CCC, Geo gear up DVD rental machines

Duo to launch venture later this month

By MARK SCHILLING

Culture Convenience Club, which operates Japan’s largest DVD rental chain, and Geo Corp., whose core biz is online rental and sales of DVDs and other content, are gearing up to install DVD rental machines in locations around the country, according to the Nikkei newspaper.

The two companies are launching this month. Geo, in cooperation with the Lawson convenience store chain, plans to have 1,000 machines in place by the end of March 2011. Meanwhile, CCC intends to install the machines in 30 commercial sites, including office buildings, by the end of the year.