Dish Network Takes Over Blockbuster

DENVER (CBS4)- Colorado-based Dish Network is taking over the once popular movie rental business Blockbuster. Analysts believe customers of both companies will see changes.

Blockbuster stores began closing a few years ago. Dish Network said it has won a bankruptcy court auction for Blockbuster's remaining stores.

CBS4's partners at the Denver Business Journal said even though the deal surprised analysts, Dish executives are known to go after a bargain.

"They have said very little about what their objectives are here, but it appears what they are after is the video on demand service that Blockbuster started up to compete with Netflix. That's something that they could get into to expand their offerings. Another thing they can do with Blockbuster stores, there's still about 1,700 of them left after all the closures they've had in recent years, is they can market their services through Blockbuster stores. Sort of like what you saw when FedEx bought out Kinkos," said Denver Business Journal New Media Editor Mark Harden.

Dish is based in Englewood. Blockbuster has 26 stores along the Front Range.