I knew some major movie geeks back in college. Discussions after class often compared Steven Spielberg to Francis Ford Coppola, and there was this guy who memorized every line of dialogue from Ghostbusters. That's what happens when you minor in film studies, I guess.
Looking at Coinstar
Hot on the heels of a brand-new digital-streaming service announcement together with Verizon
Blockbuster parent DISH Network
This deal adds some 10,000 former Blockbuster kiosks to the 35,400 Redbox machines already in service. Some would call this combination a growing threat to casual video titan Netflix
The Verizon service might step on Netflix's toes, but it's too early to tell. All we know today is that the digital Redbox-Verizon product will consist of "subscription services and more," which makes me think there will still be a focus on fresher stuff and pay-per-view options. If so, the service should scare cable companies and DVD sellers far more than it keeps Netflix up at night.
Yeah, Verizon could cannibalize its own FiOS product a bit, but Big Red isn't planning to expand its fiber network these days anyway. Selling video services over other vendors' broadband connections is a market-expanding idea whose time has come -- and Verizon started moving in this direction more than a year ago.
Add Coinstar and Verizon to your Foolish Watchlist and check back on the details when the companies decide to let the cat out of the bag. Bring a bag of popcorn -- this will be fun to watch.