MediaPoint(TM) digital media player provides instant entertainment from BLOCKBUSTER (R) ONDEMAND straight to television

By: Blockbuster Video | 1 Shares 90 Reads

Dallas and San Jose, Calif., // PRNewswire-FirstCall // -- Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI)(NYSE: BBI.B), a leading global provider of media entertainment, and 2Wire, a provider of integrated broadband solutions, today introduced the 2Wire MediaPoint™ digital media player, an easy-to-use, on-demand video solution that offers movie fans instant access through their television sets to BLOCKBUSTER® ONDEMAND content, including thousands of titles from the latest movie releases to classic favorites.

Beginning today, for a limited time, the MediaPoint digital media player is available free with the advance rental of 25 BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND movies for $99 at http://www.blockbuster.com/. Unlike subscription-based services, which typically offer movies years after their release, BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND includes hot new releases, many available within weeks of leaving theaters. After the initial 25 rentals, movies are available for as little as $1.99 each. The players will begin shipping in time for the holiday season.

"The MediaPoint digital player, featuring BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND, is entertainment made easy. We are bringing Blockbuster, and the thousands of movies in our digital library, straight to customers' televisions," said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "The player is simple to use, delivers DVD quality video, and there's no monthly subscription commitment. We are delighted to team with 2Wire to give consumers this great entertainment product."

Easy to install, the MediaPoint digital media player works seamlessly with any broadband connection, either wirelessly via built-in Wi-Fi or wired via Ethernet cable, to deliver the hottest new movies, classics, foreign films and television shows from the BLOCKBUSTER digital library. With full fast-forward, rewind, and pause capabilities, the viewing experience is DVD quality, no matter the speed of the broadband connection. Movies can be played right away or saved to watch later. Additionally, the player supports HD video content and can be connected to HDTVs.

"To be successful, a broadband video offering needs to deliver movies that people want to see, in the quality they expect, with minimal setup requirements," said Pat Romano, chief executive officer of 2Wire. "BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND and the MediaPoint digital media player give movie fans what they want. We are thrilled to help bring this service to the living room, providing immediate access to high quality movies directly on the television set."

The MediaPoint digital media player is extremely compact -- about the size of two boxes of movie candy -- and can be integrated seamlessly into home entertainment systems through composite cable, HDMI, component cable, or Toslink.

Technical Details

In the Box

2Wire MediaPoint Digital Media Player (8" x 8" x 1")
Quick Installation Guide
Power Adapter
Composite A/V cable (supports SD viewing)
Remote Control
AAA Batteries

Video and Audio Connections

Composite
Component *
HDMI*
Stereo Audio
Toslink (digital optical audio)*

Network Connections

Ethernet*
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)

*cable must be purchased separately

About Blockbuster

Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI)(NYSE: BBI.B) is a leading global provider of in-home movie and game entertainment, with more than 7,500 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company may be accessed worldwide at http://www.blockbuster.com/.

About 2Wire

2Wire integrated broadband solutions are engineered for the carrier and optimized for the subscriber, providing intuitive, reliable user experiences throughout the connected home. 2Wire's portfolio of broadband solutions includes residential gateways, multi-service media platforms, remote management systems, value-added services, and call center customer support. 2Wire customers are leading broadband providers throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, including AT&T, Telmex, BT, EMBARQ, Bell Canada, SingTel, Telstra and others. For more information, visit http://www.2wire.com/.

2Wire and MediaPoint are trademarks and registered trademarks of 2Wire, Inc. in the United States and in other jurisdictions throughout the world. BLOCKBUSTER name, design, and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Inc. All other company names may be trade names or trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Blockbuster Inc.; 2Wire

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