Say Goodbye to More Blockbuster Locations, Dish Network Says

Perhaps Dish Network should just pull the plug on Blockbuster completely, but instead it looks like the once popular DVD rental store is destined to die a slow death. The satellite service provider indicated it would be closing more Blockbuster locations in the coming months than originally planned, and those that remain will turn into quasi-Dish Network customer service locations.

News of additional closures comes from Dish Network Chief Executive Joe Clayton, who spoke with Reuters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Clayton said that any location not making a profit will be boarded up.


"We are committed to keeping the profitable stores open that are generating positive cash flow, but there are ones that aren't going to make it," Clayton told Reuters. "We will close unprofitable stores. We will close additional stores."

Dish Network forked over $320 million for Blockbuster in a bankruptcy auction last year, and at the time, it was hopeful of keeping 1,500 stores open. But Blockbuster has struggled to remain relevant, both offline (DVD rentals and kiosks) and online (streaming service), facing stiff competition from Redbox and Netflix.