Warner Bros. and Red Box have mended fences, agreeing to a multi-year distribution agreement that will make DVD and Blu-ray releases from the studio available on the movie-rental kiosk service 28 days after they’re released.
Last year, Red Box sued Warner, Fox and Universal after those studios banned their products from being rented through the kiosks, objecting to the low $1-per-rental charge.
“We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to sit down with Redbox and negotiate an arrangement that benefits both parties and allows us to continue making our films available to redbox customers,” said Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. “The 28-day window enables us to get the most from the sales potential of our titles and maximize VOD usage.”
Added Mitch Lowe, president, Redbox. “By agreeing to a delayed release date, Redbox can now acquire Warner Home Video titles at a reduced product cost, preserving value for our consumers and increasing customer access to Warner titles at redbox locations nationwide.”
The agreement, which runs through Jan. 31, 2012, will come into effect in March, with anticipated releases like “The Blind Side” (released March 23) becoming available on April 20.
