Amazon Talking with Netflix And Blockbuster

Mike from HackingNetflix.com writes "Reuters is reporting that 'Amazon.com has approached online DVD rental service companies, including Blockbuster and Netflix, to explore a partnership rather than launching its own U.S. DVD rental service.'" More from the article: "Despite its online might, shopping giant Amazon faces a potentially expensive battle to crack the competitive U.S. online rental market. The company started its own DVD rental service in Britain in December. Rumors that Amazon would enter the U.S. online DVD rental market sparked a price war late last year between Blockbuster and Netflix, which pioneered online DVD rental and now controls about 75 percent of the market." So there may be a happy ending to this tale for Netflix after all.

Comments

Already happening at amazon.co.uk

[Richard_at_work]

Amazon.co.uk already provide this service, which I think is backed by Lovefilm.com (email me for a double length free trial, 28 days instead of 14), which is basically the top UK online DVD rental site (run by Online Rentals Ltd). Ive been a Lovefilm member for 16 months now, and I dont have a single word of complaint about them - fast service, good rates and a very easy to use site.

Re:Already happening at amazon.co.uk

[tompercival]

A quick correction... Lovefilm.com (Online Rentals Ltd) do not operate Amazon.co.uk's DVD rental service. They've grown their own, which is one reason why this revelation is of particular interest to the UK market.

Lovefilm.com do however operate services for Channel 4, Channel 5, Sainsbury's, WHSmith and Lastminute. Those are the ones I know about anyway, there are almost certainly more. I'd agree with you about the service quality though - and they just won the British Video Association's Home Rental Service of the year.

Amazon.co.uk have been operating their service for about 8 months now and must have reached the 55-70,000 subscriber mark. Lovefilm.com are older and have just reached 100,000. So while Lovefilm.com dominate, Amazon are clearly making inroads.

Re:What is it with?

[l4m3z0r]

I've used both, I prefer netflix for 2 reasons. Better selection and cleaner/less annoying interface for movie selection.

I agree the articial wait stuff is annoying but, blockbuster is playing good now, you just watch and see what happens when they can no longer subsidize their online service with there brick and mortar stores. What it comes down to is that they can take losses and just soak up cash from there already existing business. They aren't commited to offering you this service, they are commited to burying netflix and then they will go back to the brick and mortar which is WAY more profitable. Watch and see..

Re:Don't forget about Wal-Mart

[GodBlessTexas]

As long as you like full-frame DVDs. They even sell widescreen TVs now, but their DVD selection is still slanted towards full-frame.

Tivo + Netflix

[Therlin]

They are already doing that. Story link

Re:Tivo + Netflix

[Therlin]

I should have said that they are already PLANNING on doing that (it has not been demonstrated yet, at least not in front of the public)