dish

Dish Network completes acquisition of Blockbuster

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge today approved Dish Network's $320 million acquisition of Blockbuster, once the largest movie rental chain.

"We are pleased to have purchased the assets of Blockbuster and look forward to building on the nationally recognized Blockbuster brand while improving the experience of delivering entertainment to consumers," Tom Cullen, executive vice president for Dish Network, said in a statement.

The satellite provider announced its intention to purchase most of the rental chain's assets earlier this month at a bankruptcy court auction. Under the terms of the deal, the acquisition was expected to … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1455: Steve Jobs to you: shut up and eat your hummus (Podcast)

On today's show, the iPhone is apparently storing your location data even when you've turned off the location tracking services. And law enforcement agencies and a cottage industry of iOS forensics companies have been taking advantage of these logs for years. Nevertheless, Steve Jobs appears to insist in an email to a customer that Apple is not tracking anyone. Really. Hunch shows you why you love both hummus and Macs, even if you don't love Apple. Plus, Sony is rebuilding its PlayStation Network security after its now five-day outage, and an innocent man is accused of child pornography because it's still just too damn hard to put a password on a WiFi network. --Molly

A whole new Wii

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Nintendo will launch the next-generation Wii in 2012

Rumors are heating up about Apple and Google's hypothetical music services

Dish Online customers can now stream HBO content if they subscribe to an HBO package

A company in Tokyo claims to have made the "world's thinnest glass" for touchscreen devices

A new app on iTunes follows the rantings and ravings of actor Charlie Sheen

HBO streaming content comes to Dish Online

Dish Online viewers can now watch HBO and Cinemax content.

More than 1,800 pieces of HBO's and Cinemax's programming, including movies, television shows, and other content, are now available on the satellite provider's online-streaming service. However, only Dish subscribers who pay for access to those movie channels will be able to watch the content on Dish Online, the company said in its announcement yesterday.

"Dish Network customers with an HBO or Cinemax subscription can also get new series titles after their premiere--plus bonus content including interviews, recaps and behind-the-scenes extras--none of which are available through … Read more

Dish needs more time on Blockbuster stores

Dish Network would benefit from an extension to determine which of Blockbuster's 1,500 store leases it wants to keep, the rental company reported in a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court yesterday.

Earlier this month, Dish Network announced that it had agreed to acquire Blockbuster for $228 million, after adjustments were made for cash and inventory. Under the terms of the deal, the companies were required to finalize the acquisition yesterday. If that didn't happen, Dish would have been required to pay a $500,000 fine per day to Blockbuster until the deal is finalized.

But … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1451: Apple: finish Samsung!! (Podcast)

Tong stood in line all night for Mortal Kombat, while Molly went to bed with her laptop and her brand new Keynote download. Impressive, right? In the actual news, Apple files a major set of patent and trademark lawsuits against manufacturing partner Samsung, Netflix is doing family plans, and what happened to all those 1-800 numbers. Dial carefully children. Dial carefully.

Buzz Out Loud 1442: Netflix streams to the top, Xoom zooms to the bottom (Podcast)

Netflix reportedly will pay about $100 million to stream every episode of Mad Men: chump change, if predictions of an $800 million streaming TV market turn out to be true. Also, it seems that everyone wants to get in on the tablet market, but given reported XOOM sales of only about 100,000, it's possible the only tablet market there is is for iPads. Plus, AT&T iPhones and their dropped calls, and Obama goes to Facebook. -- Molly

The 404 793: Where Wilson's back with a vengeance (podcast)

The Bubble Boy gets released from quarantine and joins us back on today's episode of The 404, where we're chatting about Dish Network grabbing Blockbuster for $228 million; a Canadian service that could mean the end of missed packages; a girl who can't close her mouth; and the end of one of our favorite TV shows: "30 Rock."

The 404 Digest for Episode 793

Dish Network wins bidding war for Blockbuster Video. The BufferBox may signal the end of missed packages. Just for fun, here's the delivery guy spoof scene from "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." Nurse uses Popsicle sticks to reset a jaw in mid-yawn. News anchor falls for Shock Top app prank. "30 Rock" will end next season, according to Alec Baldwin.

Episode 793 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Microsoft's home away from Hohm

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Republicans in the House of Representatives are working to stop Net neutrality regulations

President Obama will take to Facebook for a town-hall meeting on April 20

Facebook wants to compete with sites like FlackList and ProfNet to connect journalists with sources and stories

Twitter may launch branded pages

Sprint launches a 3G/4G Mi-Fi for $79

Dish Network plans to scoop up beleaguered Blockbuster for just $228 million

Microsoft shifts the focus of Hohm from the home to the car

Dish Network to buy Blockbuster for $228 million

Blockbuster has finally found a suitor.

Dish Network announced today that it will be acquiring the movie rental chain for $228 million. The satellite provider participated in a bankruptcy court auction for Blockbuster, making a winning bid of $320 million. With adjustments for cash and inventory, the companies agreed on the final price.

After failing to see the changing times and allowing Netflix's DVD-By-Mail service to grow under its nose, Blockbuster was met by significant challenges in the rental space. In 2009, a little over a year after it tried to acquire Circuit City for $1 billion, Blockbuster was … Read more