A Blockbuster/Pizza Hut cross-promotional offer entitling the holder to a free movie rental with the purchase of a stuffed crust pizza. Whatever Happened To American Idol Winner David Cook? - TheThings [206][207] By November 1991, Blockbuster UK converted 30 stores to its brand. [27] At that time, there were 19 stores, attracting Huizenga's associate John Melk's attention due to its efficiency, family-friendly no porn image and business model. While running Blockbuster, Cook invested $2.2 million in Amtech, which had a technology using radio frequencies to identify moving objects. Which cannot be said for H. Wayne Huizenga. Examples of such contracts were those in which Blockbuster became the exclusive rental chain for new releases from WWE (or World Wrestling Federation), Funimation, Rhino, Paramount, DreamWorks, DWA, Universal, Lionsgate, Summit, Anchor Bay, Manga, The Weinstein Company, Dimension, Miramax, Hollywood, Touchstone, Disney, Buena Vista, 20th Century Fox, MGM/UA, Orion, Sony, Columbia, Tristar, Image, Shout! Nobody has. In addition to benefiting from a lower initial price, Blockbuster also capitalized on the fact that movies were generally not available for purchase at affordable price points during initial release periods. Per the Associated Press, Blockbuster's "No Late Fees" campaign wasn't exactly what it seemed to be. The cast, led by Randall Park and Melissa Fumero, fumbles their way through keeping the location open. [10] On April 19, 2011, it was announced that Dish would keep only 500 Blockbuster stores open. A Blockbuster store in Anchorage, Alaska. "I like dealing with computers better than dealing with people," Cook confesses. Online DVD subscriptions were introduced on Blockbuster.com, also known as Blockbuster Online. Recent website changes have some speculating about a possible comeback. One Megahit Video, the sole franchise, survived and is still in operation in Newfoundland as a video store and collectible shop. [117] Additional store closures would continue. The logo changed slightly, but retained the ITC Machine font. A gumball machine near the front register of Blockbuster. In 2004, Blockbuster opened store-within-a-store video game rental and sales stores called GameRush inside Blockbuster locations in limited markets. [222] Blockbuster UK aired a monthly BB Insider online video show from May 2010 to January 2011[223] and launched an iPhone App in September 2010. [122][123] The Bend, Oregon location became the last remaining Blockbuster in the world following the closure of the remaining Australian franchise-owned locations;[124][18][125][126][17] it serves as a tourist destination, housing Blockbuster memorabilia and Russell Crowe film props which John Oliver donated. The store also said a large number of tourists visit the store to reminisce about the former rental company. In 2011, nearly 10,000 Blockbuster Express kiosks were in operation. In 1994, Blockbuster scored another major win when Viacom bought the company for a staggering $8.4 billion. Throughout 1999 and 2000, Blockbuster Australia quickly expanded its franchise store network through the conversion of smaller groups and the granting of individual franchises.