DVDPlay

About DVDPlay

DVDPlay, Inc. operated as a pioneer in the automated DVD rental market, establishing its business around self-service kiosks. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Campbell, California, the company focused on manufacturing and deploying fully automated, remotely managed DVD rental machines. These kiosks were strategically placed in high-foot-traffic locations such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants, offering customers a convenient way to rent movies.

The business model centered on providing a low-cost, convenient alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar video rental stores. Customers could rent a DVD by simply swiping a credit or debit card, with the entire transaction taking less than a minute. Revenue was generated through per-day rental fees. DVDPlay's kiosks were designed with a compact footprint and featured proprietary software that allowed for dynamic pricing, inventory management, and promotional advertising. The company distinguished itself early on, becoming the first kiosk operator to introduce Blu-ray Disc rentals in its machines in June 2008.

Throughout its operation, DVDPlay secured significant venture capital funding, raising approximately $34.7 million from investors including El Dorado Ventures, Vanguard Ventures, Emergence Capital Partners, and Palo Alto Venture Partners. The company's leadership included individuals such as Chairman Charles Berger and CEO Charlie Piper. Amidst fierce competition from rivals like Redbox, DVDPlay grew its network to about 1,300 kiosks across the U.S. and Canada. Ultimately, on December 10, 2009, DVDPlay was acquired by NCR Corporation. NCR, which had partnered with Blockbuster, planned to convert the DVDPlay kiosks into Blockbuster Express machines, integrating them into its expanding network.