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Coinstar buys out Redbox, will test higher Blu-ray rental prices

by Darren Murph posted Feb 18th 2009 at 4:10AM


Redbox, the company made famous by its red movie rental kiosks, has been completely bought out by its majority owner: Coinstar. The announcement was made during the outfit's Q4 earnings call, and it's expected that the buyout was made in order for Coinstar to wallow alone in the windfall profits that are expected over the next few years. Speaking of profits, we're also being told that Redbox will start testing higher rental prices for BDs, much like Netflix has done, but obviously on a per-rental basis. There's been no word yet on just how high they'll push the Blu-ray rates above the standard $1, but you know you'll just suck it up and pay it. Not like you're reverting to DVD now, right?

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Read - Buyout
Read - Increase in BD prices

Funai to acquire Philips' North American Blu-ray / DVD operations

by Darren Murph posted Dec 23rd 2008 at 10:45PM


We already saw the writing on the wall, but now the deed is purportedly done -- or close enough, anyway. Reuters has it that Japan's Funai Electric will take over Philips' North American DVD, Blu-ray and other audiovisual operations starting next month. It's anticipated that the deal will boost Funai's North American sales by around $332 million, and of course, maintaining that well-known Philips badge is sure to be of assistance in that department. The agreement lays out that Funai will make periodic royalty payments to use the Philips brand rather than just buying up the whole thing outrightly. First the TV division, now this -- is there anything left of Philips worth caring about in the US?

Sonic Solutions signs on to acquire CinemaNow

by Darren Murph posted Nov 20th 2008 at 4:01PM


Now here's a couple that really makes sense. Sonic Solution's fancy schmancy burn technology is already used on Qflix-enabled DVD burners, and those very drives are used to toast CinemaNow movies. See the connection? Do ya? Obvious similarities aside, Sonic really has entered into a "definitive agreement" to acquire CinemaNow, and after the deal goes down, CinemaNow will combine with Sonic's Qflix team to form "a new Premium Content Group under the direction of Mark Ely, Sonic's EVP of Strategy." The reason? To increase the placement of CinemaNow's storefront on PCs and consumer electronics devices, all while "expanding the adoption of the Qflix technology platform." We hope Sonic scored this company for a song, 'cause even with our blinders on, we just can't see Qflix becoming the next big thing. Nor the next, next big thing.

ATMC Cable acquires Tele-Media, 1,100 subscribers to be switched over

by Darren Murph posted Jul 6th 2008 at 12:55AM

North Carolina-based ATMC Cable has just acquired another local cable company, Tele-Media. The agreement will see "the majority of Tele-Media's cable television assets in Brunswick County" becomes ATMC's, and all areas currently served by Tele-Media (save for Bald Head Island) will soon be served by a new master. That means that just over 1,100 customers in the Bricklanding, Shell Point, Holden Beach / Seashore Road and Sunset Harbor / River Run areas will be affected, but judging by the way ATMC has been rolling high-def options out of late, we don't suspect anyone will complain. As it stands, the deal should close in early July, with another 75 - 90 days before the conversion is complete.

Planar dives head first into high-end home theater market by acquiring Runco

by Darren Murph posted May 23rd 2007 at 5:14PM Breaking News


Joining the growing array of recent acquisitions is Planar and Runco International, as just today Planar has written a check for $36.7 million to take on the assets of privately-held Runco International, Inc. Planar, while not a household name in the home theater biz, managed to hold its own amongst competitors in the HT market, and while the majority of its products catered to the mid-range consumer, we suspect that picking up Runco was the easiest way to launch into the high-end realm. As expected, it looks like the Planar, Runco, and Vidikron brand names will remain as they are, and just as Planar will continue to sell through its current network of distributors, it sure sounds like Runco will remain a niche offering rather than bleeding over towards the mainstream.




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