• 13 Going on 30
• Amusement
  
• Antwone Fisher
  
• The Deal
  
• Domino
  
• El Norte
  
• Election
  
• The Express
  
• Henry Poole Is Here
  
• Igor
  
• King Kong (2005)
• Max Payne
  
• The Notebook (Limited Edition Gift Set)
  
• The Pink Panther
  
• Poison Ivy 4: The Secret Society
  
• Repo! The Genetic Opera
  
• Saw V
  
• Unfaithful

The MediaPoint box costs $99, but it includes 25 Blockbuster OnDemand Rentals.  After you use the included rentals, additional rentals will start at $1.99 each.

I fail to see how this is viable competition for Netflix, which offers free streaming for a number of their titles.  I suppose, however, that the availability of all titles would add some attraction, but you can always wait for the DVDs to come in the mail.  Additionally, Blockbuster says that most titles are available within 30 days of the release, so you may get access to more movies faster – but you’ll pay for it.

The MediaPoint device accepts standard and HD connections, including HDMI, and requires broadband Internet access to operate.  Sign up info here.  Additional details can be found in the press release below.

PRESS RELEASE

Blockbuster and 2Wire Introduce New Digital Media Player

MediaPoint™ digital media player provides instant entertainment from BLOCKBUSTER ® ONDEMAND straight to television

DALLAS and SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI)(NYSE: BBI.B), a leading global provider of media entertainment, and 2Wire, a provider of integrated broadband solutions, today introduced the 2Wire MediaPoint™ digital media player, an easy-to-use, on-demand video solution that offers movie fans instant access through their television sets to BLOCKBUSTER® ONDEMAND content, including thousands of titles from the latest movie releases to classic favorites.

Beginning today, for a limited time, the MediaPoint digital media player is available free with the advance rental of 25 BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND movies for $99 at http://www.blockbuster.com/. Unlike subscription-based services, which typically offer movies years after their release, BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND includes hot new releases, many available within weeks of leaving theaters. After the initial 25 rentals, movies are available for as little as $1.99 each. The players will begin shipping in time for the holiday season.

“The MediaPoint digital player, featuring BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND, is entertainment made easy. We are bringing Blockbuster, and the thousands of movies in our digital library, straight to customers’ televisions,” said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. “The player is simple to use, delivers DVD quality video, and there’s no monthly subscription commitment. We are delighted to team with 2Wire to give consumers this great entertainment product.”

Easy to install, the MediaPoint digital media player works seamlessly with any broadband connection, either wirelessly via built-in Wi-Fi or wired via Ethernet cable, to deliver the hottest new movies, classics, foreign films and television shows from the BLOCKBUSTER digital library. With full fast-forward, rewind, and pause capabilities, the viewing experience is DVD quality, no matter the speed of the broadband connection. Movies can be played right away or saved to watch later. Additionally, the player supports HD video content and can be connected to HDTVs.

“To be successful, a broadband video offering needs to deliver movies that people want to see, in the quality they expect, with minimal setup requirements,” said Pat Romano, chief executive officer of 2Wire. “BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND and the MediaPoint digital media player give movie fans what they want. We are thrilled to help bring this service to the living room, providing immediate access to high quality movies directly on the television set.”

The MediaPoint digital media player is extremely compact — about the size of two boxes of movie candy — and can be integrated seamlessly into home entertainment systems through composite cable, HDMI, component cable, or Toslink.

Technical Details

In the Box

• 2Wire MediaPoint Digital Media Player (8″ x 8″ x 1″)
• Quick Installation Guide
• Power Adapter
• Composite A/V cable (supports SD viewing)
• Remote Control
• AAA Batteries

Video and Audio Connections

• Composite
• Component *
• HDMI*
• Stereo Audio
• Toslink (digital optical audio)*

Network Connections

• Ethernet*
• Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)

*cable must be purchased separately

Starz Play, Included in All Unlimited Netflix Subscriptions, Makes Approximately 2,500 Movies, TV Shows and Concerts Available to be Watched Instantly by Netflix Members

LOS GATOS, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 1 – Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), the world’s largest online movie rental service, and Starz Entertainment, LLC, a premium movie service provider operating in the U.S., today announced an agreement to make movies from Starz, through its “Starz Play” broadband subscription movie service, available to be streamed instantly at Netflix. Access to the Starz Play service at Netflix will be included with Netflix members’ current monthly subscription fee.
The deal adds significantly to a growing library of over 12,000 choices of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly at Netflix. Netflix members who have unlimited subscription plans, which start at only $8.99 a month, will have full and unlimited access to approximately 2,500 additional movies and other choices from Starz Play as part of their current monthly subscription. That includes the opportunity to enjoy a live feed of the Starz TV network on their PCs and does not impact the number of DVDs members receive as part of their monthly plans.

The first of the Starz titles — approximately 1,000 — are available now at the Netflix Web site, where they are presented in a distinct area accessible by clicking on the “Watch Instantly” tab on the Netflix member home page. More titles will be added in the coming weeks.

Starz Play, Starz’ collection of programming content for online distribution, features a wide variety of first-run hit movies, independent films and well-known movie classics, in addition to extreme sports, concerts, anime, Westerns and more. “Spider-Man™ 3,” “Ratatouille,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Superbad,” “No Country for Old Men” and “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” highlight the movie offerings now available to be watched instantly. Starz Play also features new original content from Starz, including episodes of the upcoming dramatic series “Crash,” from the producers of the Academy Award®-winning Best Picture “Crash,” which remains the most-rented DVD in the history of Netflix.

Beginning today, Netflix and Starz Play will offer a sneak preview of the first full episode of “Crash” in advance of the Starz primetime premiere on October 17 at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. “Crash” will remain a staple in the Starz Play programming mix and new episodes will debut day-and-date with new episode premieres.

“The coupling of Starz Play with our growing library of streaming content is an important step forward for both companies and for consumer choice,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. “Our deal reflects the creative ways we are working with content partners to expand the profile and the number of choices our subscribers can watch instantly over the Internet, in addition to the 100,000 titles we offer on DVD through the mail.”

Netflix also said that as part of the deal it will offer a Starz Play-only subscription for $7.99 a month.

Starz Entertainment’s president and chief operating officer, Bill Myers, noted that this agreement marks a significant step forward in Starz’ efforts to provide consumers with choice and convenience so that they can watch Starz programming wherever and whenever they want. “Netflix has grown to be an innovative leader in the home video space and we are delighted to offer their customers our unique and robust collection of movies on a subscription basis. This agreement is a strong vehicle to promote the Starz brand and showcase Starz’ leadership position in the premium movie category.”

About Netflix, Inc.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than eight million subscribers. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can get DVDs delivered to their homes and can instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and PCs, all in unlimited amounts. Members can choose from over 100,000 DVD titles and a growing library of more than 12,000 choices that can be watched instantly. There are never any due dates or late fees. DVDs are delivered free to members by first class mail, with a postage-paid return envelope, from over 100 U.S. shipping points. More than 95 percent of Netflix members live in areas that generally receive shipments in one business day. Netflix is also partnering with leading consumer electronics companies to offer a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes to members’ TVs from Netflix. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com/.

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 17 million and 31.3 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (http://www.starz.com/) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Entertainment Group (NASDAQ: LMDIA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081001/AQW018
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN7
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SOURCE: Netflix, Inc.

Web site: http://www.netflix.com/
http://www.starz.com/