AfterDawn: News

Blockbuster's last 300 stores to close in U.S.

Dish Network has announced that all Blockbuster retail stores are to close by January 2014, and the Blockbuster By Mail service is being axed too.

After rescuing Blockbuster in 2011 by buying it for $320 million, Dish has found itself closing store after store and laying off employees. At this point, there are only around 300 Blockbuster stores left in the United States, but they too will close down by January.



"This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment," said Joseph P. Clayton, DISH president and chief executive officer.

"Despite our closing of the physical distribution elements of the business, we continue to see value in the Blockbuster brand, and we expect to leverage that brand as we continue to expand our digital offerings."

Additionally, the Blockbuster By Mail service that originally was setup to challenge Netflix' DVD mail service will cease operations mid-December.

The Blockbuster brand will live on however with Dish retaining its licensing rights. The Blockbuster @Home service will continue to be offered to Dish subscribers.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 6 Nov 2013 18:43

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• 7 comments

• SomeBozo

  Great to see the end of one of the worse companies i ever dealt with. I still remember the I had a $850 late fee, the manager was nice enough to allow me to search the shelves i didn't return, the dvd was found and was considered a mistake on there part. I'm just thinking what would of happened if the dvd was cracked and had to be thrown away...
  
  Great to see this company go bye-bye!
  
  

  6.11.2013 20:29 #1

• Azuran

  What about the kiosks?
  

  6.11.2013 21:14 #2

• Bozobub

  This is only about the last remaining brick-and-mortar stores, Azuran.
  
  I never liked Blockbuster much, but I still kinda miss Hollywood Video; they had excellent anime and cult film selections, for a major chain.

  7.11.2013 00:55 #3

• zxe

  The on ward march of digital downloads and streaming, means the demise of brick and mortar, many years ago i would get dvd from blockbuster, then the Internet retail firms, where you would get this in the post, this is what progress brings. It then become a memory of what was.

  7.11.2013 05:31 #4

• bhetrick

  I'm sure all the ISP's are in their glory after hearing this.
  
  One more brick-n-mortor bites the dust. More consumers turning to digital streaming. Now the ISP's can rake in more cash by hiking rates, lowering bw limits, and adding more fees.
  

  7.11.2013 11:43 #5

• hearme0

  Originally posted by Azuran: What about the kiosks? Likely GONE as the mailing service is getting nixed so they won't have the means to distribute physical discs.
  
  Just guessing.
  
  Sad to see this company go. I remember the year they opened up and started. Nostalgia settling in. It's really sad that so many will be put back in the job seeking market.
  
  My prayers to them to stay afloat and find new jobs.

  7.11.2013 12:57 #6

• Bozobub

  The kiosks are making a healthy profit; they're quite likely to stay.

  7.11.2013 13:59 #7