How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hundreds of company-owned Blockbuster stores across the United States – including the only local store – are set to close by early next year.
DISH Network Corp., which owns Blockbuster, said Wednesday said it will close Blockbuster's retail stores by mid-January 2014, with DVD by mail distribution operations to end by the middle of this December.
Approximately 300 remaining U.S.-based retail stores and distribution centers will be shuttered, according to DISH Network.
Only franchised and licensed stores in the U.S. and abroad are to remain open for business, according to the statement.
Lake County has one Blockbuster store, located at 359 Lakeport Blvd., in the Bruno's Shopping Center in Lakeport.
The management of the Lakeport store had no information on the situation and instead referred Lake County News to the corporation for comment.
In response to a request from Lake County News for information about the Lakeport store, DISH Network spokesman John Hall reported there are approximately 50 franchised stores in the U.S. and they are not affected by Wednesday's announcement.
However, according to Hall, no stores in California are franchise stores, which means all California stores – including Lakeport's – will all be closing in January.
“This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment," said Joseph P. Clayton, DISH president and chief executive officer, in a written statement released Wednesday.
"Despite our closing of the physical distribution elements of the business, we continue to see value in the Blockbuster brand, and we expect to leverage that brand as we continue to expand our digital offerings,” Clayton said.
With the closure of Blockbuster's retail and by-mail operations, DISH indicated that it will now turn its attention to digital delivery, including the “Blockbuster@Home” service to DISH customers and the transactional streaming service for the general market, Blockbuster On Demand.
This is the latest action by Blockbuster, which over the last year and a half has divested itself of assets in the United States, as well international assets, including operations in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.
DISH officials said the corporation will continue to support Blockbuster's domestic and international franchise operations, relationships and agreements.
DISH also will retain licensing rights to the Blockbuster brand, and key assets, including the company's significant video library.
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