Blockbuster Gives Free Rentals to Netflix Clients

Los Angeles, Blockbuster began offering free in-store rentals to subscribers of on-line rival Netflix on Tuesday as it tries to take market share from Netflix and reach its year-end subscriber goal, according to a report by Reuters. Netflix subscribers can get one free rental at Blockbuster stores for each address label they bring in from their Netflix mailing envelopes.

The offer to Netflix subscribers, which runs until Dec. 21, comes after Blockbuster began allowing subscribers to its own on-line rental service to swap DVDs they received in the mail at Blockbuster stores.

The program, called Total Access, highlights the main difference between the two competitive services: Blockbuster has stores where consumers can immediately satisfy a desire for a particular movie.