IFC teams up with Blockbuster for rental, lock stock and barrel
By Steven Kim 
posted Mar 11th 2008 10:54AM
posted Mar 11th 2008 10:54AM
IFC Entertainment has entered a two-year exclusive rental agreement with Blockbuster. What's interesting is that it shows the new face of media today: Blockbuster gets a 60-day exclusive rental window covering both physical and digital rental, and the new title will not be available for retail sale in any format during this period. After the first 60-days, Blockbuster retains exclusive physical rental rights for three years. Sounds like a great deal for Blockbuster, and it should definitely give them a shot in the arm in their independent offerings. Meanwhile, those of us hoping see a raft of indies up for rent via other mechanisms just cried a little.
Well IFC, you just guaranteed I won't see your stuff for three years. I will NEVER give Blockbuster my business after all those years of giving me "free" movies each month, but nothing worth watching. And late fees for being five minutes late.
The list of grievances go on and on.
Wow, IFC and Blockbuster just do not seem like a natural fit. I remember when the IFC release Y tu mamá también came out on DVD, Bloackbuster only carried the R rated version of the DVD. That is when I discovered Netflix and was able to rent the theatrical version which was rated NC-17. I guess IFC doesn't mind a big corporate machine watering down their flicks.
WOW!!...who thinks of going to Blockbuster for "independent" or "art films"?!??! plus BB only having edited and a limited "hot movies" selection.
I gave up on them when Netflix started. seems like I'm not the only one.
"60-day exclusive... and the new title will not be available for retail sale in any format during this period. After the first 60-days, Blockbuster retains exclusive physical rental rights for three years."
ok, so if there is no way to buy the disc for 60 days, then they may be able to keep THAT exclusivity, but once its available for sale, how, exactly can netflix etc be prevented from renting the dvd??? oh, they cant
You know, I was wondering the exact same thing. Can they really stop Netflix from buying/renting it after the 60-day embargo? Unless they have an agreement with the studio to rent (which maybe they do), I don't see how they can...
I guess IFC wants their movies to be pirated more
Exactly! This is why people use bit torrent to access media: because the media companies don't understand their consumer. Making a move like this, that makes access to content more difficult and restrictive shows IFC=technology neadrathols!!!
This is such a blow to indie film lovers. A three year exclusive seems like a very long time. I don't like renting from Blockbuster because they are so expensive.
This IS very ironic. Hasn't IFC railed against "Blockbuster censorship" in the past on several occasions? Oh wait, I remember, in the IFC film "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" there is a lot of detail about how the MPAA ratings system destroys the economics of indie films, by restricting where and when they can be seen (like no NC-17 films at Blockbuster).
I sure hope the money Blockbuster is putting into IFC is enough to cover all the lost sales -- and that underwriting matters more than viewership to the filmmakers.
Woe be to GreenCine, who is still the best indie rental outfit....
@ Nathan,
Nice post, man! "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" is an awesome documentary. And thanks for the head's up on GreenCine. I had never heard of them before and will definitely give them a shot.
As for IFC signing with Blockbuster, I feel betrayed. Damn you, Netflix!
Hear, hear! Thanks for the GreenCine tip!
Too bad, IFC. This means your movies are now invisible to me except on bit torrent. I rent netflix, unbox and itunes.
I was briefly a blockbuster customer years ago... very briefly... like one rental briefly... like on 5.99 late fee briefly... never again!!!