Redbox raises the rent on DVD and Blu-ray discs just in time for the holidays

By Ryan Waniata November 24, 2014

Redbox on-demand — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re a frequent Redbox renter, you’d better get that movie marathon started soon, as the prices on all Redbox rentals are about to be bumped up.

Outerwall, which owns Redbox, today announced it will be raising the prices on all movie rentals on December 2. The rental of DVDs will move from the current rate of $1.20 to $1.50, and Blu-rays will make their way from $1.50 to $2 even. The company will let gamers have one last ride at current rates for the holidays, however, announcing games will make a full dollar jump from $2 to $3, starting January 6.

The company was quick to remind its loyal renters (and impulse shoppers) that Redbox has only previously raised its prices for DVDs once in 12 years, as well as the fact that it still creams VOD (video on demand) services from cable or satellite providers and other online retailers when it comes to the highest movie rentals. Outerwall also stressed that the higher pricing will allow Redbox to make “investments to enhance the customer experience.”

Those investments could include a new user recommendation engine similar to what Netflix uses, according to a report by Engadget. However, the company did not mention details about the new service in its press release. We’ve reached out to Outerwall for more details, but the company said it could not comment further on the report at this time.

Outerwall did claim that it expects new “network optimization initiatives” will help offset the higher pricing, though it does expect the higher prices to hit its bottom line, claiming more details will be offered in its fourth quarter revenue reports as it looks forward to 2015.

For now, if you’re more of a rental enthusiast than an investor, all this really means is you might want to get your rental on now, before the new tax hits your wallet over the December holidays.

Updated 11/24/2014: The original post cited Redbox as claiming it hadn’t changed prices in 12 years, when in fact the company stated it has only changed prices once in 12 years. The post has been updated to correct the error.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…

Audio / Video

All of Amazon’s Fire TV streaming devices are heavily discounted today

Two Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max sticks in hand.

Any model of Amazon's Fire TV streaming devices will give your non-smart TV access to streaming services and other apps, or replace the interface on your smart TV if you don't like it. If you're interested, they're available with discounts of up to 40% from Amazon, but only for a limited time. There's no telling how long you've got in order to pocket the savings from these deals, but if you want to make sure that you get these Amazon Fire TV streaming devices for cheaper than usual, you have to select the model and proceed with the purchase as soon as possible.

What to buy in Amazon's Fire TV streaming devices sale
The cheapest option in Amazon's Fire TV streaming devices sale is the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, which is instead of $30 for a $10 discount. You'll be able to access all of the popular streaming services with this devices, including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, on Full HD quality after an easy setup process. If you want to watch content with 4K Ultra HD quality as your TV is capable of it, then we highly recommend the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which you can get for for savings of $20 on its original price of $50 -- this is the largest discount percentage-wise in the sale at 40% off. The streaming device supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for a cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home.

Audio / Video

Soundbar sale: Save on Samsung, Sony, Bose, and more, from $42

TCL Alto wireless soundbar and subwoofer deal walmart

Best Buy has a huge sale on soundbars with models available from just $42. For anyone looking for an inexpensive upgrade to their audio setup, these soundbar deals are the ones to consider. Over 60 soundbars are in the sale so we’ve picked out a few of our favorite deals to help you narrow things down. If you want to see the sale for yourself, simply tap the button below to take a look.

What to shop for in the soundbar sale
For the cheapest soundbar around, check out the which is down to $42 from $50. It was already cheap but $42 is pretty much impulse buy territory. It’s a basic soundbar but it has options including Bluetooth for wirelessly streaming your content, while you can also use the optical in port to connect it, while there’s also an aux-in port too. It also comes with a wall mounting kit and has a remote too.

Audio / Video

Best QLED TV deals: Samsung, TCL, LG and Vizio

The Hisense U6H ULED 4K TV in a living room.

The best TVs tend to come down to TVs with QLED or OLED picture technologies behind them, with QLED being the picture technology many people prefer. Both technologies have become more and more affordable over the years, which makes now a great time to shop the best QLED TVs for a QLED TV that offers more savings. Right now you can find some discounted prices on top TV brands like TCL, Samsung, and LG, as there are a lot of QLED TV deals currently taking place. You’ll find our picks for the best QLED TV deals below, as well as some information on which QLED TV may be best suited for your home theater.
Hisense 55-inch U6 QLED 4K TV — $350, was $450

Hisense offers a range of impressive TV models and sizes. The Hisense 65-inch U6 QLED 4K TV will bring a range of great features to your home theater. These include compatibility with Google Assistant and Alexa for voice controls, a filmmaker mode that displays movie content precisely as it was intended by the filmmaker to be seen, and a game mode that automatically adjusts settings for smooth video game playback. This TV also has Bluetooth connectivity that will allow you to connect devices like the best wireless headphones and the best soundbars. This is also a Google TV, which gives you instant access to all sorts of streaming content.