Internet Killed the Video Store
by Times are changing and so are the ways we enjoy our movies at home.
The internet is changing how we entertain ourselves. Gone are the days of waiting in line at your local video store for the hottest new release from Hollywood. It’s now all available faster and cheaper on the internet.
How can you tell? Look at all of the video stores closing around you. Virgin Mega Stores just announced its newest batch of closing stores. Hollywood Videos and Blockbuster, once on every corner, are disappearing like lemmings over the edge of technology’s newest cliff.
There was a day, in the recent past, when Blockbuster ruled the video/DVD world. It put many Mom and Pop video stores out of business. But what goes around, comes around. Today’s innovator can be tomorrow’s dinosaur. Now Netflix is the king of the block. The invisible, pervasive Internet block, that is. Karma or progress?
Who knows?
Ponder this. As of the writing of this article, Blockbuster’s stock was posting at $0.47 a share. Hollywood video, its competitor, posted at $0.69 a share. Netflix posted at $37.71 a share. Netflix’s advantage? No late fees. No lines. No retail buildings to drive costs up. Easy access on the internet. Greater depth of offering.
As technology changes, so must the entertainment industry. Today Netflix is King but they are not alone. Other powerhouses rule the internet as well. You Tube. Myspace. Facebook. The dreaded illegal download sites that rip content from movies the day they come out at the theater. Apple’s iPods offer a whole host of content through iTunes. Many cell phones and smart phones now hold media and have internet access.
What’s next?
Internet on the TV.
The economy is taking a record beating but flat screen TV sales are up! Discretionary spending is down. Fewer trips. Car and home sales are down. But we still need to be entertained. Now more than ever. It’s just more personal now. It’s at home. On the laptop or on the TV. A blessing or a curse? That depends on you.
So buckle up, surf the net and make sure that technology doesn’t pass you by. Content is still king and quality always matters but the world’s a changing place. Keep your ears open and eye’s peeled. The only thing we know for sure about tomorrow is that it will be a different day.
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