Digital Home Thoughts: Tivo Opens Up to Blockbuster

"Today both companies announced a partnership to provide Blockbuster’s OnDemand movies through TiVo in the coming months. The service will be available on Series2 and Series3 DVRs and will charge customers $3.99 to rent a DVD-quality new release movie on the set-top (rentals start at $1.99). TiVo owners will also be able to purchase movies to keep, like they’re able to do currently with the 2Wire MediaPoint box, for around $20 (with DRM protections)."

Assuming they have the catalog of new releases to back this up, it is somewhat compelling. In their loosing battle with Netflix, they seem to have picked up on an niche that Netflix does not serve, the occasional rental market. But assuming that Blockbuster has negotiated with the studios to stream new releases, I expect similar availability from Netflix at some point.