January Fantasy Apple Merger: Blockbuster

(Fantasy Merger is a monthly feature looking at what could happen if Apple decided to merge with other companies. We have no inside knowledge that any mergers are imminent. And as you'll see, most are quite far-fetched anyhow...)

Back in the November edition of Fantasy Merger, I told you all about the pros and cons of Apple merging with Netflix. So this month, let's consider Netflix's bitter rival, Blockbuster.

First, all of the pros (and cons) of the Netflix post are true for Blockbuster as well:

PROS
Established monthly subscription base
Elimination of disc rentals, Accelerated growth of digital downloads

CONS:
Apple doesn't want to send anyone a disc. Ever.
Do the models really fit?

Of course the added question mark with Blockbuster is its brick and mortar stores. Thousands of locations around the country. Could Apple transform the stores into a sort of Apple outlet, maybe focusing more on iPods and iPhones than computers. And ponder this for a moment: All of those storefronts could make a great infrastructure for a competing cell phone provider. With Sprint possibly on the ropes, there could be a great opportunity for Apple to enter the game the second their contract is up with AT&T. (Maybe Sprint will be back for the Feb. Fantasy Merger...)

Still, as with most Fantasy Merger entries, This one is really unlikely.