http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/0...eut/index.html
DENVER, Colorado (Reuters) -- How about a movie on DVD to go with your Big Mac and fries?
McDonald's Corp. said Monday it would install experimental DVD rental machines in more than 100 Denver-area outlets in the next month.
The automatic kiosks will feature the most popular 30 to 40 DVD titles, which will rent for $1 per night without any membership or late fees, the company said.
Under the program, movies can be returned to any McDonald's outlet featuring the Redbox kiosks, which are owned and operated by privately held DVDPlay. If the total charges on a rental reach $25, the DVD belongs to the customer and does not have to be returned, McDonald's said.
If McDonald's rolls out the test program nationwide, it would become the first fast food chain to offer DVDs and increase the competition for existing video rental operators such as Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc.
McDonald's said its test program coincides with growing demand for DVDs, with industry observers estimating the share of DVD-ready households in the United States will reach 80 percent within three years.
"When fully implemented, Redbox DVD rental machines will be available in over 100 McDonald's restaurants once again providing ultimate convenience and giving our customers another reason to visit us," Bernie Schaefer, vice president and general manager of the food outlet's Rocky Mountain region, said in a statement.
So far, 24 Denver-area McDonald's restaurants have installed the ATM-sized DVD rental machines and another 80 will be installed by the end of June, the company said.
The Rebox DVD rental machines hold between 100 and 350 DVDs and can be operated with either a credit or debit card.
DENVER, Colorado (Reuters) -- How about a movie on DVD to go with your Big Mac and fries?
McDonald's Corp. said Monday it would install experimental DVD rental machines in more than 100 Denver-area outlets in the next month.
The automatic kiosks will feature the most popular 30 to 40 DVD titles, which will rent for $1 per night without any membership or late fees, the company said.
Under the program, movies can be returned to any McDonald's outlet featuring the Redbox kiosks, which are owned and operated by privately held DVDPlay. If the total charges on a rental reach $25, the DVD belongs to the customer and does not have to be returned, McDonald's said.
If McDonald's rolls out the test program nationwide, it would become the first fast food chain to offer DVDs and increase the competition for existing video rental operators such as Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc.
McDonald's said its test program coincides with growing demand for DVDs, with industry observers estimating the share of DVD-ready households in the United States will reach 80 percent within three years.
"When fully implemented, Redbox DVD rental machines will be available in over 100 McDonald's restaurants once again providing ultimate convenience and giving our customers another reason to visit us," Bernie Schaefer, vice president and general manager of the food outlet's Rocky Mountain region, said in a statement.
So far, 24 Denver-area McDonald's restaurants have installed the ATM-sized DVD rental machines and another 80 will be installed by the end of June, the company said.
The Rebox DVD rental machines hold between 100 and 350 DVDs and can be operated with either a credit or debit card.
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