Blockbuster OnDemand Comes To TiVo

MojoKid writes "Netflix isn't the only company that sees that streaming is the future of movie rental distribution. Blockbuster, which always seems to be playing catch-up with Netflix, will start making its on-demand rental and purchase content available on TiVo DVRs. Blockbuster OnDemand has only been available as a streaming service on Windows PCs or streaming to TVs via the 2Wire MediaPoint device. Meanwhile, Netflix streaming is available on far more platforms, such as on Windows and Mac computers, TiVo, the Roku Digital Video Player, LG and Samsung Blu-ray players, the Xbox 360, as well as a number of video portal software applications, like Boxee and ZeeVee's Zinc. Blockbuster's partnership with TiVo is yet another indication of the coming revolution of on-demand media available to TVs — that is, if the revolution hasn't already started."

Re:Now all they need to do is

[Chrisq]

Thompson just made massive mistakes with their launch and marketing of it.

You can say that again. The Tivo adverts made it look really confusing and you could watch one without knowing what Tivo actually does! Compare that to the very good adverts for Sky+, which emphasise that its so easy that your gran use it do it and you see why Tivo flopped.

Re:bandwidth

[transporter_ii]

Netflix works for those who use it now. But what happens when everybody wants to use it?

Almost all ISPs oversell their bandwidth by a good ratio, which means that they do not think that everyone will be using the bandwidth at the same time.

When everybody is watching streaming movies, the crap is going to come to a screeching halt.

A while back I worked for a WISP. A WISP almost has to over sell its bandwidth, because bandwidth limitations of the access points make it almost impossible to give every customer exactly what they are paying for if every single customer were to be using it at the same time.

I was so worried about the oversell ratio and streaming movies, that it is one of the reasons I don't work there any more.

Re:Just Quit Blockbuster

[horatio]

I stopped giving my business to Blockbuster a few years ago in nearly the exact same situation. I was in a store, and commented to someone who was with me that I was annoyed that they'd jacked up their prices but were playing games with the rental periods. One of the employees on the floor started arguing with me about how this was so much better, and it was cheaper, etc. He actually stood there and argued with me that they'd lowered the rental cost, when in fact, the per-unit (day) cost was higher.

Wayne Huizenga, the guy who founded(?) Blockbuster, from what I know, is a really good guy. Gives lots of his money to charity, is involved with the south Florida community, etc. The guy is a picture of the American dream - started with couple of garbage trucks and built an empire that is now Waste Management, Blockbuster, and other things. Too bad the corporate drones are ruining Blockbuster's image with stupidity, and either suing or constantly playing catch-up to Netflix instead of competing and developing a better product.

I'm slightly surprised that TiVo doesn't have a non-compete type agreement with Netflix to prevent Blockbuster from running on the TiVo in parallel to Netflix. Good for the consumer though - more choices and we get to decide.