Movie Streaming: Last Nail in the Coffin for the Local Rental Shop?
I will begin by saying that my family’s weekly trips to Blockbuster are one of perhaps my most bizarre yet nonetheless cherished childhood memories.
I could be holed away in my bedroom slowly chugging my way through a homework assignment or distractedly practicing the piano on a Saturday afternoon when the cry would go up: “Who wants to go to Blockbuster?” My brother, sister and I would of course all come running, pile into our Aerostar mini-van and the trip would commence.
Needless to say, despite Blockbuster’s attempts to keep up with the competition and addition of an online movie rental service, the company’s local stores no longer hold quite the same appeal.
In fact, like many people, I can’t help but wonder if the increasing popularity of Netflix (and other similar services) and Apple’s announcement of iTunes instant movie rentals last week at Macworld, may truly spell the end for the actual physical movie stores so dear to me in my youth.
Since the launch of Netflix in 1997, for the regular movie renter it has become increasingly economical and convenient to join a Web-based movie rental service rather than trek to the local store. Now, with Steve Jobs’ latest announcement, the act of renting a movie has become instant and iTunes (and Netflix) users are able to stream films through the Web.
Neither service is perfect– both Netflix and iTunes have slightly annoying “window systems” that require users to watch purchased movies within a certain timeframe. Netflix does not have Mac support and much of both services’ libraries consist of somewhat archaic films that only the most particular movie buff has heard of.
Nonetheless, the appeal is clear, buzz rampant and demand is rising. There is enough competition between services that offerings will undoubtedly continue to improve and at this point I can be fairly sure that the Blockbuster trips of my youth will not continue into my adulthood.
While I do feel some loyalty towards my local movie store, I know I’ll be whipping out my iPod touch the next time the desire for an impromptu movie marathon strikes.
So long Aerostar.
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