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Fri, Nov 20, 2009 - 09:06 PM EST — AAPL: 199.92 (-0.59, -0.29%) | NASDAQ: 2146.04 (-10.78, -0.5%)

Blockbuster inks deal with TiVo; says Apple deal coming

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 09:57 AM EST

Blockbuster Inc. and TiVo Inc. today announced a partnership to deliver Blockbuster’s library of premium digital movie titles directly to the television set via TiVo DVRs.

BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand, featuring content to both buy and rent, will be integrated into TiVo Series2, Series3, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL DVRs. TiVo DVRs will be sold at thousands of Blockbuster stores nationwide as well as online at blockbuster.com, giving both companies new distribution outlets and putting TiVo DVRs and BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand front and center of where video shopping takes place. Additionally, the companies will implement a cross-marketing campaign.

“We are excited to be teaming with TiVo, the company that created the DVR, to make Blockbuster’s entertainment content readily available to their millions of subscribers,” said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO, in the press release. “Ultimately, our vision is to work with TiVo so that their subscribers can access movies not only through our OnDemand service but also from our stores and through our by-mail service as well. Regardless of a film’s availability - through VOD or on DVD - we want to work with TiVo to provide their subscribers unprecedented access to movie content.”

“Joining with Blockbuster further distinguishes TiVo as a true universal solution for content providers, making it a one stop shop for any content thru broadband or linear distribution straight to the TV,” said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo Inc., in the press release. “When consumers walk into one of the thousands of Blockbuster stores entertainment for the home is on their minds — it could not be more natural to have them exposed to the world of millions of entertainment possibilities for the home that the TiVo Service provides.”

The companies expect to have the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand service integrated into TiVo DVRs in the second half of 2009.

For more information on BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand delivered via the TiVo service visit www.tivo.com/blockbuster

Source: Blockbuster, Inc.

Franklin Paul reports for Reuters, "Blockbuster joins rival Netflix and Amazon.com, which also provide online video straight to TiVo users' TVs...You will see us in a large number of other devices going forward,' said Kevin Lewis, senior vice president of digital entertainment at Blockbuster, who added that the company also plans to makes its system available to Apple Inc's products. 'We need to be in the normal places that consumers want to watch movies,' he said."

Paul reports, "About 10,000 movies will be available when the service launches in the latter half of this year. Most rental films on Blockbuster.com today cost about $2 to $4, while purchased movies start at less than $10."

Paul reports, "Blockbuster claimed that its roster of movies on TiVo will outshine that of online choices available at Netflix and Amazon. Indeed, while Amazon and Netflix have more videos available in total, most are older titles, whereas Blockbuster.com offers many more recent hits."

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Uh, you did plan it, but then Steve checked out Reuters.com this morning... Loose lips sink ships - and Apple deals.

Maybe Jobs will give them a break. Anything that increases the content available on Apple TV and/or iTunes Store is a good thing.

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Mar 25, 09 - 09:23 am Comment from: MacMental

Wouldn't this compete directly with Apple's own rental service?

Mar 25, 09 - 09:36 am Comment from: Jay

The Blockbuster guy said it will be made available, not that Apple would accept it. Apple already has a good rental catalog. What the Apple TV needs is access to streaming online TV services like Hulu or at the very least the ability to go online to a network's website and stream directly from there. I'll buy my episodes of LOST and The Office from iTunes, but I don't want to own every show I watch. A one time viewing is just fine for 95% of all TV shows.

Mar 25, 09 - 09:39 am Comment from: Quad Core

"Wouldn't this compete directly with Apple's own rental service?"

Yes and no. Apple's goal is to sell hardware. If this can sell hardware and Apple can get a cut of the rentals......

Mar 25, 09 - 09:41 am Comment from: Jersey_Trader

What is in it for Apple that isn't already in Apple's iTune Store now. I would rather see an Apple mini DVR that is cable or TiVo compatible.

Mar 25, 09 - 09:47 am Comment from: Gman

I HATE BLOCKBUSTER! - Stupid people run the brick and mortar stores..stupid inconsistent return policies, rude managers, unknowledgeable staff..etc, etc..

Mar 25, 09 - 09:53 am Comment from: DreamTheEndless

I was going to post, but Quad Core said nearly exactly what I was going to...

Mar 25, 09 - 09:53 am Comment from: NCMacMan

What are they going to offer, an iPhone app? Oooohhh, join the club Blockbuster, it still won't save your business as its model is deteriorating quickly.

I bet in 10 years Blockbuster and Netflix will not exist.

Mar 25, 09 - 10:23 am Comment from: HMCIV

So tell me Blockbuster, how's that Enron deal going?

Mar 25, 09 - 11:16 am Comment from: Gomer37

I love my TiVo.

You can have my TiVo only when you can pry it out of my cold dead fingers. Same with my Mac.

Mar 25, 09 - 12:57 pm Comment from: Hmmm

How can your fingers just be dead? TiVo is whack!!!

Mar 25, 09 - 01:50 pm Comment from: Mister Snitch

"What is in it for Apple that isn't already in Apple's iTune Store now."

If you subscribe to Netflix' online service, you'll see that it offers a LOT that Apple cannot. Different 'content providers, in different situations, offer different deals. Apple's deal did not fit all sizes.

Big win for Apple, and Blockbuster, if it happens. Blockbuster may or may not survive, but this puts pressure on Netflix to also cut a deal with Apple. (Apple need not restrict itself to one provider - TiVo has both Netflix and Amazon - and some others - offering roughly similar, competing, streaming services.)

I assume (but don't know for sure) that TiVo has a bigger installed base than AppleTV at this point. By making a few good moves, Apple could overtake them.

Mar 25, 09 - 04:08 pm Comment from: BiZarRo BaLlmEr

Blockbuster with Quicktime movies? byebye Netflix

Mar 25, 09 - 04:09 pm Comment from: Romeodawg

Yeah I LOVE the fact that I can watch a lot of movies that are currently in my Netflix queue instantly on my Tivo. It's the reason I kept my Netflix account going. Blockbuster only did what Netflix did first.

Apple TV is kind of maxed out in terms of what it can do reasonably with that tiny remote and interface... I get tired of the spinning, scrolling, and no keyboard access - something's gotta give if they keep adding content.

Mar 25, 09 - 05:40 pm Comment from: Swing Geezer

There are only about 75 movies available on Canadian Apple TV. Most are rubbish.

Mar 25, 09 - 06:11 pm Comment from: Driver

I thought it was RePlay that came up with the DVR option BEFORE Tivo?

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Fri, Nov 20, 2009 - 09:06 PM EST — AAPL: 199.92 (-0.59, -0.29%) | NASDAQ: 2146.04 (-10.78, -0.5%)

Blockbuster inks deal with TiVo; says Apple deal coming

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Fri, Nov 20, 2009 - 09:06 PM EST — AAPL: 199.92 (-0.59, -0.29%) | NASDAQ: 2146.04 (-10.78, -0.5%)

Blockbuster inks deal with TiVo; says Apple deal coming

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