Sausalito, Calif.-based Public Media Works and its wholly-owned subsidiary, EntertainmentXpress, Inc., announced a placement agreement with the Asian American Convenience Store Association (AACSA) for the initial rollout of 500 DVD movie and game kiosks in member-owned convenience stores, hotels, pharmacies and universities across the country.
AACSA says it has 90,000 primary and affiliate member businesses that collectively do more than $90 billion a year in purchasing alone.
"We had in-depth discussions with both redbox and NCR Blockbuster. Hands down, EntertainmentXpress became our clear choice in almost every category. Our initial test market launch will include 500 strategically placed kiosks and we anticipate rolling out up to 20,000 additional locations over the next three years,” said Paul Rock, executive director of the AACSA.
Rock said that AACSA, along with its sister and affiliate associations, have direct access to over 300,000 businesses across the US. Some of the store brands under their umbrella include 7 Eleven, Circle K, Stop n Go, Kwik Stop, Shell, Chevron, Texaco, Arco, ampm, Citgo, Clark, Exxon, Mobil, Sinclair, Diamond Oil, Valero, 24 Hour Pharmacy and Clinic, Beverage Castle, Speedway, RaceTrac, Kwik Farm, Convenient Food Mart, ABC Liquor, Dollar General, The Dollar Store, Burger King, Holiday Inn Express, Marriott, Westin, Best Western, Ramada, Starwood, Intercontinental Group, Hilton, Days Inn, Travel Lodge, LaQuinta and over 200 colleges and universities.
EntertainmentXpress focuses on the high-volume rental and sale of DVD movies, video games and other media through kiosks located in quick-serve restaurants, grocery stores and other high-traffic, public venues. Features intended to differentiate EntertainmentXpress in the marketplace are expected to include a broader variety of digital product offerings over time, retail partner branded kiosks, a fully integrated solution for in-store advertising, and kiosks designed to be converted into media filling stations to a variety of digital storage devices.
The company's business plan also includes an out-of-home advertising model with onboard 3D screens (no glasses required) in kiosks that provide its retail partners an opportunity to share in ad revenue as well as in DVD rental and sales revenue.
