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Like rival Netflix, Blockbuster (BBI) is hoping to build its new streaming service into as many living room gadgets as possible. Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes, via E-Commerce Times, via NewTeeVee:

We'll be able to put the same capability into a Blu-ray player. We'll go into DVRs (digital video recorders), game consoles, etc., just as others are doing to make the same capability available through other devices.

Smart (if obvious) strategy, but Blockbuster is about a year behind Netflix (NFLX), which already has deals to build its streaming service into Samsung and LG Blu-ray players, Microsoft (MS

Clearwire's (CLWRD) newly formed wireless joint venture with Sprint Nextel (S) has already made one smart move, Reuters reports: It's dumping the "Xohm" name that Sprint tried using for its WiMax Internet service.

Why? Because Clearwire's "Clear" brand sounds a lot less silly. And unlike Xohm, it already has some traction. Per Google (GOOG) Trends:

Clearwire closed its $14.5 billion deal with Sprint last Friday. Other investors include Intel (INTC), Comcast (CMCSA), Google (GOOG), and Time Warner Cable (TWC).

Clearwire shares are up 2.9% today to $7.20.

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Spri

Filed under: Management, Law, Television, Time Warner Cable (TWC)

This post is part of a feature in which he wonder whatever happened to some notorious financial felons. See all 17.

John Rigas used Adelphia, which at one time was the fifth largest broadcasting and cable TV company, as his personal piggy bank, ultimately driving the company into bankruptcy. He founded the company with his son, Timothy Rigas, who was also charged in the scheme. The Rigases stole $100 million from the company so they could buy luxurious personal residences, trips, and other items to enable them to live a life

Movie rental service Netflix (NFLX) has been signing up gadget companies left and right to distribute its Internet movie streams, ranging from LG to Microsoft (MSFT) Xbox and TiVo (TIVO). And it recently hired a new executive to make more of those deals.

So are cable giants like Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner (TWC) -- who already have set-top boxes in millions of U.S. living rooms -- up next on the to-do list?

That would be nice, but it's not happening, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings told PaidContent's Rafat Ali in a video interview (embedded below).

"That would be a great deal, we'd love to do it

Filed under: Consumer experience, Rants and raves, Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG), Cisco Systems (CSCO), eBay (EBAY), AT and T (T), Sprint Nextel Corp (S), Clear Channel Commun (CCU), Comcast Cl'A' (CMCSA), Verizon Communications (VZ), Time Warner Cable (TWC), Serious Money

This is the first in a four part series which I hope gives buyers, sellers, shareholders and dare I say management a platform for discussion.

Over the years I have written numerous stories about eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), which I think has evolved from a must own stock of the new economy to just another company struggling