LOS ANGELES — Redbox, the leading $1-per-night DVD rental kiosk operator, has agreed to delay renting movies from 20th Century Fox and Universal until 28 days after discs go on sale.
The deal ends all studio lawsuits against Redbox, a unit of Coinstar Inc.
It also leaves the six major Hollywood studios split over whether to impose the delay, meant to protect lucrative DVD and Blu-ray disc sales.
Warner Bros., Fox, and Universal require a four-week delay on new home videos for Redbox. Paramount, Disney, and Sony allow it to stock movies the day of release.
Lionsgate, a smaller studio, also has a deal with Redbox to stock movies the day they are released for sale.
Fox and Universal agreed to supply the kiosks at reduced costs and increase the availability of Blu-ray discs.
In exchange, Redbox agreed to destroy discs after their rental lives end, instead of selling used copies cheaply, which the studios see as a threat to retail prices.
Mike Dunn, the worldwide president of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, said in a statement that the arrangement “upholds our retail and rental strategy.’’ Redbox president Mitch Lowe said the deal “helps keep rental prices low.’’
