Blockbuster partners with Sonic Solutions for movie downloads

Join forces to beat Netflix

By Austin Modine • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 14th January 2009 22:54 GMT

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Blockbuster is taking a bolder step into the movie download business by striking a deal to partner with Sonic Solution's CinemaNow service.

Blockbuster_logo_SM Under the agreement, Blockbuster will emblazon its namesake on CinemaNow and work the service's promotion. Sonic Systems, in return, will continue to power the content delivery.

The pact may also help the two companies compete against Netflix, their mutual rival in the biz.

Blockbuster and Sonic Solutions said they hope to expand the number of devices that support the service to include portable media players, Blu-ray players, personal video recorders, set-top boxes, mobile phones, and web-connected TV sets.

"Blockbuster is a ubiquitous entertainment presence in the physical world," stated Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes. "Through this alliance with Sonic, we plan to become a ubiquitous presence in the digital world as well."

The deal comes just two months after Sonic purchased CinemaNow for $3m from a group of investors that included Cisco Systems and the movie studio Lionsgate.

Sonic Solutions is perhaps best known for its Roxio DVD-burning software.

CinemaNow offers online movies and TV episodes a-la-carte for rental and purchase. The service also allows customers to burn some films to DVD to view on a PC or TV. ®

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