The Fall of Redbox: A Final Goodbye to DVD Rentals

The Fall of a Giant: Redbox's Closure

The era of renting DVDs from a red kiosk is coming to an end as Redbox, a well-known American company in the rental business, has announced its closure after running for 22 years. This decision came following the adaptation of the parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's bankruptcy case from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7. Consequently, Redbox will no longer operate its DVD rental kiosks or streaming services.

From Success to Sudden End

Initially launched in 2002, Redbox had become a common sight at various locations from grocery stores and pharmacies to fast-food restaurants owing to its convenience and competitive pricing. So successful was it that five years post-launch, it outshone competitor, Blockbuster, in the number of established locations. Furthermore, the company expanded its services to video game rentals but sadly ceased this in 2019. Venturing into digital markets, Redbox unveiled its streaming platform, Redbox On Demand in 2017 followed by Redbox Free Live TV in 2020, with the latter offering free ad-supported TV streaming. A few months on, Redbox+ was launched. It was a yearly subscription providing extended return times and rentals of up to 24, catering to frequent users.

The Digital Transition of Media

The demise of Redbox coincides with a trend where physical media is being overlooked for digital alternatives. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ with their extensive libraries of shows and films and affordable subscriptions have gained popularity. This move away from physical media is not confined to Redbox. Dealer stores are altering their strategies too. In April last year, Target confirmed a reduction in the sale of physical DVDs in stores. Similarly, Best Buy is withdrawing from physical media sales with plans to stop selling DVDs and Blu-ray discs both in-store and online come early 2024.