Blockbuster Video RIP

Some shocking news, Blockbuster video goes the way of the 8-track tape.

The Story:

Englewood, Colo. — The final curtain is falling on the Blockbuster video-rental stores that Dish Network Corp. owns in the U.S.

The closures announced Wednesday will affect about 300 Blockbuster locations scattered across the country. Dish Network expects the stores to be closed by early January. Dish Network says about 2,800 people will lose their jobs.

There are over a dozen Blockbusters in metro Detroit.

The Englewood, Colo. satellite-TV provider also is shutting down Blockbuster’s DVD-by-mail service next month.

Dish Network’s retreat will render Blockbuster’s once-ubiquitous brand nearly extinct. About 50 U.S. stores operating under franchise agreements will remain open.

Blockbuster’s downfall began more than a decade ago with the rise of Netflix Inc.’s DVD-by-mail service, followed by the introduction of a subscription service that streams video over high-speed Internet connections.

Dish Network bought Blockbuster out of bankruptcy court in 2011.

via Blockbuster shutting down 300 remaining U.S. stores | The Detroit News.

I am old enough to remember when Blockbuster video started back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s.(*) Sad to see them go; but times change, the advent of high speed internet, basically rendered the rental of Video tape and DVD’s old hat.

Still though it is a bit of a shock to see something like that go away.

* = Update: Least I that should be accused of not knowing what I am talking about; According to Wikipedia, Blockbuster Video was formed in 1985. However, I lived in Southwest Detroit from my date of birth, which was in 1972 till 1989 and we never saw them there at all. My family moved from Detroit to the southern suburbs of Detroit in 1989; and around 1990 or 1991 is when we noticed the first blockbuster opened around here. I guess I am showing my age a bit. 😳