Streaming movies is turning out to be one of those bandwagons that everyone and their brother seems to want to jump on even though it isn’t native to their core business. Such is the case in the news that the parent company, Sears Holdings, of Sears and Kmart has signed a multi-year deal with Sonic Solutions to provide branded movie streaming services.

The services are expected to launch later in the year and of course they will be heavily promoted in the stores. For the most part this doesn’t seem to be anything more than an attempt to boost the visibility of Sears and Kmart’s presence on the web.

From the Sonic Solution’s press release

Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC) today announced it has entered into an agreement with Sears Holdings to provide consumers easy access to Hollywood entertainment on a range of Internet-connected devices including TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, and mobile phones. As part of the multi-year agreement, Sears has licensed the RoxioNow™ platform, which will power digital entertainment delivery services for both Sears and Kmart. The new services are expected to launch later this year and be broadly promoted at retail stores nationwide.

“Teaming up with Sonic is a great opportunity for Sears and Kmart to quickly establish a position in digital video entertainment, and offer another great service to our customers,” said Karen Austin, President of Home Electronics for Sears Holdings. “With direct access to so many movies and TV shows from a broad range of devices, our customers will have the ability to obtain the latest high-quality entertainment virtually anywhere, anytime.”

The entertainment services will offer a complete range of regularly updated movies and TV shows for rent or purchase, including new releases often on the same day DVDs become available at retail stores. Sonic and Sears will team to embed the services on a growing network of devices including portable media players, Blu-ray Disc players, mobile phones, and high-definition television sets from leading manufacturers.

I give it a year and they’ll figure out that it hasn’t done any good.

Attention shoppers – Blue Light special on streaming movies on aisle 3 is a post from: The Inquisitr

While only a rumor at this stage, it looks as though internet detectives have exposed which videogames Sears will be discounting on Black Friday 2009.

Because I’m nice (and, on an unrelated note, also rather handsome), I thought I’d give you folks a heads-up and a couple of days to top up your piggy banks. I know, I’m like the internet Jesus or something.

Couple of things to note: most offers this year will be available both in-store and online, and the “Sears Black Friday Doorbuster” deals are valid Friday November 27 from 4am – Noon.  All other prices are valid both Friday and Saturday.

On with details of the most eye-catching deals:

Xbox 360

- Brutal Legend – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Dragon Age: Origins – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Need for Speed: Shift – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Halo 3 ODST – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Left 4 Dead – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Forza 3 Motorsport – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Kit – $49.99 (Save $20) DOORBUSTER

PlayStation 3

- Brutal Legend – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Dragon Age: Origins – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Need for Speed: Shift – $39.99 (Save $20)
- Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Kit – $49.99 (Save $20) DOORBUSTER
- Free Blu-ray remote w/ purchase of PS3 Console

Nintendo Wii and DS

- A Boy and his Blob – $29.99 (Save $10)
- Biggest Loser – $29.99 (Save $10)
- Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum – $29.99 (Save $10)
- Drawn to Life (DS) – $19.99 (Save $10) DOORBUSTER
- World of Zoo (DS) – $19.99 (Save $10) DOORBUSTER
- Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Kit – $49.99 (Save $20) DOORBUSTER
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up – $29.99 (Save $20) DOORBUSTER

[Via GamerDeal]

[RUMOR] Sears Black Friday videogame deals revealed is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s almost “Black Friday” in the states which means flyers will start appearing at rapid rates in the coming weeks. One of the first flyers to get spotted comes from Sears and offers several pieces of electronics from TV’s and GPS units to Games and KitchenAid mixers.

Among Sears specials is a 40 inch Samsung 1080p LCD for $599 ($50 cheaper than found elsewhere) and a similar Samsung 1080p model for $664 (Only a $10 discount from other locations). They’ll also offer several GPS units, although given TomTom and Garmin stock prices after Google announced turn-by-turn directions just a few days ago, you may soon find even better deals at Bestbuy and through other online retailers.

They’ll also be offering a few games, although there really a pathetic attempt at getting the gamer crowd into their stores. While KitchenAid mixers are also featured.

From a tech perspective it’s not worth a 3AM sale. Especially considering you may have to line up by midnight to take advantage of some of the offerings at various store locations.

Engadget has provided a link to the official flyer: Sears PDF

Sears Black Friday Flyer Gets Revealed, Electronics Offers Are Rather Sad is a post from: The Inquisitr

Roberto Cavalli is going to be soooo pissed– LL Cool J has made a deal with Sears to release his new celebrity diffusion line called. . . wait for it. . . LL Cool J for Sears. I think I’m going to be sick, especially since Sears has designs to get all up in that urban market. Sears. Urban? I think Sears needs more than LL Cool J to accomplish this, but he seems pretty positive nonetheless:

I have always had a hand in fashion in some capacity [such as being the face of Kangol and Fubu], but I have never embraced a brand the way I will embrace this, the LL Cool J name is a brand I have been building for 25 years and I didn’t want to do this line with just any store. I wanted to wait until I felt comfortable enough to take the leap.

It’s hard to imagine that LL Cool J spent 25 years planning to drop this white hoodie on the world.

LL Cool J Loves Sears! is a post from: The Inquisitr