The digital distribution of video is forcing the last Blockbuster stores to close their doors for good.

Blockbuster Closing Remaining Stores

The once super video rental retailer is shutting its doors in January, 2014.  Blockbuster has filed for bankruptcy and will be closing its remaining 300 retail stores that are owned by the company.  A few stores in Texas, that are privately owned, will remain. You may be asking yourself, “Really? I thought they were already closed.??? Charlotte business owner, David Stollmack, who runs an audio video installation company, is not surprised. “Brick and mortar video stores are a thing of the past. At Audio Video Charlotte, we do installs every day to help people stream movies online directly to their televisions.??? With the wave of convenient rental retailers, like Redbox kiosks and Netflix direct mail service, it should be no surprise that Blockbuster is finally shutting its doors. When was the last time you stepped into a Blockbuster????

Televisions are becoming smarter, which means the internet and television programming are becoming increasingly integrated. Home theater installation companies, like Audio Video Charlotte Entertaining Solutions in Charlotte, NC, can help with the sometimes complicated task of hooking up a device, like Apple TV or Roku, to stream media.  Services like Netflix, Vudu, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime are quickly becoming the way to view new releases in entertainment.  This is a dynamic industry.  There’s new technology in the audio video world coming out almost every month. State-of-the-art surround sound systems, gigantic wide screen TVs and access to all the movies on the internet are making home theaters better than ever. Blockbuster can no longer compete with the instant access these new rental services offer.

Dish Network took over Blockbuster in April 2011, rescuing it from bankruptcy court. Blockbuster tried a last ditch effort with Blockbuster Express kiosks to compete with Redbox, but their pricing was not competitive. “Consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment,” said DISH president and CEO Joseph P. Clayton. This makes it almost essential to have a high functioning entertainment solution in your home. Audio Video companies, like Audio Video Charlotte, enjoy helping people find all the ways they can access digital media through the touch of a button on their remote. Audio Video Charlotte specializes in simple solutions, so that the whole family can enjoy entertainment.

In the 1990s, Blockbuster was the place to go on Friday night to rent a movie and was known for its wide selection. Now, people can access thousands of titles from services like Netflix, Amazon, or On Demand services from their cable or satellite provider. Streaming media services also allow you to access tons of music.   Blockbuster just couldn’t find its way in this new era of digital media.

Kelly Bladl,
CCP Web Design Staff Writer and Google Author