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{{short description|Defunct American on-demand streaming and video rental company}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{distinguish|Roblox}} {{distinguish|Roblox}}
{{short description|Former American on-demand streaming and video rental company}}
{{Other uses|Red box (disambiguation)}} {{Other uses|Red box (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company {{Infobox company
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| industry = Entertainment | industry = Entertainment
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002}} | founded = {{Start date and age|2002}}
| defunct = {{End date|2024}}
| fate = ] by parent company | fate = ] by parent company
| defunct = 2024
| founder = ] | founder = ]
| hq_location_city = ], ] | hq_location_city = ], ]
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| products = Films<br/>TV series | products = Films<br/>TV series
| brands = | brands =
| production = | production = DVDs
| production_year = <!-- Year of production data (if known) --> | production_year = <!-- Year of production data (if known) -->
| services = ]<br/>] | services = ]<br/>]
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| net_income = {{decrease}} US$–90 million<ref name="investorpresentation"/> | net_income = {{decrease}} US$–90 million<ref name="investorpresentation"/>
| net_income_year = 2020 | net_income_year = 2020
| parent = ] | parent = ] (2002–2009)<br>] (2005–2016)<br>] (2016–2021)<br>] (2022–2024)
| divisions = Redbox Entertainment | divisions = Redbox Entertainment
| website = {{URL|https://redbox.com}} | website = {{URL|https://www.redbox.com}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024}}
}} }}
'''Redbox Automated Retail, LLC''' is an American video on-demand streaming and video rental company that specialized in ], ], ] ] rentals and purchases and formerly ]s via ] ] and ], ], and ] services via its website, Android and iOS apps, and many consumer electronic devices. Redbox kiosks featured the company's signature red color and are located at ]s, ]s, ]s, mass retailers, and ]. '''Redbox Automated Retail, LLC''' was an American ] and ] company, based in ]. Redbox specialized in ], and also operated ] and ad-supported ] and ] services. From 2022 until its liquidation, Redbox was a wholly owned subsidiary of ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manfredi |first=Lucas |date=2022-05-11 |title=Redbox to be acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment for $375M |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/redbox-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-acquisition |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref>


Redbox kiosks, which rented and sold films on ] and ], were located at retail stores, including ]s, ], and ]. At its peak in the early 2010s, the company operated kiosks at more than 34,000 locations,{{efn|This is a count of locations which have one or more Redbox kiosks. The total number of individual kiosks was greater (estimated at 42,000 at the company's peak), as some locations have two kiosks. These two counts were often conflated in media mentions of the chain's size.|name=fn1|group=lower-alpha}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-07 |title=Globox picks up where Redbox left off |url=https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/articles/globox-picks-up-where-redbox-left-off/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.kioskmarketplace.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.redbox.com/career-technology |title= Redbox Careers| website= Redbox.com| access-date= August 1, 2013}}</ref> and controlled more than half of the US DVD rental market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Joseph |date=2021-07-12 |title=Redbox's SPAC-funded evolution from DVD rentals to digital media |url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/redbox-s-spac-funded-evolution-from-dvd-rentals-to-digital-media-65044191 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=] |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Ellingson |first=Annlee |date=26 July 2013 |title=Redbox controls 50% disc-rental share |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2013/07/25/redbox-controls-50-disc-rental-share.html |work=]}}</ref>
As of the end of November 2012, Redbox had over 42,000 kiosks at more than 34,000 locations.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.redbox.com/career-technology |title= Redbox Careers| website= Redbox.com| access-date= August 1, 2013}}</ref> As of September 2016, Redbox had 51.8% market share of the physical rental market.<ref></ref> In 2022, ] acquired Redbox for $375 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manfredi |first=Lucas |date=2022-05-11 |title=Redbox to be acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment for $375M |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/redbox-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-acquisition |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the bankruptcy of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in 2024, the 26,000 Redbox kiosks will shut down permanently.


In June 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment filed for ]; the following month, the company’s case was converted to ]. As part of ongoing liquidation proceedings, Redbox’s online streaming services and mobile app ceased functioning in July 2024.
==History== ==History==
] ]
===Founding under McDonald's=== ===Founding under McDonald's===
Redbox ] LLC was initially developed in Chicago as a part of “Project 361”, a ] business expansion initiative. John Sexton Abrams, a strategy executive at McDonald's, designed the original concept as an immersive kiosk leveraging McDonald's product supply chain and geographic footprint to provide 24/7 access to fresh dairy and other products. Initially, the kiosks sold a range of goods under the name Ticktok Easy Shop. In late 2003 McDonald's ended its use of the kiosks for these products. Instead, McDonald's executive ] decided to use the kiosks for DVD rentals, which was tested in Denver in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/03/06/redbox-blockbuster-rentals-business-media-rebox.html|title=Red Menace|first=Dorothy|last=Pomerantz|website=]|date=6 March 2009}}</ref> Redbox Automated Retail LLC was initially developed in Chicago as a part of “Project 361”, a ] business expansion initiative. John Sexton Abrams, a strategy executive at McDonald's, designed the original concept as an immersive kiosk leveraging McDonald's product supply chain and geographic footprint to provide 24/7 access to fresh dairy and other products. Initially, the kiosks sold a range of goods under the name TikTok Easyshops.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-11-12 |title=McDonald's axes robot retailers |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3263181.stm |access-date=2024-08-17 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jake |date=2024-08-16 |title=Bankrupt - Redbox |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTYBC4XZpzw |publisher=Bright Sun Films |type=Video |via=]}}</ref> In late 2003 McDonald's ended its use of the kiosks for these products. Instead, McDonald's executive ] decided to use the kiosks for DVD rentals, which was tested in Denver in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/03/06/redbox-blockbuster-rentals-business-media-rebox.html|title=Red Menace|first=Dorothy|last=Pomerantz|website=]|date=6 March 2009}}</ref>


The company also employed a "return anywhere" policy, different from competitors, which allowed consumers to return their rental to any Redbox kiosk, not just the one from which they originally rented it.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=StY5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA542|page=542|title=Strategic Management|first=John A.|last=Parnell|date=15 January 2013|publisher=SAGE|isbn=9781452234984|via=Google Books}}</ref> Kiosks rented both films and video games.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JrKjOFOGBt8C&pg=PA153|page=153|title=The Best 100 Free Apps for Libraries|first=Jim|last=Hahn|date=13 May 2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810885837|via=Google Books}}</ref> The company also employed a "return anywhere" policy, different from competitors, which allowed consumers to return their rental to any Redbox kiosk, not just the one from which they originally rented it.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=StY5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA542|page=542|title=Strategic Management|first=John A.|last=Parnell|date=15 January 2013|publisher=SAGE|isbn=9781452234984|via=Google Books}}</ref>


===Purchase by Coinstar=== ===Purchase by Coinstar===
In 2005, ] bought 47% of the company for $32 million,<ref name="CoinstarFinancialStatements">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1091/95013408014521/filing-main.htm |title=COINSTAR INC, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Aug 7, 2008 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 15, 2018}}</ref> after unsuccessful attempts to sell half the company to Blockbuster and Netflix.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sodDcL2yhsIC&pg=PT163|page=163|title=Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs|first=Gina|last=Keating|date=11 October 2012|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781101601433|via=Google Books}}</ref> In early 2008, Coinstar exercised an option to increase its share from 47% to 51%.<ref name="CoinstarFinancialStatements"/> In February 2009, Coinstar paid McDonald's between $169 and $176 million for the remainder of the company.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=Edit |title=DVD Kiosk Firm Redbox Bought Out By Coinstar For Up To $176 Million; McDonald's Paid Out |url=https://gigaom.com/2009/02/13/419-dvd-kiosk-firm-redbox-bought-out-by-coinstar-for-up-to-176-million-mcdo/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=gigaom.com |date=February 13, 2009}}</ref> While traditional brick and mortar rental stores were closing at a high rate, Redbox moved into existing retail locations such as supermarkets, and placed kiosks within them or outside of them to gain access to that consumer base.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aY1q881PnNcC&pg=PT56|page=56|title=Streaming: Movies, Media, and Instant Access|first=Wheeler Winston|last=Dixon|date=19 April 2013|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0813142180|via=Google Books}}</ref> In 2005, ] bought 47% of the company for $32 million,<ref name="CoinstarFinancialStatements">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1091/95013408014521/filing-main.htm |title=COINSTAR INC, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Aug 7, 2008 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 15, 2018}}</ref> after unsuccessful attempts to sell half the company to Blockbuster and Netflix.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sodDcL2yhsIC&pg=PT163|page=163|title=Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs|first=Gina|last=Keating|date=11 October 2012|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781101601433|via=Google Books}}</ref> In early 2008, Coinstar exercised an option to increase its share to 51%,<ref name="CoinstarFinancialStatements"/> before acquiring the remainder for $169–176 million in February 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=Edit |title=DVD Kiosk Firm Redbox Bought Out By Coinstar For Up To $176 Million; McDonald's Paid Out |url=https://gigaom.com/2009/02/13/419-dvd-kiosk-firm-redbox-bought-out-by-coinstar-for-up-to-176-million-mcdo/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=gigaom.com |date=February 13, 2009}}</ref> While traditional brick and mortar rental stores were closing at a high rate, Redbox moved into existing retail locations such as supermarkets, and placed kiosks within them or outside of them to gain access to that consumer base.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aY1q881PnNcC&pg=PT56|page=56|title=Streaming: Movies, Media, and Instant Access|first=Wheeler Winston|last=Dixon|date=19 April 2013|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0813142180|via=Google Books}}</ref>


Competitors included ], ], ] and its subsidiary ], ] and ] along with other ] rental services.
The company surpassed ] in 2007 in the number of US locations,<ref name="kioskmarketplace1">{{cite web |title = Redbox surpasses Blockbuster in number of U.S. locations |publisher = Kioskmarketplace.com| date= November 26, 2007 |url = http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=18858&na=1 |url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100831110948/http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=18858&na=1 |archive-date = August 31, 2010}}</ref> passed 100 million rentals in February 2008,<ref name="kioskmarketplace2">{{cite web |title = Redbox surpasses 100 million DVD rentals Redbox surpasses Blockbuster in number of U.S. locations |publisher = Kioskmarketplace.com, February 2008 |url = http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=19242&na=1 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100831105518/http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=19242&na=1 |archive-date = 2010-08-31}}</ref> and passed 1 billion rentals in September 2010.<ref name="newteevee">{{cite web
|title = Redbox Hits One Billionth Rental |publisher = Gigaom.com |date= September 6, 2010 |url = http://gigaom.com/video/redbox-hits-one-billionth-rental/ |url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111026171837/http://gigaom.com/video/redbox-hits-one-billionth-rental/ |archive-date = October 26, 2011}}</ref> Current and former competitors include ], ], ] and its subsidiary ], ] and ] along with other ] rental services. In Q2 2011, kiosks accounted for 36% of the disc rental market, with 38% of that attributable to rent-by-mail services and 25% to traditional stores, according to the ]. As of Q2 2011, 68% of the US population lived within a five-minute drive of a Redbox kiosk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redbox.com/facts |title=Info &#124; Redbox Corporate Information |publisher=Redbox |access-date=2011-12-12}}</ref> The numbers for Q2 2013 shows that Redbox rentals had surpassed 50% of the total disc rentals in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2013/07/25/redbox-controls-50-disc-rental-share.html|title=Redbox controls 50% disc-rental share|first= Annlee | last= Ellingson| date= 26 July 2013|work=L.A. Biz}}</ref>


] joined Redbox in 2003 after spending five years as an executive at Netflix. At Redbox, he started first as a consultant and then as VP of Purchasing & Operations. In 2005, he became the Chief Operating Officer.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/six-questions-redboxs-mitch-lowe-16603 | title=Six Questions: Redbox's Mitch Lowe | publisher=Home Media Magazine | date=July 31, 2009 | access-date=September 7, 2009 }}</ref> Lowe owned and operated a video rental company named Video Droid from 1982 through 1997. Video Droid attempted a VHS rental vending machine concept, though the idea was quickly deemed impractical.<ref name= nyt03>{{cite news|title=Movie Studios See a Threat in Growth of Redbox|work= ] |last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=September 6, 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/business/media/07redbox.html?ref=technology}}</ref> Lowe was named President of Redbox in April 2009. ] joined Redbox in 2003 after spending five years as an executive at Netflix. At Redbox, he started first as a consultant and then as VP of Purchasing & Operations. In 2005, he became the Chief Operating Officer.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/six-questions-redboxs-mitch-lowe-16603 | title=Six Questions: Redbox's Mitch Lowe | publisher=Home Media Magazine | date=July 31, 2009 | access-date=September 7, 2009 }}</ref> Lowe owned and operated a video rental company named Video Droid from 1982 through 1997. Video Droid attempted a VHS rental vending machine concept, though the idea was quickly deemed impractical.<ref name= nyt03>{{cite news|title=Movie Studios See a Threat in Growth of Redbox|work= ] |last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=September 6, 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/business/media/07redbox.html?ref=technology}}</ref> Lowe was named President of Redbox in April 2009.


With growing concern in 2009 that DVD kiosks might jeopardize movie studio income from DVD sales and rentals, three major movie studios, ], ], and ], each refused to sell DVDs to Redbox until at least 28 days after their arrival in stores.<ref name= nyt03 /> Fox and Warner Bros. represented 62% of home video rental revenue in 2008–09.<ref name="pali02">{{cite web|url=http://paliresearch.com/2009/08/18/redboxs-lawsuit-now-stands-on-only-one-shaky-leg-as-court-dismisses-first-sale-complaint/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113120432/http://paliresearch.com/2009/08/18/redboxs-lawsuit-now-stands-on-only-one-shaky-leg-as-court-dismisses-first-sale-complaint/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2022|title=Redbox's Lawsuit Now Stands On Only One Shaky Leg as Court Dismisses First Sale Complaint|last=Greenfield|first=Richard|date=August 18, 2009|website=Pali Research}}</ref><ref> Home Media Magazine, Erik Gruenwedel, October 5, 2009. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009030538/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/analyst-dismissal-redbox-claims-could-undermine-kiosk-viability-17222 |date=October 9, 2009 }}</ref> Redbox responded by ] in October 2008,<ref> Redbox Press Release, October 13, 2008</ref> then against 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. in August 2009.<ref> Reuters, Tom Hals and Sue Zeidler, August 12, 2009.</ref><ref name=bloomberg>{{cite news| title= Coinstar's Redbox Sues Warner Unit Over Video Terms| publisher= Bloomberg News| first1= Sophia| last1= Pearson| first2= Phil| last2= Milford| date= August 19, 2009| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=apskdfBT_Zms| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090122224028/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103| archive-date= January 22, 2009}}</ref> In August 2009, the federal judge hearing the Universal case allowed the antitrust claim to continue.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/judge-throws-out-some-redbox-claims-universal-suit-16764| title= Judge Throws Out Some Redbox Claims in Universal Suit| work= Home Media Magazine| first= Chris| last= Tribbey| date= August 17, 2009| access-date= October 5, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090827130154/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/judge-throws-out-some-redbox-claims-universal-suit-16764| archive-date= August 27, 2009| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}</ref> In October 2009, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. filed motions to dismiss Redbox's lawsuits against them.<ref name= homemedia1> With growing concern in 2009 that DVD kiosks might jeopardize movie studio income from DVD sales and rentals, three major movie studios, ], ], and ], each refused to sell DVDs to Redbox until at least 28 days after their arrival in stores.<ref name= nyt03 /> Fox and Warner Bros. represented 62% of home video rental revenue in 2008–09.<ref name="pali02">{{cite web|url=http://paliresearch.com/2009/08/18/redboxs-lawsuit-now-stands-on-only-one-shaky-leg-as-court-dismisses-first-sale-complaint/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113120432/http://paliresearch.com/2009/08/18/redboxs-lawsuit-now-stands-on-only-one-shaky-leg-as-court-dismisses-first-sale-complaint/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2022|title=Redbox's Lawsuit Now Stands On Only One Shaky Leg as Court Dismisses First Sale Complaint|last=Greenfield|first=Richard|date=August 18, 2009|website=Pali Research}}</ref><ref> Home Media Magazine, Erik Gruenwedel, October 5, 2009. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009030538/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/analyst-dismissal-redbox-claims-could-undermine-kiosk-viability-17222 |date=October 9, 2009 }}</ref> Redbox responded by ] in October 2008,<ref> Redbox Press Release, October 13, 2008</ref> then against 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. in August 2009.<ref> Reuters, Tom Hals and Sue Zeidler, August 12, 2009.</ref><ref name=bloomberg>{{cite news| title= Coinstar's Redbox Sues Warner Unit Over Video Terms| publisher= Bloomberg News| first1= Sophia| last1= Pearson| first2= Phil| last2= Milford| date= August 19, 2009| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=apskdfBT_Zms| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090122224028/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103| archive-date= January 22, 2009}}</ref> In August 2009, the federal judge hearing the Universal case allowed the antitrust claim to continue.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/judge-throws-out-some-redbox-claims-universal-suit-16764| title= Judge Throws Out Some Redbox Claims in Universal Suit| work= Home Media Magazine| first= Chris| last= Tribbey| date= August 17, 2009| access-date= October 5, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090827130154/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/judge-throws-out-some-redbox-claims-universal-suit-16764| archive-date= August 27, 2009| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}</ref> In October 2009, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. filed motions to dismiss Redbox's lawsuits against them.<ref name= homemedia1>
{{cite web |title = Fox Says Redbox Lawsuit is Flawed |work = Home Media Magazine |first = Erik |last = Gruenwedel |date = October 1, 2009 |url = http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/fox-says-redbox-lawsuit-flawed-17210 |access-date = October 5, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005011952/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/fox-says-redbox-lawsuit-flawed-17210 |archive-date = October 5, 2009 |url-status = dead|df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=homemedia2>{{cite web | title= Warner Also Seeks Redbox Lawsuit Dismissal | work= Home Media Magazine | first= Erik | last= Gruenwedel | date= October 2, 2009 | url= http://www.homemediamagazine.com/warner/warner-also-seeks-redbox-lawsuit-dismissal-17215 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091008132226/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/warner/warner-also-seeks-redbox-lawsuit-dismissal-17215 | archive-date= October 8, 2009 }}</ref> During this time, Redbox continued to rent films from these companies, purchasing them at retail from places like Walmart instead of receiving them from the movie studios, which in some cases saved Redbox money due to the discounted prices offered by retailers.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yW0oYGaPcLEC&pg=PT192|page=192|title=Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work|first1=Chip|last1=Heath|first2=Dan|last2=Heath|date=26 March 2013|publisher=Random House of Canada|isbn=9780307361141|via=Google Books}}</ref> Other major studios — ], ], and ] — signed distribution deals with Redbox.<ref name= nyt03 /> ] permits third-party distributors to sell to Redbox, but has not entered into a direct relationship with the company.<ref name= nyt03 /> Both sides of the studio lawsuits pointed to these revenue-sharing deals to shore up their argument, with Redbox president Mitch Lowe saying, "our growth can lead to theirs . For example, Redbox currently estimates we will pay more than a combined $1 billion over the next five years to Sony, Lionsgate and Paramount to purchase and then rent new-release DVDs to consumers,"<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/redbox-ceo-we-are-engine-industry-growth-8165 |title= Redbox Chief: 'We Are an Engine for Industry Growth'| website= TheWrap.com| first= Mitch |last= Lowe| date= October 2, 2009}}</ref> while Warner Bros. says the deals are proof that far from being shut out by Hollywood, "Redbox's business has thrived since its suit against Universal, underscored by lucrative distribution deals with Paramount Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and Lionsgate."<ref name= homemedia2 /> Redbox entered into an agreement with Warner Bros. on February 16, 2010,<ref name=warnersettle>{{Cite press release |title = Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Redbox Announce a Multi-year Distribution Agreement |publisher = Redbox, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |date = February 16, 2010 |url= http://redboxpressroom.com/releasesPressRelease_WarnerBros_021610.html |access-date = May 23, 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100530194502/http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_WarnerBros_021610.html |archive-date = May 30, 2010}}</ref> followed by Universal<ref name= unisettle>{{Cite press release | title = Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox Forge Distribution Agreement | publisher = Redbox, Universal Studios Home Entertainment | date = April 22, 2010 | url = http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_Universal_042210.html | access-date = May 23, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100514150001/http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_Universal_042210.html | archive-date = May 14, 2010 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and Fox<ref name=foxsettle>{{Cite press release |title = Twentieth Century Fox and redbox Announce Distribution Agreement |publisher = Redbox, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment |date = April 23, 2010 |url = http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_20thCenturyFox_042210.html |access-date = May 23, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100514145701/http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_20thCenturyFox_042210.html |archive-date = May 14, 2010 {{cite web |title = Fox Says Redbox Lawsuit is Flawed |work = Home Media Magazine |first = Erik |last = Gruenwedel |date = October 1, 2009 |url = http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/fox-says-redbox-lawsuit-flawed-17210 |access-date = October 5, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005011952/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/redbox/fox-says-redbox-lawsuit-flawed-17210 |archive-date = October 5, 2009 |url-status = dead|df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=homemedia2>{{cite web | title= Warner Also Seeks Redbox Lawsuit Dismissal | work= Home Media Magazine | first= Erik | last= Gruenwedel | date= October 2, 2009 | url= http://www.homemediamagazine.com/warner/warner-also-seeks-redbox-lawsuit-dismissal-17215 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091008132226/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/warner/warner-also-seeks-redbox-lawsuit-dismissal-17215 | archive-date= October 8, 2009 }}</ref> During this time, Redbox continued to rent films from these companies, purchasing them at retail from places like Walmart instead of receiving them from the movie studios, which in some cases saved Redbox money due to the discounted prices offered by retailers.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yW0oYGaPcLEC&pg=PT192|page=192|title=Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work|first1=Chip|last1=Heath|first2=Dan|last2=Heath|date=26 March 2013|publisher=Random House of Canada|isbn=9780307361141|via=Google Books}}</ref> Other major studios—], ], and ]—signed distribution deals with Redbox.<ref name= nyt03 /> ] permits third-party distributors to sell to Redbox, but has not entered into a direct relationship with the company.<ref name= nyt03 /> Both sides of the studio lawsuits pointed to these revenue-sharing deals to shore up their argument, with Redbox president Mitch Lowe saying, "our growth can lead to theirs . For example, Redbox currently estimates we will pay more than a combined $1 billion over the next five years to Sony, Lionsgate and Paramount to purchase and then rent new-release DVDs to consumers,"<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/redbox-ceo-we-are-engine-industry-growth-8165 |title= Redbox Chief: 'We Are an Engine for Industry Growth'| website= TheWrap.com| first= Mitch |last= Lowe| date= October 2, 2009}}</ref> while Warner Bros. says the deals are proof that far from being shut out by Hollywood, "Redbox's business has thrived since its suit against Universal, underscored by lucrative distribution deals with Paramount Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and Lionsgate."<ref name= homemedia2 /> Redbox entered into an agreement with Warner Bros. on February 16, 2010,<ref name=warnersettle>{{Cite press release |title = Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Redbox Announce a Multi-year Distribution Agreement |publisher = Redbox, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |date = February 16, 2010 |url= http://redboxpressroom.com/releasesPressRelease_WarnerBros_021610.html |access-date = May 23, 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100530194502/http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_WarnerBros_021610.html |archive-date = May 30, 2010}}</ref> followed by Universal<ref name= unisettle>{{Cite press release | title = Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox Forge Distribution Agreement | publisher = Redbox, Universal Studios Home Entertainment | date = April 22, 2010 | url = http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_Universal_042210.html | access-date = May 23, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100514150001/http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_Universal_042210.html | archive-date = May 14, 2010 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and Fox<ref name=foxsettle>{{Cite press release |title = Twentieth Century Fox and redbox Announce Distribution Agreement |publisher = Redbox, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment |date = April 23, 2010 |url = http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_20thCenturyFox_042210.html |access-date = May 23, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100514145701/http://redboxpressroom.com/releases/PressRelease_20thCenturyFox_042210.html |archive-date = May 14, 2010
|url-status = dead |df = mdy-all}}</ref> on April 22, 2010. In the agreements, which settle the lawsuits, Redbox agreed to not make available for rental films from these studios until 28 days after their initial home-video releases. Redbox continued to sign additional and new distribution deals with these and other movie studios;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1F80Q4|title=BRIEF-Redbox, Paramount announce new distribution agreement|date=19 January 2017|via=Reuters}}</ref> by 2017, titles from Fox and Warner became available on Redbox seven days after their initial home-video release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/26/redbox-deals-with-sony-and-lionsgate-bring-discs-with-no-delay/|title=Redbox deals with Sony and Lionsgate bring discs with no delay|publisher=]|date=26 August 2017|access-date=22 October 2017|first=Richard|last=Lawler}}</ref> |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all}}</ref> on April 22, 2010. In the agreements, which settle the lawsuits, Redbox agreed to not make available for rental films from these studios until 28 days after their initial home-video releases. Redbox continued to sign additional and new distribution deals with these and other movie studios;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1F80Q4|title=BRIEF-Redbox, Paramount announce new distribution agreement|date=19 January 2017|via=Reuters}}</ref> by 2017, titles from Fox and Warner became available on Redbox seven days after their initial home-video release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/26/redbox-deals-with-sony-and-lionsgate-bring-discs-with-no-delay/|title=Redbox deals with Sony and Lionsgate bring discs with no delay|publisher=]|date=26 August 2017|access-date=22 October 2017|first=Richard|last=Lawler}}</ref>


=== Expansion and new products ===
In July 2010, Redbox announced that they were beginning to rent ] movies at 13,000 kiosks nationwide, and Blu-ray Discs were available across the Redbox network by the fall of 2010.<ref name= Bluray>{{cite web | title = Redbox launches Blu-ray rentals | website= Redbox.com| date= July 29, 2010 | url = http://www.redbox.com/release_20100729}}</ref> In October 2010, the company began testing video game rentals in ]; ]; ]; ]; ]; and ]. In June 2011, Redbox launched video game rentals nationwide.<ref name="Games">{{cite news | title = Redbox launches program for video game rentals | work = ]| date= June 17, 2011 | url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/06/redbox-launches-program-for-video-game-rentals/1}}</ref> Games for all major platforms are offered, including ], ], and ] at select locations. In 2019, Redbox confirmed video game rentals would be discontinued.
With over 6,000 kiosks, Redbox surpassed ] as the largest U.S. video rental chain in November 2007.<ref name="kioskmarketplace1">{{cite web |date=November 26, 2007 |title=Redbox surpasses Blockbuster in number of U.S. locations |url=http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=18858&na=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831110948/http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=18858&na=1 |archive-date=August 31, 2010 |publisher=Kioskmarketplace.com}}</ref> The company reached 100 million rentals in February 2008,<ref name="kioskmarketplace2">{{cite web |title=Redbox surpasses 100 million DVD rentals Redbox surpasses Blockbuster in number of U.S. locations |url=http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=19242&na=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831105518/http://www.kioskmarketplace.com/article.php?id=19242&na=1 |archive-date=2010-08-31 |publisher=Kioskmarketplace.com, February 2008}}</ref> and passed 1 billion rentals in September 2010.<ref name="newteevee">{{cite web |date=September 6, 2010 |title=Redbox Hits One Billionth Rental |url=http://gigaom.com/video/redbox-hits-one-billionth-rental/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026171837/http://gigaom.com/video/redbox-hits-one-billionth-rental/ |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |publisher=Gigaom.com}}</ref> As of Q2 2011, 68% of the U.S. population lived within a five-minute drive of a Redbox kiosk.<ref>{{cite web |title=Info &#124; Redbox Corporate Information |url=http://www.redbox.com/facts |access-date=2011-12-12 |publisher=Redbox}}</ref> In Q2 2011, kiosks accounted for 36% of the disc rental market, with 38% of that attributable to rent-by-mail services and 25% to traditional stores, according to the ].


Redbox announced in July 2010 that they would introduce ] movies at 13,000 kiosks; by that fall, Blu-ray discs were available across the Redbox network.<ref name="Bluray">{{cite web | title = Redbox launches Blu-ray rentals | website= Redbox.com| date= July 29, 2010 | url = http://www.redbox.com/release_20100729}}</ref> That October, the company began offering video game rentals in select markets, including ]; ]; ]; ]; ]; and ].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} Video games were available at all Redbox locations by June 2011.<ref name="Games">{{cite news |last=Molina |first=Brett |date=2011-06-17 |title=Redbox launches program for video game rentals |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/06/redbox-launches-program-for-video-game-rentals/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622210227/https://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/06/redbox-launches-program-for-video-game-rentals/1 |archive-date=2011-06-22 |work=]}}</ref>
In February 2012, Redbox announced the purchase of former competitor Blockbuster Express from ] for $100 million.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yp9uCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|page=28|title=Marketing Strategy, Text and Cases|first1=O. C.|last1=Ferrell|first2=Michael|last2=Hartline|date=20 December 2012|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=9781285607139|via=Google Books}}</ref> The acquisition included over 10,000 DVD kiosks, certain retailer contracts, and DVD inventory. As part of the agreement, Redbox entered a supplier arrangement of purchasing product and services from NCR.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-57372197-261/redbox-pays-$100-million-for-ncrs-blockbuster-express/ | title=Redbox pays $100 million for NCR's Blockbuster Express | date=February 6, 2012 | access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref> On June 27, 2012, Redbox completed the purchase of Blockbuster Express on June 23.<ref>{{cite news |title=Redbox Completes Blockbuster Express Purchase |url=https://csnews.com/redbox-completes-blockbuster-express-purchase |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=Convenience Store News |date=27 June 2012}}</ref> The company sold some Blockbuster Express kiosks in less competitive markets to third party providers in June 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coinstar sheds inactive Blockbuster kiosks |url=https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/news/coinstar-sheds-inactive-blockbuster-kiosks/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Kiosk Marketplace |date=June 12, 2013 |language=en}}</ref>


In February 2012, Redbox announced the acquisition of Blockbuster Express, a competing kiosk-based rental service operated by ] in partnership with Blockbuster. The $100 million purchase, completed on June 27, 2012, included over 10,000 kiosks, inventory, and certain retailer contracts.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 June 2012 |title=Redbox Completes Blockbuster Express Purchase |url=https://csnews.com/redbox-completes-blockbuster-express-purchase |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=Convenience Store News}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yp9uCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|page=28|title=Marketing Strategy, Text and Cases|first1=O. C.|last1=Ferrell|first2=Michael|last2=Hartline|date=20 December 2012|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=9781285607139|via=Google Books}}</ref> As part of the agreement, Redbox entered a supplier arrangement of purchasing product and services from NCR.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-57372197-261/redbox-pays-$100-million-for-ncrs-blockbuster-express/ | title=Redbox pays $100 million for NCR's Blockbuster Express | date=February 6, 2012 | access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref> The company sold some Blockbuster Express kiosks in less competitive markets to third party providers in June 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coinstar sheds inactive Blockbuster kiosks |url=https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/news/coinstar-sheds-inactive-blockbuster-kiosks/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Kiosk Marketplace |date=June 12, 2013 |language=en}}</ref>
The company announced in February 2012 the deployment of kiosks in Canada to test the market there,<ref name="RedboxCanada">{{cite news|title=Redbox bringing DVD vending machines to Canada|date=February 8, 2012|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/redbox-bringing-dvd-vending-machines-to-canada/article2331588/ | location=Toronto|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> but in early 2015 shut down its Canadian operation, citing low demand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redbox.ca/canadaclosing|website=Redbox.ca| title= Redbox Will Be Leaving Canada| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150207231926/http://www.redbox.ca/canadaclosing| archive-date= February 7, 2015| url-status= dead | access-date= 7 February 2015}}</ref>


The company partnered with New Era Tickets and Sparkart to launch Redbox Tickets in October 2012 as a test on existing kiosks in the greater Philadelphia area followed by an early 2013 expansion in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gagliordi |first1=Natalie |title=Coins, coffee and concerts: Coinstar's on the move |url=https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/articles/coins-coffee-and-concerts-coinstars-on-the-move/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Kiosk Marketplace |date=October 16, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> Redbox also rolled out its Rubi coffee kiosk featuring ] in 2012 at up to 500 locations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Katje |first1=Chris |title=Coinstar: Diversification Through Coffee Kiosks Is Only The Beginning |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/640341-coinstar-diversification-through-coffee-kiosks-is-only-the-beginning |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Seeking Alpha |date=June 6, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> Outerwall, formerly Coinstar, decided to close its Rubi business in December 2013<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Chief Saunders Out, Outerwall to Cut 8.5% of Workforce |url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/redbox-chief-saunders-out-outerwall-to-cut-8-5-of-workforce-1200940217/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Variety |date=December 10, 2013 |language=en}}</ref> then sold that business in 2014 to Feniks, a Seattle start up food tech company.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jed |first1=Emily |title=Rubi Micro Caf Expands Vending Agreement With WinCo Supermarket Chain |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/blogs/rubi-micro-caf-expands-vending-agreement-with-winco-supermarket-chain/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=www.vendingtimes.com |date=April 8, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Also in 2012, Redbox partnered with ] and Sparkart to test sales of live event tickets at Redbox kiosks. Redbox Tickets launched in October 2012 in ],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=2012-10-03 |title=Redbox Selling Tickets to Live Events |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/redbox-movies-concert-tickets-376270/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-05 |title=Redbox kiosks start rolling out tickets to live events |url=https://www.wbez.org/culture/2012/10/04/redbox-kiosks-start-rolling-out-tickets-to-live-events |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=WBEZ |language=en}}</ref> and was later expanded to the Los Angeles area in early 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gagliordi |first1=Natalie |title=Coins, coffee and concerts: Coinstar's on the move |url=https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/articles/coins-coffee-and-concerts-coinstars-on-the-move/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Kiosk Marketplace |date=October 16, 2012 |language=en}}</ref>


Redbox announced its 3 billionth disc rental, including both movies and games, in July 2013.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 2013 |title=Three Cheers! America Rents 3 Billionth Redbox Disc |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130730-908197.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804072036/http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130730-908197.html |archive-date=August 4, 2013 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> The number of items rented from kiosks annually peaked in 2013, with 772.87 million rentals; that year, Redbox rentals comprised more than 50% of DVD rentals in the United States.<ref name=":1" /> There were then 717.13 million units rented in 2014, and 587.55 million in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/296377/redbox-number-kiosk-rentals/|title=Redbox: number of kiosk rentals 2015 - Statistic|website=Statista}}</ref> This decline was widely attributed to consumers' preferences shifting from physical media to online streaming; though as of 2014, Redbox still represented half of the physical media rental market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/redbox-makes-up-half-of-dvd-rental-market-exec-says-1201214188/|title=Redbox Makes Up Half of DVD Rental Market, Exec Says|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
In August 2012, Redbox's founder, Gregg Kaplan, exited as president and COO of Redbox. Anne Saunders became the new president of Redbox.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vendingtimes.com/me2/dirmod.asp?sid=EB79A487112B48A296B38C81345C8C7F&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=F4EDEE9A648B4F849F4AC0AA06C00A44|title=Redbox Founder Gregg Kaplan Exits Coinstar; Anne Saunders Named Prexy|work= ] |date= August 25, 2012|access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> In July 2013, Redbox announced its 3 billionth rental of a disc, counting both movies and games.<ref>{{cite news| title= Three Cheers! America Rents 3 Billionth Redbox Disc| url=http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130730-908197.html | work= Wall Street Journal| date= July 30, 2013| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130804072036/http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130730-908197.html| archive-date= August 4, 2013| access-date= February 9, 2017}}</ref>
The number of items rented from kiosks annually peaked in 2013, with 772.87 million rentals. There were then 717.13 million units rented in 2014, and 587.55 million in 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/296377/redbox-number-kiosk-rentals/|title=Redbox: number of kiosk rentals 2015 - Statistic|website=Statista}}</ref> the decline due to the increasing consumer shift from physical media to streaming and other online services. That year the company also moved its 1,400 kiosks in Canada to other locations in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/redbox-dvd-rental-company-shutting-down-in-canada-moving-1400-kiosks-to-u-s|title=Redbox DVD rental company shutting down in Canada, moving 1,400 kiosks to U.S.|newspaper=Financialpost}}</ref> As of 2014, Redbox still represented half of the physical media rental market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/redbox-makes-up-half-of-dvd-rental-market-exec-says-1201214188/|title=Redbox Makes Up Half of DVD Rental Market, Exec Says|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=5 June 2014}}</ref> As of July 2016, Redbox offered ] and ] games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Redbox 101|url=http://www.coupondad.net/redbox-codes/|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref>


=== Purchase by Apollo and going public === ==== Expansion into Canada ====
Redbox began offering rentals in Canada in mid-2012.<ref name="RedboxCanada">{{cite news |last=Ladurantaye |first=Steve |date=2012-02-08 |title=Redbox bringing DVD vending machines to Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/redbox-bringing-dvd-vending-machines-to-canada/article2331588/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032323/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/redbox-bringing-dvd-vending-machines-to-canada/article2331588/ |archive-date=2012-02-09 |work=] |location=Toronto}}</ref> 1,400 kiosks were installed in Canada before Redbox ended operations in the country in March 2015, citing low demand. These kiosks were subsequently relocated to retail stores in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |date=2015-02-05 |title=Redbox DVD rental company shutting down in Canada, moving 1,400 kiosks to U.S. |url=http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/redbox-dvd-rental-company-shutting-down-in-canada-moving-1400-kiosks-to-u-s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926190157/https://business.financialpost.com/technology/redbox-dvd-rental-company-shutting-down-in-canada-moving-1400-kiosks-to-u-s |archive-date=2018-09-26 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Redbox Will Be Leaving Canada |url=http://www.redbox.ca/canadaclosing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207231926/http://www.redbox.ca/canadaclosing |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=7 February 2015 |website=Redbox Canada}}</ref>
Throughout most of 2016, parent company Outerwall was seeking a buyer based on shareholder input. In early September, Outerwall was sold to ] and its three units (Coinstar, ecoATM and Redbox) were split into separate operating companies. In late September 2016, Outerwall CFO Galen Smith was announced as the new CEO of Redbox.<ref>{{cite web| first= Nat| last= Levy| url= http://www.geekwire.com/2016/outerwall-deal-new-ceos/ |title= CEO of Redbox and Coinstar maker Outerwall out as businesses split into separate enterprises following acquisition| website= Geekwire.com| date= September 28, 2016| access-date= October 24, 2016}}</ref> The company had approximately 40,000 kiosks in the United States as of January 2017. The kiosks are shifting around the country to different locations in order to track consumer trends and in reaction to under-performing neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Loc8Nearme.com|title=Redbox Is Not Pulling Kiosks From NYC Locations|date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> Most locations only have one kiosk, however in some cases there will be more to deal with high traffic locales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consumerist.com/2017/01/03/is-redbox-removing-its-kiosks-or-just-moving-them/|title=Is Redbox Removing Its Kiosks, Or Just Moving Them?|date=3 January 2017}}</ref>


=== Purchase by Apollo and IPO ===
In 2017, Disney sued Redbox, accusing them of violating copyrights by selling codes to download Disney movies such as '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-disney-redbox-feud-20171201-story.html|title=Disney sues Redbox to stop digital movie sales, in the latest feud between the companies|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|date=2017-12-01|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref>
In August 2012, Redbox's founder, Gregg Kaplan, exited as president and COO of Redbox, and was succeeded as president by Anne Saunders.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 25, 2012 |title=Redbox Founder Gregg Kaplan Exits Coinstar; Anne Saunders Named Prexy |url=http://www.vendingtimes.com/me2/dirmod.asp?sid=EB79A487112B48A296B38C81345C8C7F&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=F4EDEE9A648B4F849F4AC0AA06C00A44 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |work=]}}</ref>


Throughout most of 2016, parent company Outerwall was seeking a buyer based on shareholder input. In early September, Outerwall was sold to ] and its three units (Coinstar, ecoATM and Redbox) were split into separate operating companies. In late September 2016, Outerwall CFO Galen Smith was announced as the new CEO of Redbox.<ref>{{cite web| first= Nat| last= Levy| url= http://www.geekwire.com/2016/outerwall-deal-new-ceos/ |title= CEO of Redbox and Coinstar maker Outerwall out as businesses split into separate enterprises following acquisition| website= Geekwire.com| date= September 28, 2016| access-date= October 24, 2016}}</ref>
On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new ] service called Redbox On Demand.<ref name="ctrib">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-redbox-streaming-video-20171213-story.html |title=Redbox rolls out streaming video service |last=Channick |first=Robert|date=2017-12-13|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The percentage of consumers renting or purchasing movies from Redbox rose in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the third quarter, according to a TiVo survey.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/redbox-ups-q4-usage-tops-itunes-google-youtube-vudu/|title=Redbox Ups Q4 Usage, Tops iTunes, Google, YouTube, Vudu|newspaper=Media Play News|publisher=]|access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref>


In January 2017, Redbox began relocating some of its then-40,000 kiosks, with the intention of analyzing consumer trends and reacting to under-performing neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Loc8Nearme.com|title=Redbox Is Not Pulling Kiosks From NYC Locations|date=January 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consumerist.com/2017/01/03/is-redbox-removing-its-kiosks-or-just-moving-them/|title=Is Redbox Removing Its Kiosks, Or Just Moving Them?|date=3 January 2017}}</ref>
Redbox acquired the independent film '']'' for a 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service on April 23, 2019, as a Redbox Original.<ref name=Variety2019-04-09>{{cite news |url = https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/redbox-original-bob-saget-benjamin-movie-1203183883/ |title = Redbox Sets First Original Release: Bob Saget Drug-Addiction Dark Comedy 'Benjamin' |work = ] |first = Todd |last = Spangler |date = April 9, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190410131924/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/redbox-original-bob-saget-benjamin-movie-1203183883/ |archive-date = April 10, 2019 |access-date = September 4, 2019 |url-status = live |quote = The DVD-rental kiosk operator is calling Saget's indie film a "Redbox Original". What that means: Redbox has rights to an exclusive 90-day window on ''Benjamin'', to be available starting April 23, both to rent at its network of U.S. kiosks and to rent or purchase through its Redbox On Demand streaming service.}}</ref> In October 2019 Redbox formed its film and TV series production division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.<ref name="vty0">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Forms Division to Fund and Acquire Original Content, Led by Ex-Lionsgate Exec Marc Danon |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/redbox-entertainment-original-content-marc-danon-1203383463/ |access-date=February 19, 2020 |work=Variety |date=October 25, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>


On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new ] service called Redbox On Demand.<ref name="ctrib">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-redbox-streaming-video-20171213-story.html |title=Redbox rolls out streaming video service |last=Channick |first=Robert|date=2017-12-13|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The percentage of consumers renting or purchasing movies from Redbox rose in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the third quarter, according to a TiVo survey.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/redbox-ups-q4-usage-tops-itunes-google-youtube-vudu/|title=Redbox Ups Q4 Usage, Tops iTunes, Google, YouTube, Vudu|newspaper=Media Play News|publisher=]|access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> That month, Disney sued Redbox, accusing them of violating copyrights by selling codes to download Disney movies such as '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Faughnder |first=Ryan |date=2017-12-01 |title=Disney sues Redbox to stop digital movie sales, in the latest feud between the companies |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-disney-redbox-feud-20171201-story.html |access-date=2018-11-14 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
Redbox announced on December 9, 2019, that it would no longer be renting video games but will continue selling used video game copies through the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/9/21003320/redbox-video-games-rentals-purchases-movies-business | title= Redbox no longer rents video games, and it will end game sales this year | first = Jay | last = Peters | date = December 9, 2019 | access-date = December 9, 2019 | work = ] }}</ref> Redbox Free Live TV was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18.<ref name="vty">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Why Redbox Is Moving Into Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Video |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/redbox-free-live-tv-streaming-1203506741/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Variety |date=February 18, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>


In April 2018, Redbox acquired the independent film '']'' for a 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service, as the first Redbox Original.<ref name="Variety2019-04-09">{{cite news |url = https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/redbox-original-bob-saget-benjamin-movie-1203183883/ |title = Redbox Sets First Original Release: Bob Saget Drug-Addiction Dark Comedy 'Benjamin' |work = ] |first = Todd |last = Spangler |date = April 9, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190410131924/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/redbox-original-bob-saget-benjamin-movie-1203183883/ |archive-date = April 10, 2019 |access-date = September 4, 2019 |url-status = live |quote = The DVD-rental kiosk operator is calling Saget's indie film a "Redbox Original". What that means: Redbox has rights to an exclusive 90-day window on ''Benjamin'', to be available starting April 23, both to rent at its network of U.S. kiosks and to rent or purchase through its Redbox On Demand streaming service.}}</ref> In October 2019 Redbox formed a film and TV series production division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.<ref name="vty0">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Forms Division to Fund and Acquire Original Content, Led by Ex-Lionsgate Exec Marc Danon |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/redbox-entertainment-original-content-marc-danon-1203383463/ |access-date=February 19, 2020 |work=Variety |date=October 25, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
The company's revenue fell 20% in 2019, 36% in 2020 and over 50% in 2021.<ref></ref>


Redbox announced on December 9, 2019, that it would no longer be renting video games but will continue selling used video game copies through the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/9/21003320/redbox-video-games-rentals-purchases-movies-business | title= Redbox no longer rents video games, and it will end game sales this year | first = Jay | last = Peters | date = December 9, 2019 | access-date = December 9, 2019 | work = ] }}</ref>
On May 17, 2021, Redbox announced that it reached a definitive agreement to merge with Seaport Global Acquisition, a ]. This would result in Redbox being publicly listed on the ] under the ticker RDBX.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|title=Redbox Going Public In SPAC Merger, To Trade On Nasdaq Under RDBX|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/redbox-to-go-public-spac-merger-1234758249/|work=]|date=May 17, 2021}}</ref> The company officially went public on October 25, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Redbox Is Set to Go Public After Officially Closing SPAC Merger|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/redbox-public-offering-closes-spac-deal-1235095923/|work=]|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=October 22, 2021}}</ref>


Redbox Free Live TV, a ] service, was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18.<ref name="vty">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Why Redbox Is Moving Into Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Video |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/redbox-free-live-tv-streaming-1203506741/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Variety |date=February 18, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The company's revenue fell 20% in 2019, 36% in 2020 and over 50% in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Capital |first=Napoleon |date=2022-02-16 |title=Redbox Shares Might Be Going To Zero |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4487426-redbox-shares-might-be-going-to-zero |access-date=2024-08-20 |work=Seeking Alpha |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Acquisition by Chicken Soup for the Soul, bankruptcy and liquidation===

On May 11, 2022, ] announced its intention to acquire Redbox for $375 million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Redbox To Be Acquired By Crackle Parent Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment In All-Stock Deal Focused On Value End Of Streaming Market |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/redbox-is-acquired-by-crackle-parent-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-streaming-1235021010/ |website=] |date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on August 11, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Is Now Officially Part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment After $370 Million Deal Closes |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/redbox-deal-close-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-1235338943/ |website=Variety |date=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
On May 17, 2021, Redbox announced that it reached a definitive agreement to merge with Seaport Global Acquisition, a ]. This would result in Redbox being publicly listed on the ] under the ticker RDBX.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|title=Redbox Going Public In SPAC Merger, To Trade On Nasdaq Under RDBX|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/redbox-to-go-public-spac-merger-1234758249/|work=]|date=May 17, 2021}}</ref> The company officially went public on October 25, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Redbox Is Set to Go Public After Officially Closing SPAC Merger|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/redbox-public-offering-closes-spac-deal-1235095923/|work=]|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=October 22, 2021}}</ref>


===Acquisition by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, bankruptcy and liquidation===
At the end of 2022, the company operated about 34,000 kiosks nationwide, with plans to increase that number with 1,000 more kiosks in 2023.<ref></ref>
On May 11, 2022, ] announced its intention to acquire Redbox for $375 million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Redbox To Be Acquired By Crackle Parent Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment In All-Stock Deal Focused On Value End Of Streaming Market |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/redbox-is-acquired-by-crackle-parent-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-streaming-1235021010/ |website=] |date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on August 11, 2022, less than a year after Redbox went public.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Is Now Officially Part of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment After $370 Million Deal Closes |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/redbox-deal-close-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-1235338943/ |website=Variety |date=August 11, 2022}}</ref> At the end of 2022, the company operated about 34,000 kiosks nationwide, with plans to increase that number with 1,000 more kiosks in 2023.<ref></ref>


In July 2023, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced a partnership with the video sharing platform ], under which screens showcasing top content from the service will be installed on at least 3,000 Redbox kiosks. These ads will also display advertising sold by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's sales platform Crackle Connex.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Inks TikTok Deal to Stream Trending Videos, Serve Ads on 3,000-Plus DVD Rental Kiosks |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/redbox-tiktok-videos-ads-dvd-kiosks-1235667133/ |website=Variety |date=July 12, 2023}}</ref> In July 2023, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced a partnership with the video sharing platform ], under which screens showcasing top content from the service will be installed on at least 3,000 Redbox kiosks. These ads will also display advertising sold by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's sales platform Crackle Connex.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Inks TikTok Deal to Stream Trending Videos, Serve Ads on 3,000-Plus DVD Rental Kiosks |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/redbox-tiktok-videos-ads-dvd-kiosks-1235667133/ |website=Variety |date=July 12, 2023}}</ref>


In August 2023, convenience store chain ] terminated its contract with Redbox due to its failure to pay commissions and demanded the kiosks be removed; Redbox failed to do so. Franchisees began to unplug machines and tape credit card readers shut. 7-Eleven eventually filed a lawsuit in June 2024.<ref name=":2" />
On April 23, 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul announced a $636.6 million loss in 2023, and warned that without any options to generate additional financing, the company may be forced to liquidate or pause operations, and seek a potential ] protection filing. However, Chicken Soup for the Soul did also report that Redbox's sales increased last year, seeing a 66% increase in annual revenue to $112.7 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/chicken-soup-reports-dollar637-million-loss-for-2023-preps-investors-for-bankruptcy|title=Chicken Soup Reports $637 Million Loss for 2023, Preps Investors for Bankruptcy|date=April 23, 2024|access-date=April 23, 2024|website=NextTV|language=en}}</ref> By June 15, all Redbox kiosks in ] grocery stores had been shut down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=Jeff |date=2024-06-06 |title=Return Your Discs: Hannaford Supermarkets Will No Longer Have Redbox Kiosks in New England |url=https://wjbq.com/hannaford-supermarket-removing-red-box-kiosks/ |access-date= |website=Q97.9 |language=en}}</ref> On June 29, 2024, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after missing a week of paying its employees and failing to secure financing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Redbox Owner Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/redbox-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-1235997730/ |website=]|date=June 29, 2024 |access-date=June 29, 2024 }}</ref>


In February 2024, drug store chain ] filed a lawsuit against Redbox for failure to pay commissions during the third quarter of 2022. Convenience store chain ] followed suit the same month for not receiving payments since the end of 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=2024-07-05 |title=Why Redbox has been powering down |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/5/24191963/redbox-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-bankruptcy-why |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>] store]]
On July 10, 2024, a bankruptcy judge ordered to convert Chicken Soup for the Soul's Chapter 11 bankruptcy into a ] liquidation after accusing the company's previous CEO of misusing the business and failing to pay employees or support healthcare. With the Chapter 7 conversion, the company's assets will be liquidated, resulting in the cessation of its subsidiaries, including Redbox. In addition, over 1,000 employees will be laid off and over 26,000 Redbox kiosks will shut down permanently.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/redbox-owner-to-be-liquidated-following-alleged-mismanagement?context=search&index=0|title= Redbox Owner to Be Liquidated Following Alleged Mismanagement|last=Randles|first=Jonathan|date=July 10, 2024|access-date=July 10, 2024|website=Bloomberg Law|language=en}}</ref>
On April 23, 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced a $636.6 million loss in 2023, and warned that without any options to generate additional financing, the company could be forced to liquidate or pause operations, and seek a potential ] protection filing. However, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment did also report that Redbox's sales increased last year, seeing a 66% increase in annual revenue to $112.7 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/chicken-soup-reports-dollar637-million-loss-for-2023-preps-investors-for-bankruptcy|title=Chicken Soup Reports $637 Million Loss for 2023, Preps Investors for Bankruptcy|date=April 23, 2024|access-date=April 23, 2024|website=NextTV|language=en}}</ref>


By June 15, all Redbox kiosks in ] grocery stores had been shut down.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=Jeff |date=2024-06-06 |title=Return Your Discs: Hannaford Supermarkets Will No Longer Have Redbox Kiosks in New England |url=https://wjbq.com/hannaford-supermarket-removing-red-box-kiosks/ |access-date= |website=Q97.9 |language=en}}</ref> On June 29, 2024, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after missing a week of paying its employees and failing to secure financing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Redbox Owner Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/redbox-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-1235997730/ |website=] |date=June 29, 2024 |access-date=June 29, 2024}}</ref>
==Services==
===Redbox Free Live TV===
Redbox Free Live TV is an ad supported channel based video on demand service. The service was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18. Nearly 30 channels were offered then - three self-branded channels: Redbox Rush (action and adventure), Redbox Comedy and Redbox Spotlight, featured and recommended titles. The service's launch content partner was Lionsgate. Other content suppliers include '']'', ], Comedy Dynamics, ], ], ], ], ], Maverick Movies, People Are Awesome, ], and '']''.<ref name="vty"/>


On July 10, 2024, a bankruptcy judge ordered to convert Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's Chapter 11 bankruptcy into a ] liquidation after accusing the company's previous CEO of misusing the business and failing to pay employees or support healthcare. With the Chapter 7 conversion, the company's assets will be liquidated, resulting in the shut down of its subsidiaries, including Redbox. In addition, over 1,000 employees will be laid off. The company's website and apps were taken down shortly after.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2024 |title=Redbox Officially Shuts Down Its Roku App Locking Customers Out of Their Movies & TV Shows |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/redbox-officially-shuts-down-its-roku-app-locking-customers-out-of-their-movies-tv-shows/ |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=Cord Cutters News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2024-08-14 |title=Redbox app axed, dashing people's hopes of keeping purchased content |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/08/redbox-app-starts-going-away-removing-purchased-content-from-owners/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Randles |first=Jonathan |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Redbox Owner to Be Liquidated Following Alleged Mismanagement |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/redbox-owner-to-be-liquidated-following-alleged-mismanagement?context=search&index=0 |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Bloomberg Law |language=en}}</ref>
===Redbox Instant===
Redbox began internally testing a video streaming service, dubbed Redbox Instant, in July 2012. The service was a joint effort between Redbox and ].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://arstechnica.com/business/2012/07/redbox-and-verizons-netflix-competitor-goes-into-alpha-test/ |title=Redbox and Verizon's Netflix competitor goes into alpha test|first=Casey|last=Johnston|work=Ars Technica|date=24 July 2012}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, Redbox Instant by Verizon officially went public, offering customers a free 1-month trial of an $8/month unlimited streaming service that includes 4 disc rentals from kiosks ($1 more for Blu-ray).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hd-report.com/2013/03/19/redbox-instant-streaming-available-to-public/ |title=Redbox Instant Streaming Available To Public |first= Christian| last= Hokenson| work= HD Report| date= March 19, 2013| access-date= February 9, 2017}}</ref> The service launched with 4,600 titles from movie companies such as Epix, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Relativity, and Sony Pictures. According to early reports, Redbox Instant also planned to allow users to download content to mobile devices for offline viewing; titles could be either rented or purchased, in SD or HD quality, with rental customers having 30 days to begin viewing their title and 48 hours of unlimited views thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 12, 2012|last= Sawers |first= Paul|title=Redbox Instant by Verizon launches its $8/month Netflix rival this month, with 4 majors on board|url= https://thenextweb.com/media/2012/12/12/redbox-instant-by-verizon-launches-its-8month-netflix-rival-this-month-with-4-majors-on-board/ }}</ref>


Although many of Redbox’s kiosks have been removed, some of the remaining kiosks have been taken by hobbyists and tinkerers who aim to ] the software used by them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koebler |first=Jason |date=2024-10-16 |title=Tinkerers Are Taking Old Redbox Kiosks Home and Reverse Engineering Them |url=https://www.404media.co/tinkerers-are-taking-old-redbox-kiosks-home-and-reverse-engineering-them/ |url-access=registration |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yerak |first=Becky |date=October 10, 2024 |title=Bankruptcy Took Down the Redbox Machine. If Only Someone Could Take Them Away. |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/redbox-vending-machine-kiosk-dvd-movies-4e285ee8 |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> Companies involved in the removal and disposal of Redbox kiosks include The Junkluggers and DOMATTER (Discarded Obsolete Machines and Technological Equipment Recovery).<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Lewin |date=2024-11-19 |title=The Great Redbox Cleanup: One Company Is Hauling Away America’s Last DVD Kiosks |url=https://hackaday.com/2024/11/19/the-great-redbox-cleanup-one-company-is-hauling-away-americas-last-dvd-kiosks/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Company seeks court order to secure abandoned Redbox kiosks |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/company-seeks-court-order-to-secure-abandoned-redbox-kiosks/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> The Junkluggers aim to recycle the metal used by the kiosks, while the DVDs inside are donated to community organizations.<ref name=":6" /> DOMATTER filed a court order to destroy any remaining kiosks, including customer data, in November 2024.<ref name=":7" />
In June 2013, Sony made the official announcement at ] that Redbox Instant would be available on the ] console, and it was released in late 2013. ] and ] apps also enabled streaming content on mobile devices.<ref>Chaim Gartenberg, The Verge. "." Jun 12, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.</ref>


== Rental kiosks ==
Redbox Instant disabled sign-ups for new users in mid 2014 owing to a growing number of people using the website to verify stolen credit cards.<ref name="gigaom">{{cite web|last1=Roettgers|first1=Janko|title=Why the writing may be on the wall for Redbox Instant|url=https://gigaom.com/2014/09/29/why-the-writing-may-be-on-the-wall-for-redbox-instant/|website=Gigaom|date=29 September 2014|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> In Q2 2014 earning call, Outerwall, Redbox's parent company, stated that they were "not pleased" with Redbox Instant subscription numbers.<ref name=gigaom/> Finally on October 4, 2014, it was announced that Redbox Instant would be shutting down on October 7, only 19 months after its initial launch.<ref>Janko Roettgers, Gigaom. "." October 4, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2017.</ref>
] in ]]]
Redbox's vending kiosks rent and sell movies on ] and ] discs. Each stocked a selection of roughly 200 titles, with multiple copies of popular titles.<ref name=":4" /> ]
Many Redbox kiosks were installed indoors, while others are located outdoors. They were usually attached to a large sign advertising a selection of featured films, and some locations feature two attached kiosks, allowing for additional selection and stock. Each kiosk was operated by customers via a ], and contained a robotic disc retrieval system with a stacked carousel capable of holding more than 600 discs.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Stross |first=Randall |date=2009-07-11 |title=When the Price Is Right, the Future Can Wait |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/business/12digi.html |url-access=subscription |access-date= |work=] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="kiosk.org">{{cite web |date=February 20, 2006 |title=SSKA's official show wraps up in Orlando |url=http://www.kiosks.org/article_1399_23.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218044911/http://www.kiosks.org/article_1399_23.php |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |website=Kiosks.org}}</ref> Discs within are marked with ], allowing identification by the kiosk's machinery, and stored on the carousel in thin plastic cases, which are dispensed to customers via a small slot next to the control panel.


]Rented discs could be returned to any of the company's kiosks. Charges accrued up to 25 days, after which the customer then owned the DVD (without the original case) and rental charges ceased. Customers could reserve DVDs online, made possible by real-time inventory updates on the company's website.<ref name="selfserviceworld">{{cite web |last=Yackey |first=Bill |date=August 20, 2007 |title=Rise of redbox. Some kiosks are located outside store location in parking areas. |url=http://www.selfserviceworld.com/article.php?id=18316 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017193207/http://www.selfserviceworld.com/article.php?id=18316 |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |website=Selfserviceworld.com}}</ref> While customers could buy used DVDs from the kiosks (with unsold used DVDs returned to suppliers), Redbox estimated only 3% of the company's revenue came from used-disc sales.<ref>{{cite web |title=DVD kiosks like Redbox have rivals seeing red - USATODAY.com |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-08-11-rental-dvd-redbox_N.htm |website=usatoday30.usatoday.com}}</ref>
===Redbox On Demand===

On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new service called Redbox On Demand. Like Redbox Instant, it is a streaming service, but based on a different model. It does not require any membership, and the list will contain new releases as well as several titles that it is claimed will never be available on services like Netflix.<ref name="ctrib"/> The service launched with 6,000 titles for on demand rental or electronic sell-through in line with its kiosk operations. The titles come from the ]'s libraries except for Disney plus Lionsgate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Launches Digital Movie and TV Service, Without Disney Titles |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/redbox-on-demand-digital-video-disney-1202639259/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Variety |date=December 13, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
At its peak, a Redbox kiosk rented its average DVD 15 times at an average of $2 per transaction plus any applicable taxes.<ref name="nyt03" />

From 2010 to 2019, Redbox kiosks rented ]. Initially, games for the ], ], and ] were offered;<ref name="Games" /> titles for the ], ], and ] were added in 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gera |first=Emily |date=2014-03-24 |title=Redbox online rental service to begin offering Wii U, PS4 and Xbox One games by April |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/24/5541570/redbox-online-rental-service-to-begin-offering-wii-u-ps4-and-xbox-one |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> followed by ] games upon that console's launch in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Kimberly |date=2017-10-17 |title=Redbox Now Offering Nintendo Switch Games - News |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/45650/redbox-now-offering-nintendo-switch-games |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Nintendo World Report}}</ref>

=== Equipment history ===
Redbox began in 2004, using re-branded kiosks manufactured and operated by ]–based DVDPlay, at 140 McDonald's restaurants in ] and other test markets.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=Holly J. |date=May 2, 2005 |title=McDonald's Orders More McDVD |url=http://www.videostoremag.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=7467 |publisher=Home Media Magazine}}</ref> In April 2005, Redbox phased out the DVDPlay-manufactured machines and contracted the ] facility in Creedmoor, North Carolina—later purchased by ], in October 2007 (] is also known as the manufacturer of the ], ] and ])—to create and manufacture a custom kiosk design.<ref>
{{cite web |date=April 28, 2005 |title=Redbox names Solectron worldwide manufacturer of DVD kiosks |url=http://www.emsnow.com/newsarchives/archivedetails.cfm?ID=8881 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710191721/http://www.emsnow.com/newsarchives/archivedetails.cfm?ID=8881 |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |access-date=October 3, 2009 |website=EMSNOW.com |df=mdy-all}}
</ref> The new kiosk was designed by Flextronics' Creedmoor design team, which included engineers Steven Hancock and John Rupert as key contributors under the direction of Franz Kuehnrich at GetAMovie Inc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Company Overview of GetAMovie, Inc. |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=40313523 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130904181440/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=40313523 |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |access-date=3 April 2014 |work=Businessweek.com |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> (which was bought by RedBox). Other key contributors from Flextronics included Flextronics Global Account Manager Dave Stadelmaier and Global Supply Chain Manager Ben Wheeler (The KioskGuy). Redbox was innovative<ref>{{cite web |title=Franz Kuehnrich, Bartlett US |url=http://www.faqs.org/patents/inventor/franz-kuehnrich-bartlett-us-1/ |access-date=3 April 2014 |website=faqs.org |publisher=Advameg}}</ref> in that its carousel design not only decreased the number of robotic movements necessary to dispense and restock inventory, it also dramatically increased the number of discs (from 100 to 700+)<ref>{{cite web |title=Flextronics and Redbox in Successful Partnership to Build DVD Rental Kiosks |url=http://www.popai.com/store/downloads/CaseStudy-Flextronics-Redbox-2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065443/http://www.popai.com/store/downloads/CaseStudy-Flextronics-Redbox-2009.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2014 |access-date=3 April 2014 |work=popai.com |publisher=POPAI}}</ref> that could be stored within a kiosk. In addition, the software, designed and developed by Enterprise Logic Systems,<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG0zwtie4nU |title=Biju Kulathakal Co-Founder of Redbox - Part 1 |date=16 June 2011 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/OG0zwtie4nU |archive-date=2021-11-18 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Biju Kulathakal |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/biju-kulathakal/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004023000/http://www.forbes.com/profile/biju-kulathakal/ |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |access-date=1 February 2015 |work=]}}</ref> was also innovative in that it allowed RedBox to remotely monitor and manage inventory at all kiosks throughout the country.


===Redbox+=== ===Redbox+===
In late December 2020, Redbox began offering a yearly subscription service allowing a subscriber to rent 12 or 24 discs in total, depending on their plan of choice. Only eligible movies can be rented on these plans. It also extends the user return window up until midnight, giving an additional 3 hours to return a movie to a kiosk.<ref>{{cite web|title=Get More with Redbox+|url=https://redbox.com/redboxplus|access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref> In late December 2020, Redbox began offering a yearly subscription service allowing a subscriber to rent 12 or 24 discs in total, depending on their plan of choice. Only eligible movies can be rented on these plans. It also extends the user return window up until midnight, giving an additional 3 hours to return a movie to a kiosk.<ref>{{cite web |title=Get More with Redbox+ |url=https://redbox.com/redboxplus |access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref>
] store, still operating in August 2024]]


===Kiosk design and operation=== === Major host chains ===
Retail chains hosting Redbox kiosks have included ], ],<ref name=":2" /> ], ],<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-04-19 |title=Redbox expands kiosk deal with Dollar General |url=https://advanced-television.com/2023/04/19/redbox-expands-kiosk-deal-with-dollar-general/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref> ], ], ], ] and subsidiaries, ], ], ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=FREE Redbox DVD Rental at Meijer: valid thru Jan 21 |url=https://www.bargainstobounty.com/2010/01/free-redbox-dvd-rental-at-meijer-valid/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=www.bargainstobounty.com}}</ref> ], ], ],<ref name=":3" /> ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-04-09 |title=Wegmans To Replace Rental With DVD Kiosks |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/wegmans-replace-rental-dvd-kiosks |access-date= |website=Supermarket News |language=en}}</ref> ],<ref name=":2" /> ], ], and ].
] in ]]]
]
Redbox began in 2004, using re-branded kiosks manufactured and operated by ]-based DVDPlay, at 140 McDonald's restaurants in ] and other test markets.<ref>{{cite web
|title=McDonald's Orders More McDVD
| publisher = Home Media Magazine| first= Holly J.| last= Wagner| date= May 2, 2005
| url = http://www.videostoremag.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=7467 }}</ref> In April 2005, Redbox phased out the DVDPlay-manufactured machines and contracted the ] facility in Creedmoor, NC — later purchased by ], in October 2007 (] is also known as the manufacturer of the ], ] and ]) — to create and manufacture a custom kiosk design.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=Redbox names Solectron worldwide manufacturer of DVD kiosks
|website=EMSNOW.com
|date=April 28, 2005
|url=http://www.emsnow.com/newsarchives/archivedetails.cfm?ID=8881
|access-date=October 3, 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710191721/http://www.emsnow.com/newsarchives/archivedetails.cfm?ID=8881
|archive-date=July 10, 2011
|url-status=dead
|df=mdy-all
}}
</ref> The new kiosk was designed by Flextronics' Creedmoor design team, which included engineers Steven Hancock and John Rupert as key contributors under the direction of Franz Kuehnrich at GetAMovie Inc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Company Overview of GetAMovie, Inc.|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=40313523|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130904181440/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=40313523|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2013| work= Businessweek.com|publisher= Bloomberg| access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref> (which was bought by RedBox). Other key contributors from Flextronics included Flextronics Global Account Manager Dave Stadelmaier and Global Supply Chain Manager Ben Wheeler (The KioskGuy). Redbox was innovative<ref>{{cite web|title=Franz Kuehnrich, Bartlett US|url=http://www.faqs.org/patents/inventor/franz-kuehnrich-bartlett-us-1/| publisher= Advameg| website= faqs.org| access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref> in that its carousel design not only decreased the number of robotic movements necessary to dispense and restock inventory, it also dramatically increased the number of discs (from 100 to 700+)<ref>{{cite web|title=Flextronics and Redbox in Successful Partnership to Build DVD Rental Kiosks|url=http://www.popai.com/store/downloads/CaseStudy-Flextronics-Redbox-2009.pdf|work=popai.com|publisher=POPAI|access-date=3 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065443/http://www.popai.com/store/downloads/CaseStudy-Flextronics-Redbox-2009.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> that could be stored within a kiosk. In addition, the software, designed and developed by Enterprise Logic Systems,<ref>{{cite AV media| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG0zwtie4nU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/OG0zwtie4nU| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|title=Biju Kulathakal Co-Founder of Redbox - Part 1|date=16 June 2011|via= YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Biju Kulathakal |url= https://www.forbes.com/profile/biju-kulathakal/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121004023000/http://www.forbes.com/profile/biju-kulathakal/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 4, 2012 |work= ] |access-date= 1 February 2015}}</ref> was also innovative in that it allowed RedBox to remotely monitor and manage inventory at all kiosks throughout the country.


==Streaming services==
]
===Redbox Instant===
]'' disc]]
Redbox began internally testing a video streaming service, dubbed Redbox Instant, in July 2012. The service was a joint effort between Redbox and ].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://arstechnica.com/business/2012/07/redbox-and-verizons-netflix-competitor-goes-into-alpha-test/ |title=Redbox and Verizon's Netflix competitor goes into alpha test|first=Casey|last=Johnston|work=Ars Technica|date=24 July 2012}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, Redbox Instant by Verizon officially went public, offering customers a free 1-month trial of an $8/month unlimited streaming service that includes 4 disc rentals from kiosks ($1 more for Blu-ray).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hd-report.com/2013/03/19/redbox-instant-streaming-available-to-public/ |title=Redbox Instant Streaming Available To Public |first= Christian| last= Hokenson| work= HD Report| date= March 19, 2013| access-date= February 9, 2017}}</ref> The service launched with 4,600 titles from movie companies such as Epix, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Relativity, and Sony Pictures. According to early reports, Redbox Instant also planned to allow users to download content to mobile devices for offline viewing; titles could be either rented or purchased, in SD or HD quality, with rental customers having 30 days to begin viewing their title and 48 hours of unlimited views thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 12, 2012|last= Sawers |first= Paul|title=Redbox Instant by Verizon launches its $8/month Netflix rival this month, with 4 majors on board|url= https://thenextweb.com/media/2012/12/12/redbox-instant-by-verizon-launches-its-8month-netflix-rival-this-month-with-4-majors-on-board/ }}</ref>


In June 2013, Sony made the official announcement at ] that Redbox Instant would be available on the ] console, and it was released in late 2013. ] and ] apps also enabled streaming content on mobile devices.<ref>Chaim Gartenberg, The Verge. "." Jun 12, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.</ref>
The company's typical self-service vending kiosk combines an interactive touch screen and sign. It uses a robotic disc array system containing a stacked carousel of DVDs<ref name="kiosk.org">{{cite web
|title = SSKA's official show wraps up in Orlando
|website = Kiosks.org
|date = February 20, 2006
|url = http://www.kiosks.org/article_1399_23.php
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090218044911/http://www.kiosks.org/article_1399_23.php
|archive-date = February 18, 2009
}}</ref> and web-linked electronic communications. Kiosks can be located indoors or out and can hold more than 600 DVDs with 70–200 titles, updated weekly.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://paliresearch.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fis-redbox-friend-or-foe-what-to-know-if-you-invest-in-movie-industry-stocks%2F|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207034408/http://paliresearch.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fis-redbox-friend-or-foe-what-to-know-if-you-invest-in-movie-industry-stocks%2F|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2023|title=Is Redbox friend or foe what to know if you invest in movie industry stocks|website=Pali Research}}
</ref> The kiosks are built as modules, and in areas with higher sales figures, a second machine can be connected to the first one in order to offer a wider selection. The customer pays with a credit card or debit card. DVDs can be returned the next day to any of the company's kiosks; charges accrue up to 25 days, after which the customer then owns the DVD (without the original case) and rental charges cease. Customers can also reserve DVDs online, made possible by real-time inventory updates on the company's website.<ref name=selfserviceworld>{{cite web
|title = Rise of redbox. Some kiosks are located outside store location in parking areas.
|website = Selfserviceworld.com
|first = Bill
|last = Yackey
|date = August 20, 2007
|url = http://www.selfserviceworld.com/article.php?id=18316
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017193207/http://www.selfserviceworld.com/article.php?id=18316
|archive-date = October 17, 2007
}}</ref> While customers can buy used DVDs from the kiosks (with unsold used DVDs returned to suppliers), Redbox estimates only 3% of the company's revenue comes from used-disc sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-08-11-rental-dvd-redbox_N.htm|title=DVD kiosks like Redbox have rivals seeing red - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com}}</ref>


Redbox Instant disabled sign-ups for new users in mid 2014 owing to a growing number of people using the website to verify stolen credit cards.<ref name="gigaom">{{cite web|last1=Roettgers|first1=Janko|title=Why the writing may be on the wall for Redbox Instant|url=https://gigaom.com/2014/09/29/why-the-writing-may-be-on-the-wall-for-redbox-instant/|website=Gigaom|date=29 September 2014|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> In Q2 2014 earning call, Outerwall, Redbox's parent company, stated that they were "not pleased" with Redbox Instant subscription numbers.<ref name="gigaom" /> Finally on October 4, 2014, it was announced that Redbox Instant would shut down on October 7, only 19 months after its initial launch.<ref>Janko Roettgers, Gigaom. "." October 4, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2017.</ref>
A Redbox kiosk rents its average DVD 15 times at an average of $2 per transaction plus any applicable taxes.<ref name= nyt03 />

===Redbox On Demand===
On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new service called Redbox On Demand. Like Redbox Instant, it is a streaming service, but based on a different model. It does not require any membership, and the list will contain new releases as well as several titles that it is claimed will never be available on services like Netflix.<ref name="ctrib" /> The service launched with 6,000 titles for on demand rental or electronic sell-through in line with its kiosk operations. The titles come from the ]'s libraries except for Disney and Lionsgate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Redbox Launches Digital Movie and TV Service, Without Disney Titles |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/redbox-on-demand-digital-video-disney-1202639259/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Variety |date=December 13, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

===Redbox Free Live TV===
Redbox Free Live TV was an ad supported channel based video on demand service. The service was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18. Nearly 30 channels were offered then—three self-branded channels: Redbox Rush (action and adventure), Redbox Comedy and Redbox Spotlight, featured and recommended titles. The service's launch content partner was Lionsgate. Other content suppliers include '']'', ], Comedy Dynamics, ], ], ], ], ], Maverick Movies, People Are Awesome, ], and '']''.<ref name="vty" />


==Redbox Entertainment== ==Redbox Entertainment==
Redbox Entertainment was Redbox’s content acquisition and production division. '''Redbox Entertainment''' was Redbox’s content acquisition and production division.


On April 23, 2019, Redbox acquired the indie film '']'' for an exclusive 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service as a Redbox Original.<ref name=Variety2019-04-09/> In October 2019, Redbox formed its film and TV series acquisition division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.<ref name="vty0"/> Subsequently, Redbox Entertainment exclusively picked up the distribution rights to '']'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/redbox-picks-up-u-s-rights-to-thriller-assailant-with-poppy-delevingne-1234877395/|title=Redbox Picks Up U.S. Rights To Thriller ''Assailant'' With Poppy Delevingne|website=]|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=November 19, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> which was released in March 2022, and to '']'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|title='Vendetta': U.S. Deal For Under-The-Radar Action Pic Starring Bruce Willis, Clive Standen, Thomas Jane, Theo Rossi & Mike Tyson; First Look Images|date=September 17, 2021|website=]|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/bruce-willis-mike-tyson-clive-standen-theo-rossi-thomas-jane-vendetta-redbox-1234838587/|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> which was released in May 2022. On April 23, 2019, Redbox acquired the indie film '']'' for an exclusive 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service as a Redbox Original.<ref name=Variety2019-04-09/> In October 2019, Redbox formed its film and TV series acquisition division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.<ref name="vty0"/> Subsequently, Redbox Entertainment exclusively picked up the distribution rights to '']'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/redbox-picks-up-u-s-rights-to-thriller-assailant-with-poppy-delevingne-1234877395/|title=Redbox Picks Up U.S. Rights To Thriller ''Assailant'' With Poppy Delevingne|website=]|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=November 19, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> which was released in March 2022, and to '']'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|title='Vendetta': U.S. Deal For Under-The-Radar Action Pic Starring Bruce Willis, Clive Standen, Thomas Jane, Theo Rossi & Mike Tyson; First Look Images|date=September 17, 2021|website=]|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/bruce-willis-mike-tyson-clive-standen-theo-rossi-thomas-jane-vendetta-redbox-1234838587/|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> which was released in May 2022.


===Filmography=== ===Filmography===
====with ]==== '''with ]'''
* '']'' (August 2019)<ref name="vty"/> * '']'' (August 2019)<ref name="vty"/>
* '']'' (September 2019)<ref name="vty"/> * '']'' (September 2019)<ref name="vty"/>
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* '']'' (November 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin Action Comedy 'Chick Fight' Nabbed by Quiver, Redbox |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/malin-akerman-alec-baldwin-action-comedy-chick-fight-nabbed-by-quiver-redbox|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 10, 2020}}</ref> * '']'' (November 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin Action Comedy 'Chick Fight' Nabbed by Quiver, Redbox |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/malin-akerman-alec-baldwin-action-comedy-chick-fight-nabbed-by-quiver-redbox|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 10, 2020}}</ref>
* '']'' (September 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=Redbox and Quiver Expand Original Film Slate Acquire True-Crime Thriller "BANDIT" Based on the Best-Selling Novel The Flying Bandit Starring Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, Nestor Carbonell, and Mel Gibson |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210726005155/en/Redbox-and-Quiver-Expand-Original-Film-Slate-Acquire-True-Crime-Thriller-%E2%80%9CBANDIT%E2%80%9D-Based-on-the-Best-Selling-Novel-The-Flying-Bandit-Starring-Josh-Duhamel-Elisha-Cuthbert-Nestor-Carbonell-and-Mel-Gibson |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}</ref> * '']'' (September 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=Redbox and Quiver Expand Original Film Slate Acquire True-Crime Thriller "BANDIT" Based on the Best-Selling Novel The Flying Bandit Starring Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, Nestor Carbonell, and Mel Gibson |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210726005155/en/Redbox-and-Quiver-Expand-Original-Film-Slate-Acquire-True-Crime-Thriller-%E2%80%9CBANDIT%E2%80%9D-Based-on-the-Best-Selling-Novel-The-Flying-Bandit-Starring-Josh-Duhamel-Elisha-Cuthbert-Nestor-Carbonell-and-Mel-Gibson |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}</ref>
'''with ]'''

====with ]====
*'']'' (May 2020)<ref name="capone">{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title='Capone': Debut Trailer Shows Tom Hardy As Notorious Gangster, Film Heading To VOD May 12|url=https://deadline.com/video/capone-trailer-tom-hardy-notorious-gangster-vod-may-12/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> *'']'' (May 2020)<ref name="capone">{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title='Capone': Debut Trailer Shows Tom Hardy As Notorious Gangster, Film Heading To VOD May 12|url=https://deadline.com/video/capone-trailer-tom-hardy-notorious-gangster-vod-may-12/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref>
* '']'' (December 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Informer DVD at Redbox|url=https://www.redbox.com/movies/the-informer|access-date=2020-12-18|publisher=Redbox}}</ref> * '']'' (December 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Informer DVD at Redbox|url=https://www.redbox.com/movies/the-informer|access-date=2020-12-18|publisher=Redbox}}</ref>
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* '']'' (March 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/sam-heughan-ruby-rose-sas-red-notice-north-america-deal-1234695204/|title='SAS: Red Notice', Starring Sam Heughan, Ruby Rose & Andy Serkis, Gets North American Distribution Deal|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=February 17, 2021|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> * '']'' (March 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/sam-heughan-ruby-rose-sas-red-notice-north-america-deal-1234695204/|title='SAS: Red Notice', Starring Sam Heughan, Ruby Rose & Andy Serkis, Gets North American Distribution Deal|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=February 17, 2021|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref>
* '']'' (May 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2021/04/american-traitor-the-trial-of-axis-release-date-al-pacino-meadow-williams-1234741872/|title=Michael Polish's 'American Traitor: The Trial Of Axis Sally' Gets U.S. Release Date In Vertical-Redbox Deal|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=April 22, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref> * '']'' (May 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2021/04/american-traitor-the-trial-of-axis-release-date-al-pacino-meadow-williams-1234741872/|title=Michael Polish's 'American Traitor: The Trial Of Axis Sally' Gets U.S. Release Date In Vertical-Redbox Deal|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=April 22, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref>
* ''She Ball'' (August 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/redbox-entertainment-she-ball-nick-cannon-1234787859/|title=Redbox Entertainment Acquires Rights to ‘She Ball’ Starring Nick Cannon – Watch The First Trailer|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=July 7, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> * ''She Ball'' (August 2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/redbox-entertainment-she-ball-nick-cannon-1234787859/|title=Redbox Entertainment Acquires Rights to 'She Ball' Starring Nick Cannon – Watch The First Trailer|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=July 7, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref>
* '']'' (May 2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/black-site-movie-trailer-michelle-monaghan-jason-clarke/|title='Black Site' Trailer Shows Michelle Monaghan Facing Off Against Jason Clarke|website=Collider|first=Britta|last=DeVore|date=April 13, 2022|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/movies/black-site-review.html|title='Black Site' Review: Stranger Danger|website=The New York Times|first=Jeannette|last=Catsoulis|date=May 3, 2022|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> * '']'' (May 2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/black-site-movie-trailer-michelle-monaghan-jason-clarke/|title='Black Site' Trailer Shows Michelle Monaghan Facing Off Against Jason Clarke|website=Collider|first=Britta|last=DeVore|date=April 13, 2022|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/movies/black-site-review.html|title='Black Site' Review: Stranger Danger|website=The New York Times|first=Jeannette|last=Catsoulis|date=May 3, 2022|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref>
'''with VMI Worldwide'''

====with VMI Worldwide====
* '']'' (December 2021)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambe |first1=Stacy|title='The Last Son' Trailer: Colson Baker and Sam Worthington Face Off in Western-Action Film|url=https://www.etonline.com/colson-baker-and-sam-worthington-face-off-in-the-trailer-for-the-last-son-exclusive-174806 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220218/https://www.etonline.com/colson-baker-and-sam-worthington-face-off-in-the-trailer-for-the-last-son-exclusive-174806 |archive-date=2022-02-18 |url-status=live|work=]|date=November 8, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> * '']'' (December 2021)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lambe |first1=Stacy|title='The Last Son' Trailer: Colson Baker and Sam Worthington Face Off in Western-Action Film|url=https://www.etonline.com/colson-baker-and-sam-worthington-face-off-in-the-trailer-for-the-last-son-exclusive-174806 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220218/https://www.etonline.com/colson-baker-and-sam-worthington-face-off-in-the-trailer-for-the-last-son-exclusive-174806 |archive-date=2022-02-18 |url-status=live|work=]|date=November 8, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref>


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* ] * ]


==References== == Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


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==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}} {{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.redbox.com/}} * {{Official website|https://www.redbox.com/}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024}}


{{Video digital distribution platforms}} {{Video digital distribution platforms}}

Latest revision as of 02:54, 22 December 2024

Defunct American on-demand streaming and video rental company

Not to be confused with Roblox. For other uses, see Red box (disambiguation).
Redbox Automated Retail, LLC.
Company typeSubsidiary
Traded asNasdaq: RDBX
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
FounderGregg Kaplan
Defunct2024
FateChapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation by parent company
HeadquartersOakbrook Terrace, Illinois, U.S.
Area servedUnited States
Key peopleBill Rouhana, Jonathan Katz
ProductsFilms
TV series
Production outputDVDs
ServicesDVD rental
Digital streaming
RevenueDecrease US$546 million (2020)
Operating incomeDecrease US$114 million (2020)
Net incomeDecrease US$–90 million (2020)
ParentMcDonald's (2002–2009)
Outerwall (2005–2016)
Apollo Global Management (2016–2021)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (2022–2024)
DivisionsRedbox Entertainment
Websitewww.redbox.com

Redbox Automated Retail, LLC was an American video rental and streaming media company, based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Redbox specialized in automated DVD rental kiosks, and also operated transactional and ad-supported streaming video and television services. From 2022 until its liquidation, Redbox was a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment.

Redbox kiosks, which rented and sold films on DVD and Blu-Ray, were located at retail stores, including convenience stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies. At its peak in the early 2010s, the company operated kiosks at more than 34,000 locations, and controlled more than half of the US DVD rental market.

In June 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; the following month, the company’s case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation. As part of ongoing liquidation proceedings, Redbox’s online streaming services and mobile app ceased functioning in July 2024.

History

Redbox former logo (2002-2016)

Founding under McDonald's

Redbox Automated Retail LLC was initially developed in Chicago as a part of “Project 361”, a McDonald's business expansion initiative. John Sexton Abrams, a strategy executive at McDonald's, designed the original concept as an immersive kiosk leveraging McDonald's product supply chain and geographic footprint to provide 24/7 access to fresh dairy and other products. Initially, the kiosks sold a range of goods under the name TikTok Easyshops. In late 2003 McDonald's ended its use of the kiosks for these products. Instead, McDonald's executive Gregg Kaplan decided to use the kiosks for DVD rentals, which was tested in Denver in 2004.

The company also employed a "return anywhere" policy, different from competitors, which allowed consumers to return their rental to any Redbox kiosk, not just the one from which they originally rented it.

Purchase by Coinstar

In 2005, Coinstar bought 47% of the company for $32 million, after unsuccessful attempts to sell half the company to Blockbuster and Netflix. In early 2008, Coinstar exercised an option to increase its share to 51%, before acquiring the remainder for $169–176 million in February 2009. While traditional brick and mortar rental stores were closing at a high rate, Redbox moved into existing retail locations such as supermarkets, and placed kiosks within them or outside of them to gain access to that consumer base.

Competitors included Netflix, Blockbuster, Movie Gallery and its subsidiary Hollywood Video, West Coast Video and Family Video along with other DVD by mail rental services.

Mitch Lowe joined Redbox in 2003 after spending five years as an executive at Netflix. At Redbox, he started first as a consultant and then as VP of Purchasing & Operations. In 2005, he became the Chief Operating Officer. Lowe owned and operated a video rental company named Video Droid from 1982 through 1997. Video Droid attempted a VHS rental vending machine concept, though the idea was quickly deemed impractical. Lowe was named President of Redbox in April 2009.

With growing concern in 2009 that DVD kiosks might jeopardize movie studio income from DVD sales and rentals, three major movie studios, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Universal Studios, each refused to sell DVDs to Redbox until at least 28 days after their arrival in stores. Fox and Warner Bros. represented 62% of home video rental revenue in 2008–09. Redbox responded by filing lawsuits, first, against Universal in October 2008, then against 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. in August 2009. In August 2009, the federal judge hearing the Universal case allowed the antitrust claim to continue. In October 2009, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. filed motions to dismiss Redbox's lawsuits against them. During this time, Redbox continued to rent films from these companies, purchasing them at retail from places like Walmart instead of receiving them from the movie studios, which in some cases saved Redbox money due to the discounted prices offered by retailers. Other major studios—Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Lionsgate—signed distribution deals with Redbox. The Walt Disney Company permits third-party distributors to sell to Redbox, but has not entered into a direct relationship with the company. Both sides of the studio lawsuits pointed to these revenue-sharing deals to shore up their argument, with Redbox president Mitch Lowe saying, "our growth can lead to theirs . For example, Redbox currently estimates we will pay more than a combined $1 billion over the next five years to Sony, Lionsgate and Paramount to purchase and then rent new-release DVDs to consumers," while Warner Bros. says the deals are proof that far from being shut out by Hollywood, "Redbox's business has thrived since its suit against Universal, underscored by lucrative distribution deals with Paramount Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and Lionsgate." Redbox entered into an agreement with Warner Bros. on February 16, 2010, followed by Universal and Fox on April 22, 2010. In the agreements, which settle the lawsuits, Redbox agreed to not make available for rental films from these studios until 28 days after their initial home-video releases. Redbox continued to sign additional and new distribution deals with these and other movie studios; by 2017, titles from Fox and Warner became available on Redbox seven days after their initial home-video release.

Expansion and new products

With over 6,000 kiosks, Redbox surpassed Blockbuster as the largest U.S. video rental chain in November 2007. The company reached 100 million rentals in February 2008, and passed 1 billion rentals in September 2010. As of Q2 2011, 68% of the U.S. population lived within a five-minute drive of a Redbox kiosk. In Q2 2011, kiosks accounted for 36% of the disc rental market, with 38% of that attributable to rent-by-mail services and 25% to traditional stores, according to the NPD Group.

Redbox announced in July 2010 that they would introduce Blu-ray movies at 13,000 kiosks; by that fall, Blu-ray discs were available across the Redbox network. That October, the company began offering video game rentals in select markets, including Reno, Nevada; Orlando, Florida; Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Austin, Texas; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Corvallis, Oregon. Video games were available at all Redbox locations by June 2011.

In February 2012, Redbox announced the acquisition of Blockbuster Express, a competing kiosk-based rental service operated by NCR in partnership with Blockbuster. The $100 million purchase, completed on June 27, 2012, included over 10,000 kiosks, inventory, and certain retailer contracts. As part of the agreement, Redbox entered a supplier arrangement of purchasing product and services from NCR. The company sold some Blockbuster Express kiosks in less competitive markets to third party providers in June 2013.

Also in 2012, Redbox partnered with New Era Tickets and Sparkart to test sales of live event tickets at Redbox kiosks. Redbox Tickets launched in October 2012 in Greater Philadelphia, and was later expanded to the Los Angeles area in early 2013.

Redbox announced its 3 billionth disc rental, including both movies and games, in July 2013. The number of items rented from kiosks annually peaked in 2013, with 772.87 million rentals; that year, Redbox rentals comprised more than 50% of DVD rentals in the United States. There were then 717.13 million units rented in 2014, and 587.55 million in 2015. This decline was widely attributed to consumers' preferences shifting from physical media to online streaming; though as of 2014, Redbox still represented half of the physical media rental market.

Expansion into Canada

Redbox began offering rentals in Canada in mid-2012. 1,400 kiosks were installed in Canada before Redbox ended operations in the country in March 2015, citing low demand. These kiosks were subsequently relocated to retail stores in the United States.

Purchase by Apollo and IPO

In August 2012, Redbox's founder, Gregg Kaplan, exited as president and COO of Redbox, and was succeeded as president by Anne Saunders.

Throughout most of 2016, parent company Outerwall was seeking a buyer based on shareholder input. In early September, Outerwall was sold to Apollo Global Management and its three units (Coinstar, ecoATM and Redbox) were split into separate operating companies. In late September 2016, Outerwall CFO Galen Smith was announced as the new CEO of Redbox.

In January 2017, Redbox began relocating some of its then-40,000 kiosks, with the intention of analyzing consumer trends and reacting to under-performing neighborhoods.

On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new video streaming service called Redbox On Demand. The percentage of consumers renting or purchasing movies from Redbox rose in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the third quarter, according to a TiVo survey. That month, Disney sued Redbox, accusing them of violating copyrights by selling codes to download Disney movies such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Beauty and the Beast.

In April 2018, Redbox acquired the independent film Benjamin for a 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service, as the first Redbox Original. In October 2019 Redbox formed a film and TV series production division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition.

Redbox announced on December 9, 2019, that it would no longer be renting video games but will continue selling used video game copies through the end of the year.

Redbox Free Live TV, a free ad-supported streaming television service, was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18. The company's revenue fell 20% in 2019, 36% in 2020 and over 50% in 2021.

On May 17, 2021, Redbox announced that it reached a definitive agreement to merge with Seaport Global Acquisition, a special-purpose acquisition company. This would result in Redbox being publicly listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker RDBX. The company officially went public on October 25, 2021.

Acquisition by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, bankruptcy and liquidation

On May 11, 2022, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced its intention to acquire Redbox for $375 million. The acquisition was completed on August 11, 2022, less than a year after Redbox went public. At the end of 2022, the company operated about 34,000 kiosks nationwide, with plans to increase that number with 1,000 more kiosks in 2023.

In July 2023, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced a partnership with the video sharing platform TikTok, under which screens showcasing top content from the service will be installed on at least 3,000 Redbox kiosks. These ads will also display advertising sold by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's sales platform Crackle Connex.

In August 2023, convenience store chain 7-Eleven terminated its contract with Redbox due to its failure to pay commissions and demanded the kiosks be removed; Redbox failed to do so. Franchisees began to unplug machines and tape credit card readers shut. 7-Eleven eventually filed a lawsuit in June 2024.

In February 2024, drug store chain CVS filed a lawsuit against Redbox for failure to pay commissions during the third quarter of 2022. Convenience store chain Sheetz followed suit the same month for not receiving payments since the end of 2022.

Shutdown notice on a Redbox kiosk at an Albertsons store

On April 23, 2024, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announced a $636.6 million loss in 2023, and warned that without any options to generate additional financing, the company could be forced to liquidate or pause operations, and seek a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing. However, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment did also report that Redbox's sales increased last year, seeing a 66% increase in annual revenue to $112.7 million.

By June 15, all Redbox kiosks in Hannaford grocery stores had been shut down. On June 29, 2024, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after missing a week of paying its employees and failing to secure financing.

On July 10, 2024, a bankruptcy judge ordered to convert Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's Chapter 11 bankruptcy into a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation after accusing the company's previous CEO of misusing the business and failing to pay employees or support healthcare. With the Chapter 7 conversion, the company's assets will be liquidated, resulting in the shut down of its subsidiaries, including Redbox. In addition, over 1,000 employees will be laid off. The company's website and apps were taken down shortly after.

Although many of Redbox’s kiosks have been removed, some of the remaining kiosks have been taken by hobbyists and tinkerers who aim to reverse engineer the software used by them. Companies involved in the removal and disposal of Redbox kiosks include The Junkluggers and DOMATTER (Discarded Obsolete Machines and Technological Equipment Recovery). The Junkluggers aim to recycle the metal used by the kiosks, while the DVDs inside are donated to community organizations. DOMATTER filed a court order to destroy any remaining kiosks, including customer data, in November 2024.

Rental kiosks

A Redbox kiosk in front of a Loaf 'N Jug in Gillette, Wyoming

Redbox's vending kiosks rent and sell movies on DVD and Blu-Ray discs. Each stocked a selection of roughly 200 titles, with multiple copies of popular titles.

The carousel of discs inside of a Redbox machine.

Many Redbox kiosks were installed indoors, while others are located outdoors. They were usually attached to a large sign advertising a selection of featured films, and some locations feature two attached kiosks, allowing for additional selection and stock. Each kiosk was operated by customers via a touchscreen, and contained a robotic disc retrieval system with a stacked carousel capable of holding more than 600 discs. Discs within are marked with barcodes, allowing identification by the kiosk's machinery, and stored on the carousel in thin plastic cases, which are dispensed to customers via a small slot next to the control panel.

A Redbox barcoded DVD tray, delivered by and returned to the kiosk.

Rented discs could be returned to any of the company's kiosks. Charges accrued up to 25 days, after which the customer then owned the DVD (without the original case) and rental charges ceased. Customers could reserve DVDs online, made possible by real-time inventory updates on the company's website. While customers could buy used DVDs from the kiosks (with unsold used DVDs returned to suppliers), Redbox estimated only 3% of the company's revenue came from used-disc sales.

At its peak, a Redbox kiosk rented its average DVD 15 times at an average of $2 per transaction plus any applicable taxes.

From 2010 to 2019, Redbox kiosks rented video games. Initially, games for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 were offered; titles for the Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One were added in 2014, followed by Nintendo Switch games upon that console's launch in 2017.

Equipment history

Redbox began in 2004, using re-branded kiosks manufactured and operated by Silicon Valley–based DVDPlay, at 140 McDonald's restaurants in Denver and other test markets. In April 2005, Redbox phased out the DVDPlay-manufactured machines and contracted the Solectron facility in Creedmoor, North Carolina—later purchased by Flextronics International, in October 2007 (Flextronics is also known as the manufacturer of the Zune, Xbox and Xbox 360)—to create and manufacture a custom kiosk design. The new kiosk was designed by Flextronics' Creedmoor design team, which included engineers Steven Hancock and John Rupert as key contributors under the direction of Franz Kuehnrich at GetAMovie Inc. (which was bought by RedBox). Other key contributors from Flextronics included Flextronics Global Account Manager Dave Stadelmaier and Global Supply Chain Manager Ben Wheeler (The KioskGuy). Redbox was innovative in that its carousel design not only decreased the number of robotic movements necessary to dispense and restock inventory, it also dramatically increased the number of discs (from 100 to 700+) that could be stored within a kiosk. In addition, the software, designed and developed by Enterprise Logic Systems, was also innovative in that it allowed RedBox to remotely monitor and manage inventory at all kiosks throughout the country.

Redbox+

In late December 2020, Redbox began offering a yearly subscription service allowing a subscriber to rent 12 or 24 discs in total, depending on their plan of choice. Only eligible movies can be rented on these plans. It also extends the user return window up until midnight, giving an additional 3 hours to return a movie to a kiosk.

Redbox at a Family Dollar store, still operating in August 2024

Major host chains

Retail chains hosting Redbox kiosks have included McDonald's, CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Walmart, Market Basket, Kroger and subsidiaries, Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Winn-Dixie, Publix, Hannaford, Wegmans, 7-Eleven, Cumberland Farms, Circle K, and Sheetz.

Streaming services

Redbox Instant

Redbox began internally testing a video streaming service, dubbed Redbox Instant, in July 2012. The service was a joint effort between Redbox and Verizon. On March 14, 2013, Redbox Instant by Verizon officially went public, offering customers a free 1-month trial of an $8/month unlimited streaming service that includes 4 disc rentals from kiosks ($1 more for Blu-ray). The service launched with 4,600 titles from movie companies such as Epix, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Relativity, and Sony Pictures. According to early reports, Redbox Instant also planned to allow users to download content to mobile devices for offline viewing; titles could be either rented or purchased, in SD or HD quality, with rental customers having 30 days to begin viewing their title and 48 hours of unlimited views thereafter.

In June 2013, Sony made the official announcement at E3 that Redbox Instant would be available on the PlayStation 4 console, and it was released in late 2013. Android and iOS apps also enabled streaming content on mobile devices.

Redbox Instant disabled sign-ups for new users in mid 2014 owing to a growing number of people using the website to verify stolen credit cards. In Q2 2014 earning call, Outerwall, Redbox's parent company, stated that they were "not pleased" with Redbox Instant subscription numbers. Finally on October 4, 2014, it was announced that Redbox Instant would shut down on October 7, only 19 months after its initial launch.

Redbox On Demand

On December 13, 2017, Redbox offered a new service called Redbox On Demand. Like Redbox Instant, it is a streaming service, but based on a different model. It does not require any membership, and the list will contain new releases as well as several titles that it is claimed will never be available on services like Netflix. The service launched with 6,000 titles for on demand rental or electronic sell-through in line with its kiosk operations. The titles come from the major film studio's libraries except for Disney and Lionsgate.

Redbox Free Live TV

Redbox Free Live TV was an ad supported channel based video on demand service. The service was soft launched in early February 2020 with a nationwide launch on February 18. Nearly 30 channels were offered then—three self-branded channels: Redbox Rush (action and adventure), Redbox Comedy and Redbox Spotlight, featured and recommended titles. The service's launch content partner was Lionsgate. Other content suppliers include America's Funniest Home Videos, Cinedigm, Comedy Dynamics, Fremantle, FilmRise, Gravitas, Jukin Media, Kabillion, Maverick Movies, People Are Awesome, TMZ, and USA Today.

Redbox Entertainment

Redbox Entertainment was Redbox’s content acquisition and production division.

On April 23, 2019, Redbox acquired the indie film Benjamin for an exclusive 90-day release period via its kiosks and on demand service as a Redbox Original. In October 2019, Redbox formed its film and TV series acquisition division, Redbox Entertainment, with Marc Danon as senior advisor of content acquisition. Subsequently, Redbox Entertainment exclusively picked up the distribution rights to Assailant, which was released in March 2022, and to Vendetta, which was released in May 2022.

Filmography

with Quiver Distribution

with Vertical Entertainment

with VMI Worldwide

See also

Notes

  1. This is a count of locations which have one or more Redbox kiosks. The total number of individual kiosks was greater (estimated at 42,000 at the company's peak), as some locations have two kiosks. These two counts were often conflated in media mentions of the chain's size.

References

  1. ^ "Redbox Investor Presentation Seaport Global Acquisition Corp" (PDF). Redbox. May 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  2. Manfredi, Lucas (2022-05-11). "Redbox to be acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment for $375M". Fox Business. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  3. "Globox picks up where Redbox left off". www.kioskmarketplace.com. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. "Redbox Careers". Redbox.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  5. Williams, Joseph (2021-07-12). "Redbox's SPAC-funded evolution from DVD rentals to digital media". S&P Global. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  6. ^ Ellingson, Annlee (26 July 2013). "Redbox controls 50% disc-rental share". L.A. Business First.
  7. "McDonald's axes robot retailers". 2003-11-12. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  8. Williams, Jake (2024-08-16). "Bankrupt - Redbox" (Video). Bright Sun Films – via YouTube.
  9. Pomerantz, Dorothy (6 March 2009). "Red Menace". Forbes.
  10. Parnell, John A. (15 January 2013). Strategic Management. SAGE. p. 542. ISBN 9781452234984 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "COINSTAR INC, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Aug 7, 2008". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  12. Keating, Gina (11 October 2012). Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs. Penguin. p. 163. ISBN 9781101601433 – via Google Books.
  13. Staff, Edit (February 13, 2009). "DVD Kiosk Firm Redbox Bought Out By Coinstar For Up To $176 Million; McDonald's Paid Out". gigaom.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  14. Dixon, Wheeler Winston (19 April 2013). Streaming: Movies, Media, and Instant Access. University Press of Kentucky. p. 56. ISBN 978-0813142180 – via Google Books.
  15. "Six Questions: Redbox's Mitch Lowe". Home Media Magazine. July 31, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  16. ^ Barnes, Brooks (September 6, 2009). "Movie Studios See a Threat in Growth of Redbox". The New York Times.
  17. Greenfield, Richard (August 18, 2009). "Redbox's Lawsuit Now Stands On Only One Shaky Leg as Court Dismisses First Sale Complaint". Pali Research. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022.
  18. "Analyst: Dismissal of Redbox Claims Could Undermine Kiosk Viability." Home Media Magazine, Erik Gruenwedel, October 5, 2009. Archived October 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  19. "Redbox Files Lawsuit Against Universal." Redbox Press Release, October 13, 2008
  20. "Redbox sues 20th Century Fox over DVD rentals." Reuters, Tom Hals and Sue Zeidler, August 12, 2009.
  21. Pearson, Sophia; Milford, Phil (August 19, 2009). "Coinstar's Redbox Sues Warner Unit Over Video Terms". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009.
  22. Tribbey, Chris (August 17, 2009). "Judge Throws Out Some Redbox Claims in Universal Suit". Home Media Magazine. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  23. Gruenwedel, Erik (October 1, 2009). "Fox Says Redbox Lawsuit is Flawed". Home Media Magazine. Archived from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  24. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (October 2, 2009). "Warner Also Seeks Redbox Lawsuit Dismissal". Home Media Magazine. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009.
  25. Heath, Chip; Heath, Dan (26 March 2013). Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work. Random House of Canada. p. 192. ISBN 9780307361141 – via Google Books.
  26. Lowe, Mitch (October 2, 2009). "Redbox Chief: 'We Are an Engine for Industry Growth'". TheWrap.com.
  27. "Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Redbox Announce a Multi-year Distribution Agreement" (Press release). Redbox, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. February 16, 2010. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  28. "Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox Forge Distribution Agreement" (Press release). Redbox, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. April 22, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  29. "Twentieth Century Fox and redbox Announce Distribution Agreement" (Press release). Redbox, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  30. "BRIEF-Redbox, Paramount announce new distribution agreement". 19 January 2017 – via Reuters.
  31. Lawler, Richard (26 August 2017). "Redbox deals with Sony and Lionsgate bring discs with no delay". Engadget. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  32. "Redbox surpasses Blockbuster in number of U.S. locations". Kioskmarketplace.com. November 26, 2007. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010.
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Further reading

External links

Online video and sharing platforms
Free
Rental and
purchase
Others
Discontinued
Video rental shops
Brick and mortar
Chain stores
Former chains
DVD-by-mail
and kiosks
Streaming media rentals
and digital lockers
Defunct video
rental brands
See also: Video-on-demand services
Categories: