5 Streaming Services Making the Movies Irrelevant

Redbox Instant
Streaming cost: $8 with four DVD kiosk credits

This one's still in beta testing but has tremendous potential with Coinstar (CSTR) and Verizon (VZ) at the helm.

You can still stream only through Apple iOS, Google (GOOG) Android devices and Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox 360 and the catalog is roughly 2,000 movies found easily on competing streaming services thanks to a deal with Epix. While there are some fine offerings such as Lars and the Real Girl and Winter's Bone and cult classics including Back To School and Roxanne, you're looking at a whole lot of bargain bin and straight-to-video films until this service gets the content to back it up.

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That said, the kiosks credits they're throwing in offer access to new releases similar to that of Netflix's DVD plan. That bridge helped bring customers to Netflix streaming and, as long as Redbox learns from Netflix's mistake and doesn't go doubling the price off the bat, should offer Redbox Instant a lifeline as it builds its library.

That could take a while. Of the Top 200 items streamed on Netflix, Redbox Instant has exactly a dozen of them.

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