In the coming weeks shoppers will be able to benefit from the deployment of robotically operated DVD vending kiosks, and one machine being launched as a trial in a Tesco Ireland store initially could see the concept rolled out in 2008.  The kiosks, which offer users touch-screen access to a range of new release movies, will also be launched in Centra and Applegreen stores with an expected deployment across both the UK and Ireland should the trials prove successful.

The Movie Booth is a newly created brand which supplies DVD rental kiosks to retail stores throughout the UK and Ireland enabling users to rent movies on a pay-as-you-go basis from a fully automated machine, offering a modern alternative to the traditional high street DVD rental store.

The futuristic concept is the brainchild of award winning young entrepreneur Carlos Marco Rider, who noticed the gap in the DVD rental market and came up with a solution that could offer a convenient and cost-effective way for people to rent their favourite new release movies from their local shop.

Mr Rider commented, “The DVD rental market has faced big changes in recent years, and I felt that high street DVD rental services didn’t offer value to their customers.  By eliminating space and staffing costs, our kiosks can offer the most competitive DVD rental prices in the UK and Ireland.  To many people renting a DVD from a machine can be intimidating but these kiosks are designed to be completely user-friendly”.

He added, “Customers use a touch-screen system to select and rent their movies, and it takes three steps to rent a film from the kiosk.  These new kiosks have been designed with the end-user in mind and have several features which make renting a DVD a simple process.  The partnerships we are developing with retailers should ensure we achieve substantial coverage across the UK and Ireland by the end of 2008”.

In an ever changing market, retail outlets should soon feature automated DVD kiosks to be able to benefit from the fall from grace of the traditional DVD rental store.  The successful trials with Tesco, Centra and Applegreen would lead to national deployment of DVD kiosks in a parallel to the success they have achieved in the United States.  DVD machines have experienced a massive growth in the USA with over 9000 kiosks being installed in the last two years with ease-of-use, convenience and cost being provided as the main reasons for the kiosks success.  Kiosks are currently deployed in Wal-Mart’s, Wal-Greens and McDonalds to name but a few in the US.  Further details on this concept can be found at www.themoviebooth.com or by calling 0870 1436769.