Netflix expanding into Ireland?

From Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection -

"Busy Bee DVD, Ireland's second provider of an online movie rental service, says it has been approached about a takeover from overseas -- even before Ireland's other provider has changed its name to reflect its acquisition last month, according to the Irish Independent. Busy Bee DVD says it has been approached by Netflix and by Screen Select. Meanwhile, says the paper, Dublin-based Screen Click is about to change its name to Lovefilm.ie to reflect its EUR3 million acquisition last month by LoveFilm."

I was a subscriber to Screen Click for most of 2004 and quite enjoyed the convenience of DVDs in the post but eventually realized that I'm just not enough of a movie buff to get value out of it. You'd really need to be sure you'll watch at least one DVD per week and I sometimes only got around to seeing one per month. Which of course was a waste of money.

But we do love our movies in Ireland and I hardly know anyone who doesn't have a DVD player at this stage so it makes sense to me that there could be alot of truth behind this rumour.

Comments

[Peter I]

I see there is a new online DVD rental company called www.moviestar.ie

Its by Gavin McConnon and Iain McConnon. The McConnon brothers have a few other businesses. The moviestar website seems to be cheaper and have a better selection of TV and new films. The website seems much easier to navigate.

[James]

Hi Peter

Would those business' be the same ones that conned €8million out of old pensioners in England, the business post ran a huge article on them (along with the mirror and BBC etc)

http://www.thepost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=NEWS%20FEATURES-qqqs=news-qqqid=16686-qqqx=1.asp

Just a follow up, read that Screenselect have now merged with Lovefilm (screenclick.com parent company) in the UK so not sure what is going to happen with Busy Bee

[bigben]

this sector is very funny. everyone is in it to be bought. lovefilm and screenselect were the obvious but lovfilm have bought screenclick. screenselect merged with lovefilm and they now own screenclick. i am a screenclick member and they have serious number of customers and are in the middle of a massive O2 1cent DVd promotion. they claim to now send over 50,000 DVDs per month since they Lovefilm takeover. xtravision already rent online in the uk (blockbuster) and they own pigsback. no way they will be buying. if anything they are getting out of the business. that just leaves netflix. If they move into europe do you think they will give a damn about a country the size of ireland??? no chance. lovefilm/screenselect will be hoping to be bought at that stage. looks for sure that busybee and those nice guys at moviestar have made a BIG and costly mistake.

BB

[kimjonshon0001]

Hi people,
I think it keeps on improving the ways it is right now then it is definitely going to expand throughout the globe not only to Ireland.

[Netflix]

Hi people,
The Netflix only needs to refine its policy and also the servise its providing. We can see its chain throughout the globe very soon.