Blockbuster rolls out Blu-ray format across U.S. & Canada

[Grubert]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...10042008-1.htm

Company Committed to Being Customers' Blu-ray And Standard DVD HeadquartersCompany Installing Blu-ray Kiosks In Almost 5,000 Stores
April 10, 2008: 08:00 AM EST

DALLAS, April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beginning this week, in addition to the standard DVDs lining its shelves, Blockbuster Inc. will be offering customers something extra -- Blu-ray movies, for rent and sale in all of its corporate stores in the U.S., as well as in Canada, and select domestic franchise locations. Blockbuster made news last July with its announcement that the company was making Blu-ray available in 1,700 of its stores. Now, less than a year later, the company is positioning itself to become the customer's Blu-ray headquarters for rental and retail product with this national launch.

To highlight the availability of Blu-ray in its stores, Blockbuster is installing Blu-ray kiosks in the center of its stores. Featuring a 42-inch high-definition TV with movies playing via a PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) console, the Blu-ray kiosks will enable customers to experience the movie-viewing advantages of high-definition technology while also driving home the point that PS3 consoles double as Blu-ray players.

As for Blockbuster's by-mail service, in addition to the wide selection of Blu-ray titles it carries online, this week Blockbuster began offering online subscribers a Blu-ray preference setting so they can automatically indicate that they want to receive all available movies in the high-definition format.

[kpkelley]

Blockbuster Goes Blu-Ray

[PS3 Blu-Ray]

this is so awesome, blockbuster is so close to me, and so is gamestop

[xtop]

they declare it last summer and get around to it a year later. bravo blockbuster. ah well better late than never

maybe i can actually rent movies from them again

[Bango]

I guess I might start renting again at blockbuster for those titles I can't wait for on netflix. I like that they have the displays showing the quality of them in store as well. It will turn more people on to Blu!

[JasonS]

Yeah but knowing Blockbuster, it's going to cost $9 to rent a Blu-ray movie. Please tell me this won't be the case...

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by JasonS

Yeah but knowing Blockbuster, it's going to cost $9 to rent a Blu-ray movie. Please tell me this won't be the case...

Costs me 5 dollars.

[SBrooks1]

My local Blockbuster has been Blu for a while now. The selection is pretty craptacular though. They need to carry much more titles.

[GeneD5]

It's something like 50 cents more in my store...they've screwed up my account and withdrawn funds from my personal bank account twice now forcing me into overdraft. I am done with blockbuster, their service sucks. I'm looking for mom and pop stores now

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by JasonS

Yeah but knowing Blockbuster, it's going to cost $9 to rent a Blu-ray movie. Please tell me this won't be the case...

I have blockbuster online.

1) blu's and dvd's cost the same to rent.
2) therefore, you can trade a dvd in for a blu or vice versa.
3) you only have to pay the monthly fee.
4) Once you trade in your mail-in movie to blockbuster, they immediately ship a new one to you the next day. A two day turn around.

[Caligula]

Will check this out at blockbuster when i drop off 2 ps3 games i rented.

lady few days ago asked me why i stopped renting SD movies, i said i gone blu ray for almost a year now. She said no wonder and we will have blu rays in few days. that was few days ago.. im gonna check the sections again today.

IT IS GOOD NEWS! Will Blu ray rental price be same as SD or a dollar more? I wonder

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by Caligula

Will check this out at blockbuster when i drop off 2 ps3 games i rented.

lady few days ago asked me why i stopped renting SD movies, i said i gone blu ray for almost a year now. She said no wonder and we will have blu rays in few days. that was few days ago.. im gonna check the sections again today.

IT IS GOOD NEWS! Will Blu ray rental price be same as SD or a dollar more? I wonder

same

[Caligula]

Originally Posted by savage1984

same

now thats a GOOD NEWS!

[UlicBelouve]

The one near me has had Blu-rays since Blockbuster first started this. Of course, this is great news for my brother, and my other friends with Blu-ray players. This will gain us great exposure (Here's hoping for a large window diplay/vinyl)

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by savage1984

I have blockbuster online.

1) blu's and dvd's cost the same to rent.
2) therefore, you can trade a dvd in for a blu or vice versa.
3) you only have to pay the monthly fee.
4) Once you trade in your mail-in movie to blockbuster, they immediately ship a new one to you the next day. A two day turn around.

How is the stock for Blu-ray movies on Blockbuster online? Netflix sucked when I had it a couple months ago. Everything on my list was a "Long Wait."

[DrasticPlastic]

The blockbuster near me has had blu ray for a while. I use their online service to get blu ray and regular dvd's, but when I use the in store exchange, I try to always get a blu ray since it doesn't cost any extra like it would if I were just renting it.

[Blu Titan]

I had already noticed that policy in my local Blockbuster, but happy to see it implemented nationwide.

[Caligula]

will this be a problem renting BDs at BB, since they have no late fee charges and people can hold it as long during 7 days after rental are due. Will they have several movie copies stacked? Im curious how this will work?

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by JasonS

How is the stock for Blu-ray movies on Blockbuster online? Netflix sucked when I had it a couple months ago. Everything on my list was a "Long Wait."

Nevermind, I just got my answer. Looks like the service sucks too. Logged into my account without re-subscribing. Added a ton of Blu-ray titles to my Queue and checked the status and not a single one is available. All say Short Wait or Long Wait. How retarted.

[ack_bak]

Figures. I just canceled my Blockbuster Total Access account last week since none of my local Blockbusters carried BD in store, and I was very unimpressed with Total Access. If they do start carrying Blu-Ray in-store, I may have to start renting from them again...