TechtechnologyVerizonNetflix

Verizon's Redbox Instant Video Streaming To Shut Down

Verizon's Redbox Instant Video Streaming To Shut Down
Reuters
|
Open Image Modal
Student Efren Enriquez rents a DVD movie at a Redbox, a $1-per-night DVD movie rental kiosk, outside a 7-Eleven store in Silver Lake area of Los Angeles on Friday, August 7, 2009. Redbox has 17,900 kiosks in the U.S. and expects to add up to 8,500 more this year, nearly one every hour. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Redbox Instant, a streaming video service operated by Verizon Communications Inc

The service, which combined the Redbox DVD rental kiosk business with a streaming video offering from Verizon, was launched in 2013 to compete against online video company Netflix Inc

Redbox Instant will shut down on Oct. 7th, the companies said in a joint statement.

"The joint venture partners made this decision after careful consideration," the statement said. "The service had not been as successful as either partner hoped it would be."

Subscribers will receive an email notifying them of the termination of the service. A separate email will be sent on Oct. 10 with details on refunds, the statement said.

The alliance marked Verizon's first foray into video streaming outside its network operating region, but it never gained a foothold against online rivals such as Netflix, Amazon.com Inc

The telephone company had only offered Web video services to subscribers using its FiOS TV service, which competes with cable providers such as Comcast Corp

(Reporting by Marina Lopes in New York; Writing by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Frank McGurty and Andre Grenon)

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your will go a long way.

Support HuffPost
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip