Keyes to Success, or: Blockbuster Will Try Anything, Even Concert Tickets

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Dec. 2 2008 at 9:34 AM

Categories: Biz

So, this is the future of Blockbuster -- as a seller of concert tickets? Which would make it, what, CD World? This morning comes the official word: The Dallas-based videotailer, whose set-top box is supposed to keep you out of the stores, is looking to bring folks back to the brick-and-mortars by teaming up with Live Nation. Blockbuster has signed a three-year deal that makes it "the exclusive physical retail ticket outlet for Live Nation Ticketing." Ducats won't be sold in all Blockbusters, only some 500 company-owned outlets "in strategically chosen markets."

The point, says Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes in the official announcement, is to "drive hundreds of thousands of customers to our stores" early next year, when the deal kicks in. "We want customers to know that whatever their entertainment needs -- from DVDs and games, to accessing tickets to some of the biggest concert events -- they'll find those needs answered at Blockbuster." To which Live Nation Ticketing CEO Nathan Hubbard adds, "Our research definitively shows that the vast majority of music fans who prefer to buy their concert tickets at a retail location find Blockbuster to be the most convenient choice." Mmmkay. Maybe today's the day I buy some Blockbuster stock -- after all, it sure don't cost much. --Robert Wilonsky

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I wonder if Jim Keyes has ever taken a look at FNAC in France? It's kind of a one-stop entertainment product chain. I can remember 22 years ago when I was temporarily living in Paris I even used to get photos developed there. Now FNAC has a big concert ticket biz (I think it even sells Paris DizzyWorld tix), sells CDs, DVDs, games, still have cameras, some stores have a lot of books, etc. I haven't been in FNAC in a couple of years but it's chock full of entertainment. It may be too far out for Blockbuster, but still... http://www.fnac.com
Is this taking business away from TicketMaster? If so, I'm all for it!!
Robert - did someone at Blockbuster kill your dog or something?
Even the scalpers are online.
I agree with Wylie and CrhisU, who in the world gets in their car to buy concert tickets anymore? Unless the tickets are minimum 20% cheaper i'm not going to a store to get them.
even a guy like myself that can't comprehend what Comment Guy is talking about buys concert tickets online.
Aren't concert tickets primarily sold on-line? Hmmmm.... maybe they could also sign deals with the airlines... you know, for those who prefer to get a paper ticket... it could be like a travel agency (except they wouldn't give you advice, they would just sell you paper tickets for an extra $5 or $10 bucks).
Download set top boxes and download portable players ( ie Blockbuster, Apple TV, VUDU, Hulu, PS3 ) are a thing of the past, only to be replaced by the technology used by service providers such as MyTVPAL ( www.mytvpal.com ) and Netflix ( www.netflix.com ). Service providers like MyTVPAL offer 1080p instant blu-ray streaming video on demand and live tv over PC Player, set top box, and I think they will have a portable device out soon. Keep in mind also that P2P is on the way out because it uses to much bandwidth, both up and down, and is unstable. I'm refering to service providers such as VUDU ( a one trick pony ) and Joost, who latest foray into portable video on demand on the itouch / iphone is frezing, buffering, and providing a horrible user experience even on my 6mbps connection. Streaming video is a great addition for live tv an video on demand, but at the end of the day only those technology companies like Matrixstream ( www.matrixstream.com ) will be able to support the best quality over the best effort public internet when doing a triple play ( set top box, PC Player, and portable device ) because currently where Netflix requires 8mbps for 720p streaming, MyTVPAL can support 720p streaming a 3mbps and 1080p blu-ray streaming at 6mbps. Keep the above in mind when considering the average person today in the United States and Canada has between 1.5 - 3.0Mbps. So While MyTVPAL can service the majority of broadband users today in the United States and Canada in both 720p and 1080p today it will be years before Netflix can service a fraction of the broadband population in high definition instant video streaming. At the end of the Day service providers such as Netflix and Blockbuster will have evolve to provide a service like MyTVPAL or suffer the consequences of not providing low bandwidth, instant playing, 1080p blu-ray high definition platform that we've come to expect from MyTVPAL ( www.mytvpal.com ) on PC Player, set top box, and soon I would imagine, portable player.