financial terms and superior copy depth, among other considerations.

Unlike Redbox, NCR has provisions in its studio deals that allow for the release of select rentals at premium prices. NCR has no distribution agreement with Warner Home Video, which necessitated acquiring copies of Inception from third-party sources.

Dudash said consumers prefer renting major new release movies as soon as they are available, and with the premium pricing they have the ability to do that.

Future titles available on street date include The A-Team on Dec. 14 and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (both Fox) on Dec. 21

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blockbuster/blockbuster-express-tests-premium-priced-new-releases-21340

Blockbuster just doesn't get it. I still think they'll be waiting to be bailed out within the next few months.

Blockbuster just doesn't get it. I still think they'll be waiting to be bailed out within the next few months.

It isn't Blockbuster - it's NCR. They license the name "Blockbuster." Blockbuster Express is a part of NCR not BBi.

This is silly a $1 extra for the first day? Are they that desperate?

$2 for each day blu-rays are late. That's a little excessive. Blu-rays do not cost twice as much as dvds. $1 extra for the first day rental on bd and $1 late fees for both dvd and bd would seem a little more in proportion.

$2 for each day blu-rays are late. That's a little excessive. Blu-rays do not cost twice as much as dvds. $1 extra for the first day rental on bd and $1 late fees for both dvd and bd would seem a little more in proportion.

The higher priced selections are the 28 day delay titles. You want to rent Inception which is a WB title the day it comes out - you pay more then if you waited out the 28 days.

And there are no late fees with kiosks. They are just extended time fees. No one says you have it return the movie within 24 hours of renting it.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUs9lU_2GCQ/STKVCt3xYiI/AAAAAAAAAHI/FeCPz3hdRB4/s320/CNR_meh.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUs9lU_2GCQ/STKVCt3xYiI/AAAAAAAAAHI/FeCPz3hdRB4/s320/CNR_meh.jpg

My sentiments also.