Redbox may start $4 monthly movie streaming
updated 12:05 pm EDT, Wed April 7, 2010
Redbox could undercut Netflix
The pioneer of the movie rental kiosk, Redbox, is considering starting a very low cost Internet video streaming service based on the contents of a recent survey. As proposed, it would cost just $4 per month for unlimited online viewing and would still include four of the normally $1 DVD rentals as part of the plan. Which platforms would get the service weren't part of the study.
The deal could be a major blow to Netflix. Although it mails out movies directly to subscribers, its plans start at a minimum $9 per month. The veteran's chief advantage would be device support, as Netflix is now almost ubiquitous among modern devices like Blu-ray players and will also work in HD on certain platforms.
A Redbox Internet plan would also potentially upset the movie industry as a whole, including its online division. Per-title Internet video remains popular at services like iTunes or the Zune Video Marketplace but could be easily disturbed by unlimited viewing that would often cost less than a single online rental. Movie studios themselves have often opposed Redbox and have deliberately forced it to wait four weeks before carrying releases to shelter DVD sales and traditional rentals. [via High-Def Digest]
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I'd be one of the first to sign up for this service. I've found Redbox to be extremely convenient for me to rent movies from. In my area there are many of them, so it's easy to rent or return, and at just $1 a pop, it's a great value. I've been slowly minimizing my reliance on cable/satellite TV for movies (just last month I terminated all movie channels). I've not been too fond of Netflix's offerings, but this Redbox program sounds like a perfect fit for my lifestyle. I'll be following them closely to see what comes of this.