Redbox Goes Blu: Blu-ray Discs For $1.50 Per Night Now Available

Redbox. Just saying the name brings a smile to most faces, particularly those movie lovers with a box or two nearby. We have heard in the past that the company is planning to compete with Netflix and is still in a "beta phase" when it comes to pricing, but now we're learning that Redbox is going Blue. Or, we should say "Blu."

The company made famous for putting $1/night DVD kiosks into grocery stores, Walmart stores and just about any other retail location where they were allowed has just expanded their services in a big way. Since launch, Redbox has been allowing consumers to pick up standard DVDs for around $1 per night, even expanding the renting service online and allowing users to reserve them over the phone (via apps, of course). But today, the DVD is being joined by the Blu-ray. It took Redbox some time to finally adopt, but now that Blu-ray is the definite DVD replacement, they're rolling out BD rentals with availability at approximately 13,300 kiosks nationwide.

The company has announced pricing at $1.50/night for all Blu-ray Discs (plus applicable tax), and while just 13,000 boxes are getting BDs today, they expect to have those discs in their entire network of approximately 23,000 kiosk locations by the fall. If you want to find out if your local box is BD-ready, visit this link with your ZIP code: www.redbox.com/bluray.

Redbox Launches Blu-ray Rentals
 
DVD Rental Kiosk Leader Now Offering Popular Blu-ray Titles at an Affordable Price

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Redbox, the popular DVD rental kiosk provider, and wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTR), today announced it has started rolling out Blu-ray™ titles with availability at approximately 13,300 kiosks nationwide.  Redbox will rent Blu-ray Discs® at $1.50 per night plus tax and the company expects to have availability across its network of approximately 23,000 kiosk locations by the fall.  

"Offering Blu-ray rentals is an exciting opportunity for redbox to expand our product offerings and build on the relationships that we've established with millions of consumers nationwide," said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox.  "Redbox is a convenient, affordable home entertainment provider and we're delighted to offer consumers their favorite movies on the increasingly popular Blu-ray Disc format."  

According to a recent report by the Digital Entertainment Group, sales of Blu-ray players increased 103 percent in the first half of this year.  The sale of almost two million set-top players during this time has increased the total number of Blu-ray players sold to an estimated 19.4 million, resulting in more consumers entering the Blu-ray rental market.  

"The Book of Eli," "Bounty Hunter," "Brooklyn's Finest" and "Green Zone" are among the Blu-ray titles currently available at redbox® kiosks.  The number of Blu-ray titles and copies will vary by kiosk and location with new titles being added each week.  Consumers can visit www.redbox.com/bluray to find a nearby redbox location and to check Blu-ray availability in their area.  Consumers can return their Blu-ray rentals to any redbox location as part of the company's rent-and-return anywhere® policy.  

Each fully automated redbox kiosk holds 630 discs, representing up to 200 titles, including standard definition DVDs and Blu-ray Discs at select locations.  Consumers simply use a touch screen to select their favorite movies, swipe a valid credit or debit card and go. For added convenience, customers can visit www.redbox.com to select their movie online or via the iPhone® app from redbox and pick it up immediately at the redbox location of their choice.