What the Tech: What does streaming purchases mean?
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Redbox, once a dominant force in DVD rentals, filed for bankruptcy last month, leaving customers with questions about the movies they purchased through the service.
The company’s kiosks are no longer operational, and its app has been removed from streaming platforms like Roku, along with any content s had previously purchased.
In case you weren’t aware, in addition to renting DVDs for $1 a night, the company had a streaming platform that allowed customers to purchase movies and watch them using apps on smart TVs, Roku and other streaming devices.
Now that Redbox has filed for bankruptcy, none of the apps are working and the libraries of purchased movies and shows are no longer available.
This situation highlights a common misconception about digital purchases: buying a movie online doesn’t mean you own it.
When purchasing through platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple or Google, you’re essentially buying a license to view the content.
If the company goes out of business or their agreement with the movie studio ends, your purchased movie could disappear.
For example, if you buy a movie on Amazon Prime, you can watch it as often as you like, but it could be removed from your library if Amazon’s deal with the studio expires.
The same applies if you cancel your Amazon Prime subscription.
While major platforms like Amazon and Google are unlikely to go bankrupt, their licensing agreements can and do change.
This means that your digital movie collection is more vulnerable than you might think.
In the case of Redbox, customers who rented DVDs before the kiosks shut down have no way to return them.
The company has not provided guidance on this issue, and customer is unavailable. It is recommended that customers return the DVDs to avoid further credit card charges. If you can find a working kiosk that is.
This serves as a reminder to consumers to be aware of the and conditions when making digital purchases.
It’s also a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of relying on digital content libraries.
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