WB pulls DVDs, BDs from Blockbuster

[BluBonnet]

Not sure if it has been mentioned elsewhere on the forums...
WB is withholding films from BlockBuster

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I haven't heard anything about it until now. WB must be so desperate to pull something like this. If this does happen, BB just buys the movies from a store and stocks them as rentals on its proper release date.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

I haven't heard anything about it until now. WB must be so desperate to pull something like this. If this does happen, BB just buys the movies from a store and stocks them as rentals on its proper release date.

Curious to see how WB will react if they begin doing this.

Bill

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I wish WB would just man-up and take the beating. I think they realize people still won't buy movies without renting them first. They're trying to force us against our will so they can make more money. Their marketing strategy isn't a very good practice.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

I wish WB would just man-up and take the beating. I think they realize people still won't buy movies without renting them first. They're trying to force us against our will so they can make more money. Their marketing strategy isn't a very good practice.

I agree but as long as people are willing to buy the movies the strategy will continue

Bill

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

If this does happen, BB just buys the movies from a store and stocks them as rentals on its proper release date.

I'm guessing it would cost BB quite a bit more to do that. I'm sure they get nice wholesale discounts from WB.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I'm guessing it would cost BB quite a bit more to do that. I'm sure they get nice wholesale discounts from WB.

I was thinking more of the legality of it. You just can't buy up movies and start a rental business, lol. If WB is telling them they have to wait the 28 days to rent and they decide to say screw it to WB and do it this way I bet WB won't take kindly to it.

Bill

[Clark Kent]

It has been known that the movie studios were basically propping up Blockbuster so Redbox and Netflix would still have some competition. It is in the studio's best interest to keep Blockbuster around in some form.

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

I wish WB would just man-up and take the beating. I think they realize people still won't buy movies without renting them first. They're trying to force us against our will so they can make more money. Their marketing strategy isn't a very good practice.

I buy a huge portion of my movies without watching them first. Check my signature fotr my blind buy total.

When is this going into effect? It seems odd that this comes just days after they announce putting the HP series into the vault.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Well, several weeks ago, I went to Blockbuster on a Tuesday (which is when new releases come out), they didn't have Horrible Bosses in stock. So I asked the employee if they had any copies and they told me they had to go to the store to buy some copies because they didn't receive any copies from the studio. So, is that legal for BB to do that?

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

Well, several weeks ago, I went to Blockbuster on a Tuesday (which is when new releases come out), they didn't have Horrible Bosses in stock. So I asked the employee if they had any copies and they told me they had to go to the store to buy some copies because they didn't receive any copies from the studio. So, is that legal for BB to do that?

As long as the studio is allowing them to rent it at the time I think it would be. However if the studio had a 28 day non-rental window then I would think not and they would be breaking the contract they had with the studio. If they could do that with zero repercussions then RedBox & Netflix could easily do the same, even at the added cost of buying retail. They would surely, at least RedBox I would think, make their money back on the investment, even within the 28 day window.

Bill

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Oh Blockbuster! I hope you don't end up like Netflix and Redbox or we're gonna not be friends anymore.....you know what I mean?

[smeesmay]

ill still love bb until the $4 and $.99 blus are all bought up.

[P@t_Mtl]

Still won't work with me. If I have to wait a month to rent a movie, I will wait a month. It's not going to make me buy the movie just because WB think's I wont be able to wait. They can make it 6 months for all I care still won't matter, I will wait 6 months to rent it. I do not blind buy movies I have never seen before. If WB thing that waiting for a month will make me or force to me buy a Blu-ray at $25+ well no thanks, it might work with other people but not with me. I can see movies later on I am not in a rush.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

I was thinking more of the legality of it. You just can't buy up movies and start a rental business, lol. If WB is telling them they have to wait the 28 days to rent and they decide to say screw it to WB and do it this way I bet WB won't take kindly to it.

Bill

Actually, you CAN just buy movies and start a rental business, and that's because of a Supreme Court decision, also known as the First Sale Doctrine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine

The only thing the studios can do to stop it, to some degree, is to negotiate with the company that is doing the rentals, so that the business gets a lower price if they buy wholesale from the studio - and in the case of WB, the studio would probably insist on a 28-window in order to have a formal supplier relationship.

Things are different in Europe and other jurisdictions, as the Wiki article says.

But in the U.S., there's nothing the studios can do to stop it, really.

[Chloenator]

This will just drive people more to pirate their movies. Way to go, WB!

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Fragile Line

This will just drive people more to pirate their movies. Way to go, WB!

Well, I don't know if people will pirate them... but I'm sure a lot of us will either find other places to rent (if BB doesn't succeed in getting a few copies) or we will refuse to watch WB movies the moment they are released.

Another point that WB should remember is that if BB does go and buy copies off retailers, they are not going to be "bare bones" rental copies, like the ones WB used to supply to BB. They're going to have all the bonus features.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Originally Posted by blubonnet

well, i don't know if people will pirate them... But i'm sure a lot of us will either find other places to rent (if bb doesn't succeed in getting a few copies) or we will refuse to watch wb movies the moment they are released.

Another point that wb should remember is that if bb does go and buy copies off retailers, they are not going to be "bare bones" rental copies, like the ones wb used to supply to bb. They're going to have all the bonus features. :d

+1

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Actually, you CAN just buy movies and start a rental business, and that's because of a Supreme Court decision, also known as the First Sale Doctrine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine

The only thing the studios can do to stop it, to some degree, is to negotiate with the company that is doing the rentals, so that the business gets a lower price if they buy wholesale from the studio - and in the case of WB, the studio would probably insist on a 28-window in order to have a formal supplier relationship.

Things are different in Europe and other jurisdictions, as the Wiki article says.

But in the U.S., there's nothing the studios can do to stop it, really.

It's crazy to think that buying and then renting over and over and over for profit like that is legal.

Bill

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

It's crazy to think that buying and then renting over and over and over for profit like that is legal.

Bill

If they're already a rental business, then it should be legal. But if they're not, then it'll be illegal.