Publix adds Blockbuster kiosks to its stores

NEW YORK Publix announced the installation of its Blockbuster Express DVD-rental kiosks in central Florida to offer shoppers a convenient and inexpensive way to rent DVDs.

DVD rentals are available for $1 a night and with no membership sign-up required. Each kiosk can hold approximately 950 movies and customers can rent up to three movies at a time, said Michael Cecchini, an account manager for NCR, which is responsible for the Publix kiosks.

Ceccini also explained that the machines have been around for several years, but the Blockbuster branding is new. Once called "The New Release," there are about 2,000 of them nationwide with plans to have a total of about 10,000 by the end of the year. There are kiosks in about 425 Publix stores nationwide, with plans for another 150 locations.

Advancing technology, the down economy and the convenience of being able to rent and return DVDs at places people visit on a regular basis has a lot to do with the popularity of movie-rental kiosks, said Ceccini.