With Redbox On Demand, a new movie streaming service, the company expands beyond physical kiosks to take on Amazon, Apple, and Google. Customers can rent and purchase movies from all major Hollywood studios, except Disney.
Redbox On Demand
Redbox On Demand is available on Apple TV, Chromecast, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, and Roku as well as iOS and Android. It can also be accessed via a browser. Purchased movies can be streamed or downloaded to watch offline.
With the new service, the company best known for its network of movie kiosks expands into the online realm many years after its competitors have entered the field. Redbox now has to compete head-to-head with services such as Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, and Google Play Movies.
- "Redbox customers have asked, and today we're delivering an On Demand option that offers them the best of both the physical and digital worlds," said Galen Smith, CEO of Redbox.
Redbox is partnered with five of the major Hollywood studios; 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. It has failed to reach an agreement with Disney.
- "We know consumers have a lot of choices when it comes to subscription streaming services, but no other brand is as closely associated with new-release movies as Redbox," added Smith. "We've been America's choice for new content for 15 years, and we're excited to offer a new way to watch that provides greater choice within the Redbox ecosystem."
Pricing for rentals starts at $4-5 dollars for 48-hour access. To own a movie you typically have to pay $10-16 dollars per title. Movies are available in HD quality.
The company says that the service is available now as a public beta in the US. You can check it out at redbox.com.
