The deal will be available to about 800,000 TiVo consumers who also have a broadband connection. But unlike the TiVo/Netflix deal, some 4,000 Blockbuster stores will sell TiVo DVR machines -- as well as on the Blockbuster Web site.
Anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 Blockbuster titles will be available, with recent popular titles going for $3.99 for a 24-hour basis. Other movies will be available from $1.99 to $3.99; the purchase of movies is $14.99 to $19.99 each. New releases will be available two to four weeks after they hit video stores.
Blockbuster has been hurt by Netflix, the big mail-order DVD rental business, in recent years. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Netflix rang up its best financial results ever. In turn, Blockbuster started up its own mail-order DVD rental business.
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In addition to Blockbuster and Netflix, TiVo has a digital library deal with Amazon.
Netflix also offers movie streaming through Xbox game consoles, and Internet-capable Blu-ray players from LG and Samsung, as well as on the Roku digital video player. Blockbuster has digital deals with Internet movie provider Movielink, video-on-demand technology in Vizio televisions and a media player by 2Wire. It plans to expand into other consumer electronics devices.
TiVo has 3.3 million subscribers, of which 1.6 million own stand-alone TiVo DVRs.