Dish Network to keep about 600 Blockbuster stores open

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Don’t count your corner Blockbuster store out quite yet.

The struggling rental chain’s soon-to-be owner, Dish Network, filed documents with Bankruptcy Court over the weekend listing certain stores it intends to keep open. They total about 600, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.

The company currently operates 1,751 U.S. stores, most of which are expected to be shuttered under Dish Network. The Wall Street Journal reported that the current number of store leases that won’t be picked up by Blockbuster’s new owners is now close to 1,000.

In its heyday, Blockbuster operated more than 4,000 stores.

Dish Network has yet to reveal the fate of every store or the exact number it plans to operate. However, people familiar with the situation have said the satellite TV provider intends to keep some retail footprint and also use Blockbuster’s brands and assets to create an online operation to compete with Netflix.

Dish’s $320-million acquisition of Blockbuster is expected to close Thursday.

-- Ben Fritz

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Dish Network to acquire Blockbuster for $320 million