Blockbuster To Buy Digital Download Service

Although Blockbuster Inc.'s Total Access program has been adding subscribers faster than Netflix Inc.'s DVD rental service, Netflix was able to tout that only it offered the ability to instantly download movies and TV shows to a computer. Not for long. Blockbuster said Wednesday it is buying the digital movie-download service Movielink, giving it a stronger online foothold to compete with its rival.

The Dallas-based video rental chain said it would continue to operate Movielink as a stand-alone service but eventually make elements of it available through Blockbuster's online-ordering, mail-delivery service.