Kiosk operator NCR to put Blockbuster vending machines at Sheetz convenience stores

Kiosk operator NCR to put Blockbuster at Sheetz

DULUTH, Ga. — Kiosk operator NCR Corp. said Monday it would place Blockbuster Express-branded DVD rental kiosks at nearly all 365 Sheetz convenience stores in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia by the end of March.

The partnership represents the first Blockbuster kiosk deployment in six new markets, NCR said. Customers can rent DVDs from the kiosks for $1 a night with the swipe of a credit card.

Video rental chain Blockbuster, which has struggled against the recession and increasing competition in part by closing brick-and-mortar stores, is setting up kiosks to challenge those operated by Coinstar Inc.’s Redbox.

NCR operated about 3,800 Blockbuster-branded kiosks by the end of last year and plans to run 10,000 by the end of 2010.

NCR shares rose 17 cents, or 1.2 percent, to close at $13.97 on Monday.

Blockbuster shares rose a penny, or 2 percent, to close at 42 cents.