Blockbuster “is developing a set-top device for streaming films directly to TV sets and is expected to announce the offering sometime this month,” Andrew Wallenstein reports for The Hollywood Reporter.
Wallenstein reports, “Blockbuster declined comment, but a spokeswoman for the company said: ‘We’re talking to numerous companies and vendors about products, services, alliances and initiatives that can help us achieve our mission to transform Blockbuster into a company that provides access to media content across multiple channels — from our stores, by mail, through kiosks, through downloading, through portable content-enabled devices– so it’s not surprising that there are rumors out there.’
“The device would join a growing roster of devices that aim to bring broadband video to the living room, including Apple TV,” Wallenstein reports.
“Blockbuster knows all too well the importance of online film rentals. When Apple said in January that iTunes would adopt a rental model, it sent Blockbuster’s stock plummeting 17% to an all-time closing low,” Wallenstein reports.
Full article here.
Very little chance of success at this late date; not with Apple’s iTunes, iPod and iPhone so firmly established. Apple TV is awesome, by the way – and you can buy it today!