Blockbuster names Barr Web site executive
By Danny King -- Video Business,01/28/2009
JAN. 28 | Blockbuster today named Robert “Bob” Barr VP of Blockbuster.com, as the largest U.S. movie-rental chain looks to derive more packaged media and digital content sales from its Web site.
Barr
Barr, 52, was senior VP of interactive operations for post-secondary school operator Education Management Corp., Blockbuster said in a statement today. He had previously held positions at financial services company USAA, Dell and Intuit.
Since launching its Total Access program in 2006, Blockbuster has tried to use its Web site to compete with companies such as Netflix by letting customers request mail-delivered movie rentals on the Internet. Additionally, the company is using its Web site to spur demand for its digital-download service, which competes with similar digital offerings from Amazon.com and Apple. The company integrated its Movielink digital-download service into Blockbuster’s Web site last July, almost a year after Blockbuster bought the service from the five major studios for $6.6 million.
Barr “brings significant experience in the areas of strategy formulation, product innovation and interactive marketing,” Blockbuster chief information officer Keith Morrow said in the statement. “Bob will play a key role in our efforts to further establish Blockbuster.com as one of the leading entertainment destination sites.”
Last week, Blockbuster hired former Philips executive Kevin Lewis to fill the newly created position of senior VP of digital entertainment, as the company looks to build sales of its digital content delivery services.
The company this month also joined with Sonic Solutions-owned online movie service CinemaNow in an agreement to deliver movies to Blu-ray Disc players, Internet-connected TVs, mobile phones and even the iPhone.
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| Submitted by: | Matthew 1/30/2009 5:05:05 PM PT |
Did they just let more people go this week?
| Submitted by: | joe leika 1/29/2009 7:42:30 AM PT |
| Location: | Atlanta, GA |
| Occupation: | retail manager |
I was under the impression they were cutting overhead. they have three executives doing overlaping work. wastefull if you ask me . . .
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