Sectors · Sector

Video rental

1 breakdown and 6 tracked deals in this sector, compiled from public reporting.

Disclosed value counts only deals where a figure was made public. Most private equity transactions never are, so treat this as a floor, not a total.

The breakdowns

• Oct 3, 2026

  Why Did Blockbuster Really Fail If It Turned Down Netflix for $50M?

  Blockbuster said no to Netflix for $50 million in 2000 — but the decision that killed it came in 2007, while Total Access was winning. Follow the money.

Who is buying

The deals

1. 1987

   Blockbuster

   Buy-in to a 19-store chain

   CompletedDallasWikipedia — Blockbuster (retailer)
2. 1994$8.4B

   Blockbuster

   Acquisition

   CompletedWikipedia — Blockbuster (retailer)
3. 2004$905M

   Blockbuster

   Split-off special dividend ($5/share) · Viacom

   ExitedViacom & Blockbuster joint press release, SEC filing (June 18, 2004)
4. 2004$1.5B

   Blockbuster

   New credit facility

   CompletedViacom & Blockbuster joint press release, SEC filing (June 18, 2004)
5. 2010-09-23

   Blockbuster

   Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing

   BankruptRoughly 3,000 U.S. storesCNN Money — Blockbuster files for bankruptcy (Sept. 23, 2010)
6. 2011$320M

   Blockbuster remaining assets

   Bankruptcy asset purchase

   CompletedWikipedia — Blockbuster (retailer)

Compiled from public reporting. Not investment advice.