Blockbuster Movie Pass taking a jab at Netflix on October 1
Dish Network and Blockbuster announced a new service called Blockbuster Movie Pass that offers internet movie and TV show streaming as well as DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and games by mail. The service will start October 1 and the announcement couldn't have come at a better time, taking aim at Netflix just days after the ill-received Qwikster spinoff.
Blockbuster Movie Pass will allow subscribers to access Blockbuster's broader catalog of 10,000 movies via internet streaming, including content from Starz and other providers that have snubbed Netflix. Movie rentals can be returned via mail or to a local Blockbuster store and Blu-ray movies aren't charged at a premium like they are by Netflix.
Despite some of the advantages, the Blockbuster Movie Pass may not hurt Netflix more than Netflix's own detrimental decision to conceive Qwikster because the service is only available to Dish Network subscribers. These folks must pay an additional $10 per month on top of their Dish subscription to get the new service. This pretty much defeats the purpose of why a lot of people choose streaming—to cut ties from a cable subscription.
[via TNW]