p2pnet - rss feed: Blockbuster mulls TV streaming
p2pnet news | TV:- Blockbuster is expected to announce a set-top system for streaming films directly to TV.
“We’re talking to numerous companies and vendors about products, services, alliances and initiatives that can help us achieve our mission to transform Blockbuster into a company that provides access to media content across multiple channels - from our stores, by mail, through kiosks, through downloading, through portable content-enabled devices- so it’s not surprising that there are rumors out there,” says a spokeswoman quoted by the Hollywood Reporter.
A Blockbuster box, “would join a growing roster of devices that aim to bring broadband video to the living room, including Apple TV, which hasn’t quite seen sales match the hype surrounding the product,” according to the story, which says an announcement is expected this month.
Rival Netflix, “also has indicated that it will compete in this market with a similar device being created with LG Electronics.”
Blockbuster now owns the Warner Bros, Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer racially biased disaster called Movielink which still doesn’t like Canadians.
Meanwhile, the set-top box could be a stand-alone, “as opposed to embedding a Blockbuster-branded service in … existing devices,” says the Hollywood Reporter.
“While going it alone could give it a distinctive positioning in the crowded ‘over-the-top TV’ marketplace, that won’t come without significant investment in marketing and manufacturing, though the latter cost might be shared with a consumer electronics company that has yet to disclose its participation.”
In addition to Movielink, “Blockbuster CEO James Keyes indicated in November that he was in talks with handset makers about delivering movies to mobile phones,” says the story, adding the company also is developing in-store kiosks for downloading films”.
Hollywood Reporter - Blockbuster eyes streaming to TVs, April 9, 2008
doesn’t like Canadians - Hollywood’s Movielink disaster, October 26, 2007
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April 10th, 2008 at 11:06 am
This “stand alone” set top box thing is so f-ed up. That is what most of the “media outlets” are pushing for. Just another way to lock consumers into one service. They know that once you have a “box” you will be much less likely to shop around. It’s also a more effective way to control and track how and what you view, not to mention a little tougher to hack. DON”T BUY INTO ANY OF THESE SET-TOP BOX SERVICES. Connect your computer’s s-video out to your TV. Web based video services are/will be much more competitive and far less restrictive.