Onkyo Blu to Stream Blockbuster

Onkyo's BD-SP808 Blu-ray player will stream video using Blockbuster OnDemand.

As one of 85 devices compatible with BOD, the player will include a search tool providing ratings, trailers, and other movie data. It will allow browsing and selection of many top titles as soon as they're available on disc. There will be no monthly subscription fee to stream programming. The Profile 2.0 player will also include DLNA 1.5 home networking and Marvel Qdeo video processing--but not 3D capability. It will ship later this month for $599. See This Week In Consumer Electronics and press release.

But will this be enough to save Blockbuster? Rumor has it that the ailing retailer has met with debt holders and studio executives to outline the terms of a forthcoming bankruptcy to be filed in the middle of this month. The bankruptcy would afford the chain some relief from its $920 million debt load and allow it to terminate leases on 500 of its 3,425 stores. However, it would not result in immediate closure of all Blockbuster locations.

X