Video streaming and the death of the video rental stores.

Posted by Nikoletta Ventseslavova

Is the video rental a dying industry?

Save: time and money for DVD rentals and watch your favorite movies online in high definition , exchange them with your friends.

As I was walking in my neighborhood with my fiancé yesterday, I realized that the video rental store we used to attend 2 years ago had disappeared. I felt nostalgic about the old times when we were searching for our favorite movies. So, I checked on the web if the other stores of the company still exist. It appeared that the video rental company was defunct. So, what’s the reason? Well, DVD rental by mail and on-demand streaming video killed the video rental stores.

Companies such as Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and iTunes are gathering more and more impact worldwide. The offer movies, TV shows and games at the click of a button. They deliver their products to your mailbox. Now you can get entertainment faster and easier, without moving from the sofa. Unfortunately for the video rental stores, this is the reality. Even Hollywood Video has closed. When you visit you visit the website it says: “Exploring new ways of delivering entertainment to you”. Last year Los Angelis Times publicized that Blockbuster’s stores and kiosks are suffering bankruptcy:

“After struggling with nearly $1 billion in debt and growing competition from Redbox and Netflix, Blockbuster Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday.”

“Blockbuster executives told the major Hollywood studios in August that they expected to shutter 500 to 800 of its 3,425 U.S. stores as part of a bankruptcy process that would begin in September. “

What are the benefits of the online video streaming and the most important things the users have to know?

It is online focused, so you need to have a fast internet connection and a system capable of displaying high definition graphics, such as: PlayStation 3, Roku Box, Nintendo Wii, XBox 360, Blu-Ray. They also provide the option of sending movies to and from their customers for free and there are NO late fees. In addition, customers have the opportunity to exchange movies. The selection of films is wider than in video rental stores and if you wish you can receive your DVDs on your door for free.

However, if you are not that technical, you may have some difficulties with the online features at the beginning, but we’re living in a modern world and we have to get accustomed to it. Did you know that Samsung and Panasonic started weaning out their production of DVD players? Soon everything will be downloads from the Internet and our TVs will be hooked in directly.

Users’ cons and pros:

“If I had a brick-and-mortar store available, I would still use it. I’m on Netflix and I love it, but there are times that I miss being able to browse and wander and discuss. Impulse renting is tough with Netflix. I really miss the awesome indie video stores in the town where I went to college, with sections labeled things like “cult movies you’ll talk back to” and “film noir for a miserable Christmas” (seasonal but worth waiting for). But I live in the middle of nowhere now, never have had a Blockbuster nearby, no longer have any B&M rental store at all, and am stuck with Netflix alone. Oh well.”

“It seem like there’s no point to buying or renting disc for some. If I want the latest movie release. I can buy or rent it on demand. Or use a videogames console or a laptop to stream Netflix. And let’s not forget the downloads itunes and itouch/iphone/ipads. “

“That depends on the quality you’re looking for and also the quality of your player and TV/monitor.In my opinion nothing beats Blu-ray for picture and sound . Also DVD is still a very strong format: downloads will always lack in mainly sound 5.1/7.1 picture will mostly be 720p or lower. So, yes there is a point for buying discs”