Redbox on Tuesday announced that it will begin renting 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs in six test markets, which is a significant step toward wider adoption of the video format.
The markets include Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and Seattle. Redbox will be renting the films for $2.50 per night.
“Black Panther,” “The Commuter,” “The Matrix” and “The Martian” are some of the first 4K UHD titles to show up in Redbox kiosks. The company said new releases and catalog titles will be added on a weekly basis.
“This is a major move for Redbox as we focus on expanding consumer access to home entertainment options across price points and formats,” said Galen Smith, CEO of Redbox, in a statement. “As the popularity of 4K content increases and pricing of 4K hardware decreases, we’re excited to offer the best viewing experience at the best price for 4K Blu-ray discs.”
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The UHD trials add to other recent moves from Redbox that include offering Nintendo Switch game rentals in trial markets and the rollout of Redbox on Demand, a transactional video platform that lets customers rent or buy movies from home.
The service launched in beta in late 2017 and is available via redbox.com, the Redbox app for Android and iOS-enabled devices, as well as on Apple TV, Chromecast, and LG and Samsung smart TVs.
The added services and features could be lending to Redbox’s comeback. In 2016 the company removed 1,000 kiosks as sales slid but in 2017, the company put up 1,500 new kiosks.