Blockbuster Has Seen the Future, and It Looks a Lot Like ... Your Computer

Also holding its annual shareholder meeting today was Dallas-based Blockbuster, where the, uh, rockin' new-ish CEO Jim Keyes debuted the future of the video and gaming rental company: in-store kiosks from which customers can download movies onto portable devices in a matter of minutes. Only, a few caveats as the...

By Robert Wilonsky

May 28, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Also holding its annual shareholder meeting today was Dallas-based Blockbuster, where the, uh, rockin' new-ish CEO Jim Keyes debuted the future of the video and gaming rental company: in-store kiosks from which customers can download movies onto portable devices in a matter of minutes. Only, a few caveats as the kiosks are initially launched solely in a couple of Dallas outlets in coming months: For now, they'll only work with devices made by Archos, and, yeah, ain't got one of those -- you? And there's a monthly subscription fee of $10, in addition to the fees necessary for buying or renting the videos. And, another downside: You have to go to Blockbuster. Still, it's the future! --Robert Wilonsky

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Dallas Observer has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.