Zip.ca Tries to Ride Netflix Coattails

[Josh]

This is so obviously a publicity stunt that I'm not going to dignify it with a news post:

OTTAWA, Feb. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - Zip.ca, Canada's online video service is celebrating four years of delivering unlimited entertainment to Canadians. Launched on February 11, 2004, Zip.ca is the largest online DVD rental service in Canada and is the leader in delivering the films Canadians want to see, in their preferred format.

"We've been watching the hi def war very closely and we're not surprised that Blu-ray is emerging as the winner. From day one, our policy has been to provide our members with DVDs in whatever format they prefer and we'll continue to honour that promise by stocking HD DVD and standard DVDs, as well as Blu-ray," said Rick Anderson, President and CEO of Zip.ca. "We already carry every Blu-ray disc released in Canada and we're purchasing enough new Blu-ray titles to guarantee ready availability to our members at the same price as standard DVDs. We're bringing our members even more Blu-ray in 2008 with contests, giveaways and special weekly door crasher prices on the most popular new release Blu-ray disc that will have people talking."

Member loyalty and contributions to the content of Zip sets the company apart from others in the Canada market says Anderson. "Our members have made us what we are. They are extremely loyal and have very high service and delivery expectations that we meet each and every day. Member requests have helped us build Canada's largest selection of films in every category and genre from anime to westerns and everything in between."

Zip is introducing new plans and more features in 2008, including a new 1-DVD Unlimited Plan, the second unlimited plan. Zip will also celebrate its largest milestone to date with the delivery of its 10 millionth DVD.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../12/c9430.html

[Salinger]

Probably not so much a publicity stunt, as much as a way to avoid a ton of emails to customer service asking if they were dropping HD-DVD like Netflix did. On a lot of online banner ads they do advertise themselves as "Netflix for Canada" so people might have assumed they would follow suit.

[CptGreedle]

So they are not really saying much except we plan to support Blu-ray in 2008... . not exclusively or whatnot, in fact they hardly mention anything about HD DVD. So what is this suppose to be all about?

[Banjo]

Hey, this is still good news after all. :-)

[york weir]

I take it as a jab to netflix actually where they are stating they care what their customers want.