Tag Archives: RedboxInstant

Redbox Instant exits private beta and launches to the public

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Redbox Instant exits private beta and launches to the public

Redbox Instant, the video-streaming service from Verizon, is launching to the public today. This launch follows a three-month closed beta test, and it comes about a month after the company's announcement that the service would come to the Xbox 360 as a console launch exclusive. To jog your memory, Redbox Instant offers users unlimited access to some 4,000 movies in addition to four DVD rentals at $8 a month. Content partners include heavyweights like Warner Bros and Epix , the latter of which offers content from Viacom, MGM and Lions Gate Entertainment.

Speaking to GigaOM, Redbox Instant CEO Shawn Strickland said his product's focus remains movies -- both physical and digital -- which differs from Netflix's TV-heavy library and emphasis on web content. Strickland also said that, while talk of any exclusive content is "really premature," it could be an option down the road. In addition to offering Xbox 360 support, the service is open to iOS and Android users, along with those who own a Vizio, LG, Samsung or Google TV product.

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Via: GigaOM

Redbox Instant coming to Xbox 360 as console launch exclusive in the ‘very near future’

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Redbox Instant coming to Xbox 360 as console exclusive

Are you an Xbox 360 owner? You might like this bit of news: according to Major Nelson, Redbox Instant is coming sometime to the gaming machine in the "very near future," and Microsoft appears to have partnered with the video streaming service to become a console launch exclusive. It'll be available only to users who are Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Of course, this doesn't mean this will be the only place you'll be able to take advantage of all that Redbox will have to offer; the public launch, which is still slated for Q1, will be available on several platforms and devices, such as iOS / Android, Vizio, LG, Samsung and even Google TV. As a refresher, you'll be able to get unlimited access to the service (as well as four free DVD rentals) for $8 per month, while an extra dollar will let you convert those discs into Blu-ray.

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Source: Major Nelson

More Redbox Instant details revealed at CES; Vizio, LG and Google TV clients coming

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More Redbox Instant details revealed at CES Vizio, LG and Google TV clients coming

The Redbox Instant video streaming service recently let eager users kick down the doors of its beta test, and now the team behind it has stepped out to talk about its unique feature set. While a public launch is still planned for Q1 (just as Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said last month) we've had a little time to spend with the beta on our own, and saw it running on several devices including iOS / Android and Samsung Blu-ray player in the company's hotel suite. New hardware partners announced during CES are Vizio, Google TV and LG, which should all see apps arrive soon to their assorted platforms.

More Redbox Instant details revealed at CES Vizio, LG and Google TV clients coming

Currently the mobile apps appear to be the most polished, however all ran smoothly and featured a look apart from the other subscription streaming services. Of course, some of that is a result of Redbox offering movies via kiosk rental, VOD rental / purchase or unlimited subscription. While each UI is a bit unique (predictably, the iOS app foregoes any purchase options due to Apple's insistence on a 30 percent cut) one way to keep track of how a particular movie is accessible are via several small icons in the corner of its box art, showing a kiosk for discs, play button for subscriptions, ticket for purchase, and so on. So far Redbox isn't playing in the picture quality wars, at the moment it's video maxes out at 720p and audio is stereo only, although it is looking to upgrade.

Continue reading More Redbox Instant details revealed at CES; Vizio, LG and Google TV clients coming

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Redbox Instant beta invites slowly start rolling out, iOS and Android apps appear

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Redbox Instant beta invites slowly start rolling out, iOS and Android apps appear

As promised, the Redbox Instant beta is under way, offering interested customers and employees an early peek at its blend of kiosk rentals and streaming video. With unlimited subscription video and four Blu-ray rentals per month available for just $9 we expect there to be significant interest, if you haven't already signed up for early access on the website we suggest you do so promptly. The service's apps are already available on iTunes and Google Play, although you'll need one of the access codes being doled out to activate them. Hit the source link to get on the list, until then go over the official details and wonder just what might be waiting.

Continue reading Redbox Instant beta invites slowly start rolling out, iOS and Android apps appear

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Source: iTunes, Google Play, Redbox Instant

Redbox Instant headed to iOS, Android, many other devices; costs $8 per month for streaming and discs

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Redbox Instant is almost here, and when it arrives sometime in early 2013, it'll cost around $8. Redbox announced pricing for its disc + streaming package this morning, pinning an $8 monthly charge to unlimited streaming, as well as access to four free one-night disc rentals at any Redbox kiosk ($9 a month turns those four discs into Blu-ray releases, magically). The service seeks to undermine streaming's 800 pound gorilla, Netflix, by undercutting its service offering -- Netflix's base streaming-only package starts at $8, whereas Redbox offers four disc rentals as well for the same price.

Redbox also announced that its instant service will head to Samsung-manufactured Blu-ray players and SmartHub TVs, as well as LG's Blu-ray players / Smart TVs, as well as Google TV devices. No word is given on the previously leaked Xbox 360 player, but we expect to hear more on that as Redbox Instant rolls out on an invitation-only basis later this month.

Continue reading Redbox Instant headed to iOS, Android, many other devices; costs $8 per month for streaming and discs

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Redbox Instant debut delayed, Verizon CEO targets January for beta testing

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Redbox Instant debut delayed, Verizon CEO targets January for beta testing

Although leaked details of the new Redbox Instant service suggested a launch date within the next couple of weeks, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam (Verizon's is Redbox's partner in "Project Zoetrope") told investors today that it would launch commercially in Q1 2013. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety indicated his comments came during the UBS Global Media and Communications conference, where he indicated the beta testing we'd heard would start this month, will actually open up in early January. Word of a $6 per month unlimited streaming subscription plan that could be upgraded to include four kiosk DVD rentals for just $2 more, with apps for Android, iOS, Samsung and Xbox 360 had us more interested than ever in this competitor for Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, but it looks like it will be just a little longer before we get to try it out for ourselves.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety

Redbox Instant pricing, apps and service details revealed by support site

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Redbox Instant pricing, apps and service details revealed by support site

Details about the still-in-alpha Redbox Instant internet movie service have suddenly become more clear, as GigaOm dug up a link to support pages (apparently now password protected) that show off service prices and even screenshots of the website and apps. As noted there, any of this could change before it rolls out to the public, but they show off an unlimited subscription that goes for $6 per month, with a smaller catalog than what Netflix offers, but with recent flicks like Iron Man 2 and Thor. For $8 ($2 more) per month, customers add credits for four DVD rentals each month (no rollover), while video on-demand access to movies starts at $0.99 and goes up. In a disappointing move for Linux users, it appears Redbox and Verizon have selected Silverlight for the web player just like Netflix, instead of Flash like Amazon's Instant Video. Currently, Android, iOS, Xbox 360 and Samsung's Smart TV platform are on deck for apps (check out more screens at the source link) and the page suggests that public launch could come December 17th. Assuming these details hold up, is this enough to pull you away from Netflix / Amazon Prime / Hulu Plus, or maybe add-on another subscription to the pile?

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Source: GigaOm

Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant

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Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant

Redbox and Warner Bros. were at odds in January when Warner wanted to extend the window before discs hit kiosks to 56 days, but now the two have come to an agreement that keeps it at a 28 day delay. When their previous deal expired Redbox said it would find other ways to obtain discs and offer them day and date to its customers, although actually finding them in kiosks could be tough. The new two-year deal covers movies that debut after January 1st, 2013, and claims to improve economics for both Warner (which has apparently seen fit to eliminate the delay entirely for brick & mortar renters) and Redbox. Additionally, Redbox has joined with the DECE team and will support UltraViolet with its upcoming Redbox Instant service. With the new deal, it can offer UltraViolet digital access to Warner movies, and distribute movies through its subscription service. We'll have to wait for Redbox Instant to launch to know more information about that, for now check out the details in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant

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Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redbox Instant targets launch by year-end, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD

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Redbox Instant targets launch by yearend, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD

The last concrete details we'd heard about Redbox Instant was that it was entering internal alpha testing, but now Verizon exec Eric Bruno has revealed more background information. Previous info indicated the service would focus more heavily on movies than the back catalog of TV shows that is a part of Netflix Watch Instantly and Amazon Prime Instant Video, and Bloomberg reports Redbox will break with their models by paying its content providers per subscriber cable TV-style, instead of a flat rate decided up front. What customers will get is a monthly subscription and allotment of disc rentals from Redbox's kiosks, as well as access to VOD movie rentals and downloadable purchases through the service. The alpha test is currently in the hands of about 500 Verizon employees, with plans for a short public test before launching in a late November / mid-December time frame. The main unanswered question however is how much it will all cost, but knowing what we do now -- how much are you willing to pay?

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Redbox Instant targets launch by year-end, blends subscription streaming and DVD rentals with VOD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is ‘exploring’ Redbox Instant support

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While some patent lawsuits continue to drag on, the battle between TiVo and Verizon over DVR technology has come to a resolution. In exchange for cross licensing their patents and dismissing all pending litigation, the two parties have agreed Verizon will pay TiVo $100 million up front followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling $150.4 million through July 2018, as well as monthly license fees for each FiOS DVR user above certain levels. Now that they're no longer at war the two companies may find a few things to work together on, and there is a provision for "certain commercial initiatives" which, if pursued this year, could count as credits toward the amount Verizon has agreed to pay.

Additionally, the press release indicates they are exploring support for the upcoming Redbox Instant service (which Verizon is a partner in) on TiVo's DVRs. This all follows TiVo's $215 million settlement with AT&T earlier this year and last year's $500 million agreement with Dish Network. Meanwhile, lawsuits are still pending against Cisco, Time Warner Cable and Motorola. The press release is after the break and associated filings are linked below, with any luck this infusion of cash will help TiVo on new projects like dropping the price of the Stream.

[Thanks, Dave Zatz]

Continue reading TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is 'exploring' Redbox Instant support

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TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is 'exploring' Redbox Instant support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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