Onkyo BD-SP808 Blu-ray Player Gains Blockbuster On Demand Support

Well, the birds have been circling Blockbuster for some time now, but they haven't been able to dive down just yet. The rental company is still hanging on, and their only real chance at remaining on the map is revamping their digital delivery services. That means landing partners willing to push it, and Onkyo has recently signed on with a new Blu-ray player that offers Blockbuster On Demand.

There have been a few Blu-ray players to surface with Netflix 'Watch Instantly' support, but few with support for Blockbuster's alternative. The new BD-SP808 addresses that gap by offering a service that allows customers to browse and select certain movies as soon as the titles are available on DVD and Blu-ray without having to pay a monthly subscription fee. Of course, Blockbuster will need a few more partners than this if they hope to get Netflix a serious run for their money, but at least it's a start, right?

New Blu-ray Player From Onkyo Offers BLOCKBUSTER On Demand®
 
Device joins more than 85 others in adding convenience to entertainment

DALLAS, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockbuster Inc. (Pink Sheets: BLOKA, BLOKB) announced that Onkyo's newest Blu-ray player, the BD-SP808 will offer BLOCKBUSTER On Demand®. This month, the model will be rolled out in electronics stores nationwide, adding to a list of more than 85 consumer electronic devices that have integrated the service to boost consumer access to the latest releases.

"Our partnership with Onkyo further represents Blockbuster's commitment to increasing the availability of movies, particularly the newest titles, as well as old favorites," said Bruce Anderson, BLOCKBUSTER On Demand's senior vice president and general manager. "Combining BLOCKBUSTER On Demand with Onkyo's sophisticated Blu-ray technology, users will discover a convenient way to enhance their in-home movie watching experience."

The BLOCKBUSTER On Demand service allows customers to browse and select certain movies as soon as the titles are available on DVD and Blu-ray without having to pay a monthly subscription fee. Using the system's search tool, consumers can also view ratings, trailers and other information about each movie for a more personalized and simplified viewing experience.

"With the BD-SP808, Onkyo aimed to deliver not just on picture quality, but also on usability," said Paul Wasek, Onkyo USA's marketing manager. "Enabling consumers to access the movies they want faster and more easily is a part of that."

Onkyo's BD-SP808 offers other features in addition to BLOCKBUSTER On Demand, including a High Quality Video Scaler and full-featured Blu-ray Disc Play Back.