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At-Home Movie Rental Match-up
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Friday, January 27th, 2012
When nothing beats hitting the couch and catching a flick, which rental option reigns supreme? We’ve broken down the basics for some of the scene’s most serious competitors. You be the judge.
Streaming
| Amazone Instant Video & Prime Instant Video | Apple (iTunes) | Netflix Streaming | Vudu | |
| Cost (individual rental and/or monthly fees) | $3.99 for 48-hour rentals, viewed within 30 days. Amazon’s Daily Deals start at $0.99; Prime members ($79/yr) get limited rentals at no extra costs. | $2.99 for 24-hour rentals in SD viewed within 30 days. HD at $3.99. | $7.99 for unlimited streaming per month. | Most rentals are $2 for 2 nights, though pricing is $0.99 to $5.99 for 24- and 48-hour rentals. |
| Library (movie titles) | 40,000+; 2,000+ for Prime | 14,000 | 10,000s (includes TV titles, too) |
< 12,000; claims more HD titles than competition |
| New Release Availability (DVD/Blue-Ray release date and/or delayed) | Disc release date for Amazon Instant Video, delayed for Prime | *Generally | Delayed up to several years | *Generally. |
| Convenience (instant viewing with device, kiosk purchases and/or mail-in services) | Instant viewing | Instant viewing | Instant viewing | Instant viewing |
DVD/Blue-ray
| Blockbuster Express | Blockbuster Total Access | Netflix Discs | Redbox | |
| Cost (individual rental and/or monthly fee) | 24-hour DVD rentals are $3 for movies released within the last 28 days; $2, 28+ days; $1, 90+ days; $2-$4 for Blu-Ray rentals. | By-mail subscription, 1 disc at a time, $9.99/month; 2 discs at a time, $14.99/month; 3 discs, $19.99/month. | $7.99 for 1-disk-at-a-time mail-in rental service. | 24-hour rentals (watch and return) are $1.20 per day for DVDs, $1.50 for Blu-Ray. |
| Library (movie titles) | 500+; 950+ discs in every kiosk |
100,000+ | 100,000+ | |
| New Release Availability (DVD/Blue-Ray release date and/or delayed) | Generally | 8Generally | Some 28 days later | Universal, Warner Bros. and Fox delayed 28 days |
| Convenience (instant viewing with device, kiosk purchases and/or mail-in services) | Rent/return at Blockbuster Express kiosk. Search for availability and reserve online. | Choose online; receive/return via mail, or at Blockbuster stores (Streaming with Dish Network Movie Pass.) | Make selections online. Receive/return discs in the mail. | Rent/return atRedbox kiosk. Search for availability and reserve online. |
sources: Amazon.com, Amazon.com spokesperson, Apple.com/appletv, Apple Media Relations, Blockbusterexpress.com, www.dailyfinance.com, Blockbuster.com, Blockbuster Press Relations, Netflix.com, Netflix Corporate Communications, Redbox.com, Redbox Media Center,
Tags: movies, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, rental
One Response
Arthur Fonzarelli Says:
January 31st, 2012 at 8:28 am
January 31st, 2012 at 8:28 am
I used to subscribe to Netflix, and I’ve also tried out some of the kiosks. I liked the service of Netflix, but I couldn’t stand the lack of content and having to wait a full 28 days for new releases. I ended up switching to the Blockbuster Movie Pass after I heard about it from work at DISH, and I won’t go back. This feature has tons of streaming available at my fingertips, and I even have more selection available via disc rentals in the mail. All of this is only $10 a month, and since they don’t charge extra for video games or blu-rays; they’re also the best value out there!
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