Fatso (service)
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronic commerce |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Rob Berman |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Online DVD and video game rental |
| Owner | SKY Network Television |
| Website | [1] |
Fatso is a New Zealand online DVD and video game rental service, which mails DVD's, Blu-ray discs and video games to viewers around New Zealand. Fatso was founded in 2004 and is based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. As of 2011, Fatso was offering a range of over 27,000 titles to around 20,000 subscribers, and had a full-time staff of 25.[1] This means it is the largest such rental service in New Zealand. It is operated by SKY TV, which owns 51% of the enterprise.
History
Fatso was founded in 2004 by Rob Berman of Westside Media.[2]
In 2008 it merged with competitors DVD Unlimited and Movieshack to form Screen Enterprises Limited, which operates a single service under the Fatso name. SKY TV (which operated DVD Unlimited) owns 51%, with Berman as general manager. The merger was reported as being due to the home delivered DVD market not being "big enough for the three of them."[2]
In 2012 Fatso began offering video game rental, with as service known as "Games Club".[3] It is operated in a different way to the DVD and Blu-ray rentals, with a daily charge per game.
In August 2013 Berman left Fatso, moving to Shop HQ, an e-commerce venture backed by The Warehouse.[4] Berman retained his stake in Fatso.
Services
DVD and Blu-ray Rental
Fatso was founded as a DVD rental service, and then also began to offer Blu-ray rentals. According to the Fatso website, plans range from $9.95 a month for 2 DVD's (one at a time), to $37.99 a month for unlimited DVD's (three at a time). The service is the largest of its kind in the country, holding around 5% of the total DVD rental market in New Zealand.[1] The service has no late fees or set return times.
Games Club
Games Club is Fatso's video game rental service, started in 2012. Unlike the DVD/Blu-ray service, there is a daily, as opposed to monthly, charge for each game. Games are available for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS2, Xbox and Wii platforms, and prices range from 49c to $3.00.[3]
Fatso uses New Zealand Post to send rentals to customers, and return postage is covered by the subscription costs.
References
- ^ a b "Sky's no limit for fuller Fatso". 27 March 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Media: DVD delivery market reaches limit". New Zealand Herald. 20 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Fatso (finally) adds games to its rental collection". 1 December 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ "Fatso founder moves on". 30 August 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2014.