Blockbuster has for a long, long (long)
time been struggling. It seems that buying 30 copies of “Hottie and the Nottie”
for hundreds of Blockbuster locations was not (contrary to common sense) a good
business move. It’s also been rumoured for some time that Blockbuster has been
plotting an entry into the set-top box market. Such a move would allow for
(conceivably) unlimited copies of “Hottie and the Nottie” to be rented. The MediaPoint
player, built by 2Wire, is actually going to be offered gratis “with the
advance rental of 25 Blockbuster OnDemand movies for $99 at www.blockbuster.com” so says the movie
rental giant. So, what gives?
Well, it seems an understandably tentative
Blockbuster is a little tepid about getting into the set-top market, which has
been burgeoning of late. Thus, the Blockbuster branded MediaPoint is merely a
project; a trial if you will. Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes simply states that it’s
a step towards “keeping[ing] up with emerging technology”. In regards to the
tech, the box features two USB ports, a SD slot, Ehternet, WiFi, and an HDMI
port.
So, what happens after the 25 movie
splurge? Just $1.99 a flick after that actually. And if you like rhetoric,
Blockbuster claims that “Unlike subscription-based services, which typically
offer movies years after their release, Blockbuster OnDemand includes hot new
releases, many available within weeks of leaving theaters.” Unwrap one of these
bad boys from under the Christmas tree and maybe you’ll be watching “Bolt” by
Boxing Day (okay, probably not, but a guy can dream, can’t he).
On the whole though, Blockbuster’s tentative
approach gives cause for concern. If the company doesn’t back their own product
with enough faith beyond a trial period, then the only question you should be
asking is: are there 25 movies I feel like renting?
The Official Word from Blockbuster:
Blockbuster and 2Wire Introduce New Digital Media Player
MediaPoint™ digital media player provides instant entertainment from BLOCKBUSTER ® ONDEMAND straight to television
Thousands of titles offered including new releases like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Smart, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, The Strangers, The Love Guru
DALLAS, TX and SAN JOSE, CA — November 25, 2008— Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B), a leading global provider of media entertainment, and 2Wire, a provider of integrated broadband solutions, today introduced the 2Wire MediaPoint™ digital media player, an easy-to-use, on-demand video solution that offers movie fans instant access through their television sets to BLOCKBUSTER® ONDEMAND content, including thousands of titles from the latest movie releases to classic favorites.
Beginning today, for a limited time, the MediaPoint digital media player is available free with the advance rental of 25 BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND movies for $99 at www.blockbuster.com. Unlike subscription-based services, which typically offer movies years after their release, BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND includes hot new releases, many available within weeks of leaving theaters. After the initial 25 rentals, movies are available for as little as $1.99 each. The players will begin shipping in time for the holiday season.
“The MediaPoint digital player, featuring BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND, is entertainment made easy. We are bringing Blockbuster, and the thousands of movies in our digital library, straight to customers’ televisions,” said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. “The player is simple to use, delivers DVD quality video, and there’s no monthly subscription commitment. We are delighted to team with 2Wire to give consumers this great entertainment product.”
Easy to install, the MediaPoint digital media player works seamlessly with any broadband connection, either wirelessly via built-in Wi-Fi or wired via Ethernet cable, to deliver the hottest new movies, classics, foreign films and television shows from the BLOCKBUSTER digital library. With full fast-forward, rewind, and pause capabilities, the viewing experience is DVD quality, no matter the speed of the broadband connection. Movies can be played right away or saved to watch later. Additionally, the player supports HD video content and can be connected to HDTVs.
“To be successful, a broadband video offering needs to deliver movies that people want to see, in the quality they expect, with minimal setup requirements,” said Pat Romano, chief executive officer of 2Wire. “BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND and the MediaPoint digital media player give movie fans what they want. We are thrilled to help bring this service to the living room, providing immediate access to high quality movies directly on the television set.”
The MediaPoint digital media player is extremely compact – about the size of two boxes of movie candy – and can be integrated seamlessly into home entertainment systems through composite cable, HDMI, component cable, or Toslink.
Technical Details
In the Box
* 2Wire MediaPoint Digital Media Player (8” x 8” x 1”)
* Quick Installation Guide
* Power Adapter
* Composite A/V cable (supports SD viewing)
* Remote Control
* AAA Batteries
- more -
Blockbuster/2Wire
Page Two
Video and Audio Connections
* Composite
* Component *
* HDMI*
* Stereo Audio
* Toslink (digital optical audio)*
Network Connections
* Ethernet*
* Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
*cable must be purchased separately
