Blockbuster files Chapter 11 -- where now to get your movies?

Blockbuster, the company that helped to turn movie renting into a national pastime, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today (CNET News). This filing comes just 1 month shy of the 25th anniversary of the opening of Blockbuster's first store, in Dallas, Texas.

The video chain owned 3,023 stores in the U.S. and had 402 franchises as of July. What will happen with Blockbuster next? To quote the CNET article, "If and when it emerges from Chapter 11, Blockbuster expects to be in a better position to compete against Netflix and its other rivals"

So loosing your local Blockbuster store -- what are your other options for accessing videos & movies? In many communities there are still a local video store -- those still in business have likely adopted a unique niche, to provide art-films, independent, foreign or other speciality videos. Although I am big on the use of appropriate technology, I am also big on supporting your local businesses - you can find your local video store/s by using a Google search -- simply enter 'video rental' and your zip code.

Other (non-local) options include the streaming video services like Netflix, iTunes, and Hulu (there are many, many more -but these two appear among the most popular); and the kiosk DVD rental kiosks -- yes, even Blockbuster has these!

Here are links for these services

Streaming Video Providers:

http://www.netflix.com

http://www.apple.com/itunes

http://www.hulu.com/movies

DVD Rental Kiosks:

http://www.dvdplay.com/

http://www.redbox.com/