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Blockbuster's Offensive Against Netflix Flops

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the can't-stop-the-wheel-from-turning dept.

bigtallmofo writes "With over four million subscribers, Netflix was an obvious target for rival Blockbuster. In 2005, target them they did. Introducing their own DVD-by-mail service and (for a while) undercutting Netflix's price point, Blockbuster went for the jugular. A year later Netflix shows a market value of $1.5 billion with no debt compared to Blockbuster's $684 million worth with $1.0 billion in debt. Is there still a DVD-by-mail war or has Netflix won?"

3 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Plan 'D' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Blockbuster should try a second billion dollar deal with Enron's Broadband division.

  2. Blockbuster may have a chance... by supabeast! · · Score: 5, Funny

    Blockbuster still has one ace up its sleeve - porn. Most of the mom-and-pop shops that survived Blockbusters intense expansion did so by renting and selling hard-core porn. That option is certainly a tough one for Blockbuster, as many franchise owners will object, but for the corporate locations it may be the only option to keep them open.

    Of course, this wouldn't kill Netflix - it would just turn Blockbuster into the world's largest chain of sex shops. But being a chain of sex shops is a better option than going bankrupt.

    1. Re:Blockbuster may have a chance... by Jetson · · Score: 3, Funny
      Blockbuster still has one ace up its sleeve - porn.

      They'd have to change their name to Nutbuster...

      Seriously, though, I haven't been inside a Blockbuster since the "No More Late Fees" fiasco.