Blockbuster v. Netflix

My earliest memories of renting movies includes: pleading to my parents in the middle of Blockbuster that those 10-minute Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen sleepover VHS’s are worth it (they weren’t); my brother and I furiously arguing over whether to rent The Negotiator or The Return of Jafar; and regretting my plate of spaghetti while watching a bloody scene from Face Off as a 9-year-old.  From then on, my love for Blockbuster only grew when the No Late Fees policy was implemented, but quickly dissipated when it changed to No Late Fees for one day and then pay for the entire movie the day after. With Blockbuster Online came my TV show marathons, causing me to anxiously wait by the mailbox for the next disc of four episodes. So with those muffled memories and hundreds of movies, it’s safe to say that Blockbuster and I have been through thick and thin, though with more rough patches than I’d have liked. But just like an old bad habit, I just can’t seem to shake it off for better alternatives.

And just as my experience with Blockbuster has been a roller coaster ride, so has the business itself. Filing for bankruptcy just last year and closing hundreds of stores in the last couple years, Blockbuster has been fighting society’s technological progression, desperately holding onto materialism just as everyone else is letting it go. So with its financial troubles and its lack of intuition to follow the streaming suit early on, it’s really amazing that Blockbuster has kept itself from drowning. With Netflix’s recent blunder – attempting to divide DVD rentals and streaming costs without telling its subscribers – Blockbuster’s rise couldn’t have come at a better time. Is it too little too late? Probably. But just like a supportive (or naive) mother blindly roots for her child even when he’s the worst soccer player on the field, I’m going to stay BB’s number one cheerleader.

My arguments in the past have been that regardless of how technologically advanced and superior you are, it never hurts to have the option of going to a store on an unexpected boring Friday night to browse the comedy section. Although now that you can browse the comedy section online, that argument is no longer valid. But how about buying a movie? Blockbuster stores are filled with 99-cent bins and $1.99 racks, stocked with new copies of latest releases and old classics. Sure, this is a cry of desperation; they’re noticeably scrambling for revenue and trying to rid stores of these round discs no one seems to have use for anymore. But hey, we might as well take advantage of it.

While I understand the Netflix following, I can’t help but believe that there’s an undeserved halo above it. Much of the love people have for Netflix is good branding and a positive rep, which is phenomenal in contrast to the public’s distaste for Blockbuster’s pathetic desperation in the limelight. The truth is, BB isn’t as far behind as many think. They both supply around the same amount of movies and in fact, BB has some advantages over Netflix subscribers:

• Along with movies, you can rent video games at no extra cost
• Blu-rays can also be rented at no extra cost (Netflix charges $2 extra)
• Latest releases are available 28 days before other vendors

In terms of streaming, BB has finally paved its way into the industry. They launched the Blockbuster Movie Pass in October, where you can stream movies and TV shows on your tube or computer for $10 a month…but only if you have Dish network. And as if that doesn’t cry shitastic enough, most newest releases are $3.99 per 24-hour streaming rental, which means the database of movies and shows in the monthly package may not be as comprehensive as we’d like. Nevertheless, at least it has set its footprint and soon it will hopefully deepen its sole.

I’m not sure what it is about BB that leaves me so passionate for its success and stubborn to leave its side. Perhaps it’s the memories, but more probable that it’s my frustrations of their missed opportunities and poor economic decisions that have blinded me with hope. Either way, if you’re a BB hater, give them a break. They haven’t busted quite yet.

Sources:

http://www.techmoes.com/dish-network-buys-blockbuster-for-228-million/5152/

http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/23/blockbuster-movie-pass-dish-networks-answer-to-netflix-and-qwikster/

Good article on the comparison: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20093587-1/netflix-vs-blockbuster-whats-the-best-service-for-streaming-and-dvds/

http://www.dishnetwork.com/blockbuster/moviepass/

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/23/technology/blockbuster_streaming/index.htm

featured photo from: http://nexus404.com/Blog/2011/10/14/the-top-seven-reasons-i-took-blockbuster-up-on-their-free-trial-after-weeks-of-netflix-craziness-i-went-to-see-if-the-grass-was-greener-on-the-other-side-with-seven-reasons-why-it-looked-that-way/