The DVD is dying, right? Videos and late fees are nearly ancient history. Saying that Blockbuster has entered the graveyard of corporate obsolescence does not seem too strong a statement. So abandon hope all ye who try to profit from DVDs?
Yet Redbox intends to open 1,500 kiosks after removing 1,000 last year. The CEO thinks he has it figured out. He sees demand at Walmarts, drugstores, and Dollar Stores. He sees expanded potential in video games, giving gamers a chance to try out the new games before they plunk down real dollars. He’s got plans.
In his view, Redbox’s $1.50 price beats the $3.99 and up for streaming. He thinks his customers care about that extra $2.50 and up. I’d say he could well be right. Somebody has been buying those 10 packs of VCR tapes at Half Price Books. I have former students who are still using their DVRs.
A lot of so-called knowledge is floating around cyberspace right now. I won’t say it’s fake news. It’s pretty funny that reputable news sources are reporting on fake news that may or may not be their own product. But sorting fake news from sloppy reporting can be next to impossible. Sorting out the validity of unresearched “truths” can be equally challenging.
So I will just wish Redbox guy luck. What he says makes sense to me, especially that part about trying out games. I also believe there’s an element of fun in picking a title out of a Redbox list, fun somehow missing from streaming. When things become too easy, they may also become less special.
