You can only conceal the tee-hee-hees so much. After all, they had it coming. For years Blockbuster ran out the mom and pop video shops, and the “what” that goes around may have just boomeranged back at them—from six-year-old startup Netflix.

The day after Blockbuster announced a plan to increase its online unlimited monthly rental fee, Wal-Mart bailed out the online DVD rental business and through a pass to Netflix.

In a deal sure to shake up the industry, Wal-Mart will offer online customers the opportunity to sign up for one year with Netflix at a monthly cost $12.97—a full $5 per month cheaper than Blockbuster before the suggested $3 price hike. In return, Netflix will promote Wal-Mart’s DVD sales to 3 million Netflix subscribers.

Blockbuster retaliated by offer two free months for people who sign up with them (the equivalent of about $15 per month), which will still not undercut Netflix.

i do have an ongoing prediction to this senario and it will leave boath of these players in the dark unless they of course adapt and evolve with the time.
this is only a stagnet step and we are looking at the one after it befor ither can truly reek the profits

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I was on Blockbuster's 'movie pass', the 2 at a time deal, but it was not the online program, it was the walk-in version. The first month was 14 bucks, then went up to 25 thereafter. I went in to ask if I could drop down to the 1 movie at a time, which was $14, but they said they no longer offered it anymore. So I cancelled it and was going to look into the online deals.

Thanks for the head's up, jm!

The one thing I will miss though is not having to wait. I sort of like the idea of when the feeling hits, "hey let's watch a horror movie tonight", then run over and swap movies and back to watch the new one within the hour. But planning ahead is worth the extra savings, not to mention the gas money.

More power to NetFlix - I'm a big fan! We live in a somewhat remote area and renting a DVD is quite a process (a long drive involved to get a DVD, another long drive to return it on time). A rental impulse usually ends up in an overdue movie since we couldn't get back to town.

NetFlix rules for people like us. We have the 3-at-a-time account and the mailing system is genious. They carry TONS of independent movies we would never be able to rent at Blockbuster.

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jawn_tech
i have on demand survices
as mass sorgeg becomes more affordable cable providers will expand their active libarys right now you look at 2000+ movies and varies series and shows all started when you want to watch them comercial free no drop off no pick ups

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Really, GHG? I haven't heard of it yet, sounds interesting. I have thought, however, the next logical step being internet rather than physical DVD's or other media. Just like paid music downloading will eventually wipe out music stores (unless they make alterations), movie and video is the next thing. Heck, Google's on it right now with their new video search that they're working on.

I just checked out Netflix's rates. I was originally willing to pay Blockbuster's 1-at-a-time plan for 14.99/month, which is what Netflix charges for 2-at-a-time, and now Blockbuster tells me they don't offer it anymore. I wonder what they're going to do next -- but it sure will be interesting to see their next move in the big rental vendors' chess match.

hay stop it now
that in my prediction and it post dated this thread but it is not on this forum.
actually i have gathered quite a bit of information regarding this internet destination of movies.

as for on demand programming it goes to your TY set through your cable box and it is fairly instant gives you full control play rewind fast-forward and stop you get control for 24 hours off of a purchase.

this system has bean here for almost a year and the title selection grows all the time there are pay per movies and free listing movies tv series and other stuff

video on demand has a couple downfalls right now
1 not enough info like year of releases
2 not enough titles 2000+ is still not that big of a selection
3 delay in new release they get the releases up after pay per view
4 cost they run higher then PPV

The movie revolution is in negotiation with companies with internet based goals.
We will see how it pans out.
This is even tied into the new x-box 360 with the pc linked media system they can easily make movies accessible through the x-box as rentals or purchases. I’m sure bill thought of this when developing this new system bills goals are to make the x-box more that a game system an extension of your current computer with many possibilities.

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I can read your mind...heh heh

well great minds think alike right>?

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don't know where you guys are from, but on-demand movies have been in the backwoods of Kentucky for more than a year...at least 3 years.

My sister's a big fan of On demand video, she uses about twice a week. Her chief complaint has been that the titles aren't available as quickly as your traditional video store, and the selection isn't as varied as it could be. Most movies in the on demand are too old to be new releases, but too young to be nostalgic classics.