Blockbuster and TiVo agree streaming deal

by Stevie Smith - Mar 25 2009, 16:15

Looking to strengthen its market positioning beside home entertainment rival Netflix, rental titan Blockbuster has revealed that it plans to begin offering widespread access to movies and television shows via a range of TiVo digital video recorders (DVRs).

Expected to arrive in the latter half of 2009, the service will provide Blockbuster customers with a wealth of streamed content that can be either purchased fully or enjoyed on a rental basis.

Notably, Blockbuster’s fee-based service will offer its users access to new releases between two and four weeks after physical discs have been placed on the shelves of its walk-in stores, which will see customers watching new titles before they reach pay-per-view.

All potential users will require a TiVo-compatible DVR to engage the service, and will be facing purchase prices ranging from $14.99 USD to $19.99 USD, while rental titles from a catalogue of 10,000 are expected to start at $1.99 USD and reach up to $3.99 USD.

News of Blockbuster’s shift onto TiVo further expands the entertainment giant’s reach and follows similar digital delivery deals with Vizio and 2Wire, along with future plans to gain a video-on-demand platform through Net-capable Blu-ray players and other mobile devices.

Main market rival Netflix is also working hard to increase its streaming coverage and has already found significant traction with TiVo, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 videogames console, various Blu-ray players, and the Roku digital video player, reports AP.

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