Traditional DVD rentals are starting to feel the heat as online piracy, online download services and Internet DVD rental services like PushPlay start to make an impact.<\/p>\n
The convenience and cost advantages of online video download services are significant, but the high local bandwidth costs are keeping the popularity of such services at bay in South Africa. <\/p>\n
A new upstart – Laservideo – is however attempting to challenge the traditional DVD rental store model, promising both cost savings and ease-of-use.<\/p>\n
Laservideo creates a fully automated DVD rental presence as either a replacement for a traditional DVD shop or a basic presence in another area like a filling station’s convenience store (store image here: http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/photos\/showphoto.php?photo=2098<\/a>)<\/p>\n Laservideo is currently represented in many countries internationally, including the principal European nations as well as America, Canada, Australia and most recently, South Africa.<\/p>\n According to Kenneth Colville, Director of Laservideo South Africa, the uptake in their pilot store in Lynnwood, Pretoria has been very positive. Colville points out that the new automated system is particularly popular with the younger generation who appears to be more comfortable with technology.<\/p>\n Apart from the fully branded store in Lynnwood, the company is also opening satellite branches and ‘stand alone and built-in’ machines in partnership with companies like Caltex.<\/p>\n While online video distribution is posing a significant threat to all physical audio-video content distributors, like music stores or DVD rental companies, Colville is confident that a strong market will exist in South Africa for Laservideo for many years to come.<\/p>\n