Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Redbox Rents Record-Breaking Two Million DVDs On New Year's Eve
PR Newswire ^ | January 2, 2010

Posted on 01/02/2010 1:27:23 PM PST by SamAdams76

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Jan. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Redbox, the fully-automated DVD rental provider located at the nation's leading grocery, mass, drug and convenience stores, rented more than two million DVDs on New Year's Eve surpassing the Company's previous one day rental record by more than one-hundred-seventy-thousand rentals. "District 9," "G-Force," "Paranormal Activity" and "Julie & Julia" were among the night's top rentals. With more than 19,000 locations nationwide, consumers have embraced the convenience, fun and value of redbox.

"With many Americans celebrating New Year's Eve at home and many more resolving to save money in 2010, redbox proved a great way to do both," said Gary Cohen, senior vice president, marketing and customer experience. "Renting a record-breaking two million DVDs in a single night, redbox looks forward to continuing to provide consumers with incredible value and convenience in the New Year."

In 2009, redbox surpassed 350 million rentals nationwide. Redbox makes DVD renting easy, affordable and fun. Located at select McDonald's restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, and Walmart and Walgreens locations in select markets, each fully automated redbox kiosk holds 630 DVDs, representing up to 200 of the newest releases. Consumers simply use a touch screen to select their favorite movies, swipe a valid credit or debit card and go. Customers can keep the DVD for as long as they'd like for one low nightly rate, and return it to any one of redbox's more than 19,000 locations nationwide.

For added convenience, customers can reserve a DVD online at www.redbox.com or via an iPhone and pick it up at the redbox location of their choice.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 2009review; dvd; hollywood; nye
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-36 last
To: All

Red Box will eventually have to change when DVDs go the way of the dinosaur. With Red Boxes connected to next gen wi-fi or cable modems, you could simply down load your movies (or games) into a portable thumb-drive then plug it into your computer, XBOX or TV.

By 2020, portable thumb-drives will have so much memory capacity, dependability and micro architecture, they will essentially become your “computer” (just plug it into your “dummy” monitor and start typing).


21 posted on 01/02/2010 2:29:08 PM PST by ak267
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

My answer to Redbox — a service called Starzplay, offered by Verizon. It’s 5.95 a month, and you can download as many mov ies as you want to your computer. The movies aren’t exactly current — but nearly current, and I’ve yet to watch a movie on the service I didn’t like.


22 posted on 01/02/2010 2:29:56 PM PST by malkee (Actually I'm an ex-smoker--more than three years now -- But I think about it every day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76
One blogger suggests that this kind of technology will lead to financial problems in Hollywood. The entertainment industry is facing pressures similar to those on the major newspapers. DVD sales are down 25%.

That blogger thinks such pressures will mean Hollywood will become less crazy and will have to appeal to a broader, more mature audience. Young teens won't have big allowances in this economy, and the young male market is dominated by video games.

23 posted on 01/02/2010 2:33:14 PM PST by Dumb_Ox (http://twitter.com/kevinjjones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dumb_Ox

2010 - Netflix, Redbox beats estimates.
2010 - Hollywood Video, Blockbuster, and Movie Gallery continue to deal with bankruptcy.


24 posted on 01/02/2010 2:37:50 PM PST by WaterBoard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: GnuHere

Many years ago I did have the idea of Video To Go. I figured someone might want to get a movie in their pajamas late night.

Glad someobe did it, I didn’t.


25 posted on 01/02/2010 2:57:14 PM PST by Hilltop (Control the high ground. Control the battlefield.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: malkee

Starzplay works great. I just wish it worked with my iPhone and other portable devices.


26 posted on 01/02/2010 3:05:30 PM PST by Maelstorm (A free man does not thank Government for letting him keep what he has already earned.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: BlessedBeGod
Out of curiosity, how much is the charge if you don’t return it the next day?

They add $1 a day for any DVD not returned by 9PM the next night - up to a maximum of $25 - then the movie is considered to be a sale.

27 posted on 01/02/2010 3:09:10 PM PST by SamAdams76 (I am 72 days away from outliving Jim Jones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: GnuHere
Don’t forget the Mood Ring - I also missed out on that one.

I missed out on pet rocks.

28 posted on 01/02/2010 3:22:38 PM PST by lonestar (Obama and his czars have turned Bush's "mess" into a national crisis!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: UB355

That is convenient, but some people probably want to watch it on a bigger screen. (How big is the touch screen?)


29 posted on 01/02/2010 3:27:29 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

With the apple adapter I watch them on my TV

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB129LL/B?fnode=MTY1NDA0OQ&mco=MTA4MjUwMzk


30 posted on 01/02/2010 4:41:45 PM PST by UB355 (Slower traffic keep right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Dumb_Ox
That was a good article you linked to. It actually amazes me that people buy DVDs at all (when you can rent them for as low as $1). I can see the occasional purchase of a classic movie that you would want to see several more times or maybe a collector's edition of a very good movie that features a lot of extras (like the "Lord Of The Rings" box set). But who in their right mind would pay $15 for a copy of "Porky's Revenge" or "Good Burger"?
31 posted on 01/02/2010 6:46:19 PM PST by SamAdams76 (I am 72 days away from outliving Jim Jones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

Redbox is excellent and very convenient. It’s the best way to rent new and relatively new releases. At $1 a night the price is right. I’ll grab ‘The Final Destination’ on Tuesday when it is released, for example. Not worth going to the theater for, and indeed not worth going out of my way either, but it beats tv.

For older titles, I can usually get them at my library. I reserve them and they email me when it comes in. I go to the library once a week at least anyway, so I can get as many as 7 DVDs at a time.

True, I can’t get everything, but it covers most of my viewing. The library also has new titles but for those you sometimes have to wait a month or more. Redbox is the easy fix for that problem.

I’ve been a fan of Redbox since the day I first saw one of their machines, a fee years ago.


32 posted on 01/02/2010 6:55:51 PM PST by Ted Grant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

We are members of Netflix, but sometimes, we just decide we want something different on the spur of the moment. We also use the Redbox as info for what movies are being released, then we go home and put the ones in which we’re interested on our Netflix list. ;o)


33 posted on 01/02/2010 7:28:43 PM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Infidel
...but I now appreciate for the stroke of genius that it is. $1.00 for a one-night rental that can be returned to ANY Redbox anywhere is incredible. I am now hooked.

Our daughter pointed out something the other day that I hadn't considered. Since you can return a movie to any other Redbox, you could use the service while traveling. If you have a laptop, or a DVD player in your vehicle, it makes for more interesting travel for the kids, or even yourself, when you get to your hotel on the road, and aren't sure about TV reception. You could scout out Redbox locations before your trip, or look them up online along the way, so you'll know where to find one to pick up, and then later, to return it.

I'd seen this with books at truckstops; pick it up at one, and drop it off somewhere along the way.

34 posted on 01/02/2010 7:33:36 PM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

“Of course, we will eventually be streaming this content directly into our own homes someday, but I still think it is years away before many of us have the bandwidth for that. In the meantime, a window of opportunity exists for Redbox (or whoever else figures out how to do this) to pretty much take over the movie rental business.”

The technology and infrastructure are here already. Unfortunately the copyright holders have not created a legel way to use it.


35 posted on 01/02/2010 8:16:35 PM PST by dangerdoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: PAR35

“Same thing could be done for books. High speed printers and binders, rather than huge buildings that warehouse books.”

Or someone could invent a low power device that could store and display multiple books.


36 posted on 01/02/2010 8:18:38 PM PST by dangerdoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-36 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson