Coinstar CEO: Blu-ray Rentals Likely by Mid-Year, at Higher Price

16 Feb, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel

On the heels of a distribution deal with former litigant Warner Home Video, Coinstar CEO Paul Davis Feb. 16 said its Redbox subsidiary would likely begin offering Blu-ray Disc rentals by the middle of the year.

Redbox has been testing Blu-ray rentals among its select 22,200 kiosks nationwide.

Speaking in a conference call with analysts, Davis said the Warner Blu-ray titles, in addition to superior copy depth on all new releases, would offer consumers a superior rental choice.

“[Blu-ray] strengthens our position to meet consumer demand,” he said.

The CEO said a price point for Blu-ray had not been determined, although he believed it would “for sure be higher than our standard DVDs.”