Blockbuster (retailer)
Blockbuster Video, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the name of the biggest chain of video tape and DVD rental shops in North America, with shops in countries like Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and Taiwan.
Since 1994, it has been owned by Viacom. Blockbuster's first store opened on October 19, 1985.
In 2003, Viacom said that it has 4,971 U.S. locations and 2,405 international locations, with more than 43 million U.S. households with Blockbuster memberships.
As of 2004, Blockbuster decided to withdraw from Hong Kong, where it cannot compete with the VCD shops, both local ones and those across the border within Shenzhen.
See also: Blockbuster (general meaning of the word)