Blockbuster to Stream Movies through Blu-ray Player

Blockbuster has been trying pretty hard to compete with Netflix as the company realizes that going to the movie rental store is so, well, 20^th century. And how will they compete with Netflix? By copying everything Netflix does.


Blockbuster started a mailing service once it became apparent that the Netflix model was working. When Netflix teamed up with TiVo, Blockbuster came out with their own set-top box that can download movies through the Blockbuster OnDemand service. And, the coup de grace, Netflix-capable Blu-ray players that can download movies from the rental service without any additional hardware, has finally been copied by Blockbuster.

Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes revealed that the company has plans to release a Blu-ray player that can download movies from Blockbuster OnDemand sometime in early 2009.

Regardless of how unoriginal Blockbuster's ideas are, this is probably a good move for the company. As more households become HD compatible and acquire broadband access, the convenience of downloading a movie whenever you want is sure to overshadow the convenience of Netflix's mailing service. While there's no way to tell if the Blockbuster Blu-ray player will make the company a serious contender to Netflix, it can't hurt to copy the most successful company in your industry ... can it?

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