Blockbuster Launches ONDEMAND Service with MediaPoint Digital Media Player

Blockbuster has just launched the Blockbuster ONDEMAND service featuring the 2Wire MediaPoint digital media player, a set-top box that enables customers to rent movies and watch them on a television.

In an interesting marketing move, Blockbuster is giving the MediaPoint away for free if customers pre-purchase 25 rentals for $99 (plus S&H). Rentals cost $1.99 to $3.99, and the ONDEMAND service offers "thousands of titles" including new releases. There are no monthly fees, but once a title is rented it must be viewed within 30 days, and watched within 24 hours of starting the movie.

How does the 2Wire MediaPoint compare to Roku's Netflix Player?

Blockbuster's ONDEMAND service uses a rental model vs. Netflix's subscription model.

The MediaPoint supports HD content, while Roku has promised HD support soon.

MediaPoint will offer new releases, while the Roku box has a limited number of new releases.

Both boxes claim DVD quality, and as soon as I can test the two boxes I'll post a comparison.

The MediaPoint is a closed system, while Roku has said they will be adding additional content providers.

Netflix streams content to the Roku Player, while the MediaPoint uses progressive downloading.

The Roku and MediaPoint both support WIFI and ethernet connections.

Both boxes offer compsite, component, HDMI and Toslink connections.

Blockbuster's MediaPoint digital media player will ship in time for the holiday season.

Comments

[DiversiGuy]

Ship in time for the 'holiday season?'

What exactly does that mean? Thanksgiving(and its dark alter-ego, Black Friday) is three days from now, and the only other spending holiday is Christmas. So is it shipping this week, or in the next three weeks?

[gibsonian]

::golf clap:: Welcome to the game, BB. I'm sure your five loyal customers will think this little effort is awesome.

[Gir]

$3.99 = also ran.

[Bob Emmerich]

$99 for 25 rentals? Seriously? And then more per movie after that? Wow, so glad the box is "free". Not.

only BB can make me feel like a kid again

[mattd0g]

I think it is pretty safe to assume that they are referring to Christmas and they mean it will ship in time to arrive for Christmas. Not too many people are getting people gifts for Thanksgiving.

I think the cool feature of this is that it downloads the content, so hopefully ( you won't have to worry about your internet going down or movie interruptions. It is also great for people who just want to watch movies when they want to watch movies. I am going to wait for Hancock to come from my public library, but I would probably pay $3.99 to watch it tonight.

UPDATE -- AS I was writing this I went to check BBs site and new movies "are usually available within 30 days". Looks like the studios are still protecting the DVD window for retailers. I just went from interested to disinclined. Game Over.

[leonardodicrapio]

This is not a bad option if you do not have a digital cable box with video on demand IMHO. Renting a digital cable box and subscribing to digital cable (versus expanded basic) is usually an additional $10-$15 per month. Last I checked approximately 40-45% of cable subscribers do not have digital cable.

My personal situation is that I already have a Tivo Series 3 box with Lifetime Service. I already have access to Amazon Unbox, CinemaNow, YouTube and Jaman through this box. I also have two free movie credits from Jaman that I can use in the next two months.

And I will have access to Netflix Watch Instantly through my Tivo Series 3 next month (December). So I don't have a desire to add another box to my set-up (nor does it make much sense to do so).

[Justin Credible]

I don't see how this differentiates themselves from say... a Playstation 3 where rentals can be had for $2.99-3.99. Really late to the game and doesn't bring anything new to the table.

[macdude22]

Hasn't like, Vudu failed misirably at the whole Rental Box crap. People like the Netflix stuff because it's all you can eat of a lot of great content, in addition to your disks.

[ZeroCorpse]

The sad thing is that they've been working on rolling this out for over a year, referring to it as their "Netflix killer".

Yeah. Right. They've just offered the same thing that everyone with a PS3, Xbox 360, Apple TV, or any computer equipped with iTunes has had for years now.

Way to FAIL, Blockbuster.

[Brian]

This at least is a step that BB understands the need to be on the STB with its VOD services. IIRC, Movielink was available through MediaCenter PCs, so that should still be an option.

People mention the TIVO Series 3 players. That is great, IF they were able to work with the Comcast Cablecards to allow for proper access to Channel 1. That is the one thing that keeps me from acquiring a TIVO Series 3 unit -- it doesn't fully replace my need for a digital cable box from Comcast.

[Scott]

DiversiGuy and mattd0g, I think the reason businesses talk about in time for "the holidays" rather than "Christmas" is to be inclusive of non-Christians who celebrate other holidays this time of year. Though also, generically, people talk about Christmas + New Year's as "the holidays" too.

[leonardodicrapio]

"That is great, IF they were able to work with the Comcast Cablecards to allow for proper access to Channel 1. That is the one thing that keeps me from acquiring a TIVO Series 3 unit -- it doesn't fully replace my need for a digital cable box from Comcast."

I'm assuming Comcast's Channel 1 is Video On Demand(?). I had Comcast for approximately six years (2000 to 2006) and used a Tivo Series 2 with Lifetime Service and Expanded Basic instead of getting a digital cable box.

I have been using Verizon FiOS TV with a Tivo Series 3 (Lifetime tranferred from the Tivo Series 2) for the last two years.

[DiversiGuy]

Scott,

In July, companies talk about the 'holiday season' because they aren't sure when something is going to ship.

Only losers talk about the 'holiday season' when they are announcing a product 3 days before Thanksgiving, and expecting it to be sold in less than 30 days.

Being inclusive has nothing to do with it. Being vague and evasive has everything to do with it.

[Old Timer Too]

As if I want a VOD service . . . With a projection system hooked up only to players, I'm not in the market for any kind of set-top box.

With all of BB's price gyrations over the past couple of years, they need to get their act together, including not listing "not available" titles as part of their catalog.

Hm. NF does that, too.

Should be interesting. I just activated my NF "Settlement" account and added films that have been in Very Long Wait status. Now we'll see if any ship during the free month.

If they don't, I'll simply let NF know that they failed to uphold their end of the settlement agreement during my free month.

If these companies are going to offer a service, they need to make sure they can actually fulfill their end. Oh, and yeah, the Very Long Wait showed up with the same status on the settlement account.

[Brian]

2Wire's website claim the ability to playback local media and support for UPnP and DLNA.

It's a great looking device at an even better price *if* it can play my photos, music and videos (H.264 and DivX).

What are the hardware specs? Any chances of hacking it and installing XBMC or Boxee?

[Brian]

So, leodecap ... does that mean that the Comcast On Demand stuff will work with a TIVO Series 3 and cable cards?

Brian ... if it is DLNA compliant, that means the box will work with PlayOn services, which mean Hulu and Netflix (and anything else coming online). That might tempt me to pay the $99 ... maybe.

[rhoadarmer]

I was considering it until I read this: "and watched within 24 hours of starting the movie".

It often start a movie one night and finish it the next, or even several days later. I don't understand why this limitation is in place. I'm sticking with Netflix.

[leonardodicrapio]

"So, leodecap ... does that mean that the Comcast On Demand stuff will work with a TIVO Series 3 and cable cards?"

I do not believe the Tivo Series 3 will work with Comcast On Demand. Whether Tivo has any plans for a Series 4 (which will allow access to VOD from the cable companies) is debatable. I don't believe Verizon's Video On Demand will ever be compatible with Tivo (whether it be with the existing Series 3 or a Series 4 in the future).

[joker]

The 24 hr watching window is a deal-breaker for me. It's stupid. I'm busy and have kids and rarely make it through a 2 hr movie in one sitting. If I sit down to start watching at 8pm, most of the time I will be finishing AFTER 8pm the following night. This is the studios being idiotic.

[Fred]

Absolute fail. Blockbuster bringing another failed idea that nobody wants? I just cannot imagine why they haven't figured this out yet, why do I want to spend MORE money than I already do? I've stopped "renting" for $4 a title (If you believe anything worth watching is $2.99, you're mistaken). I have an unlimited by mail plan, and would never go back to paying per rental, as I'd just go broke! Blockbuster takes a good idea - streaming over the 'net, and takes everything good about it out. 24 hour window, expensive pricing, proprietary hardware. F'n idiots. I'd rather a subscription model, then I'd actually consider purchasing. Rhapsody- for video.

[susan]

we bought one of these immediately and have not yet gotten it to identify our linksys wireless system--calling blockbuster (multiple times, multiple days) has not resulted in a solution. has anyone actually installed one and got it working?

[david]

I just received this unit today...

So far I have had to reboot it twice while just browsing through the interface (movies). Froze up completely.

So then I finally select a movie to rent, I have a 6Mbps dsl connection which I have no issue getting that speed on my PCs. So it averages about 2Mbps download speeds, video starts stuttering at points, audio cut out at one point... This is only after using it for less than an hour and only watching about 20 minutes of "Felon".

I will say the video quality is very good.

so far not too impressed! I'll probably use my 25 included rentals then throw it in the trash if they don't update this thing soon.