NY Times interview with Blockbuster’s CEO

The New York Times has a good (albeit short) interview with the Blockbuster CEO, John Antioco. He speaks about Netflix's new download service along with how many users actually convert from free trials to full paying customers.

Mr. Angioco mentions that their download service will begin in 2007. His comment about digital downloading, "While we don’t see digital downloading as becoming a big business in the next year or two, our mission is to provide customers with completely convenient access to movies."

Having tried both Netflix (I think I was one of their initial customers way back when), Walmart (gone now) and Blockbuster, I think the net result is that the services are basically so close in overall quality that whomever gets you the movie you want quicker might be your choice in the long run.

I have started to see ATM-style machines that dispense DVDs for $1 a day popping up at malls, supermarkets, airports, etc. In fact, in NYC I noticed a machine next door to a Blockbuster. Without an online membership, individual rentals at Blockbuster can be as high as $5. Why not just rent it for a buck?

I still give the nod to Blockbuster with the ability to return the movies in their stores along with picking up another. Of course for the lazy (me included), the download ability from Netflix might win out.