Blockbuster back from the dead

UPDATE 2 - 20:43 28/02/14: Dish has denied it has licensed the Blockbuster brand.

"Contrary to media reports, Dish Network Corporation and Blockbuster L.L.C. have not entered into any licensing agreements for the Blockbuster brand in the UK, nor has it made any statements on the subject," the company said in a statement issued to Eurogamer.

UPDATE 1 - 16:00 28/02/14: Crash Entertainment Group's claim it had licensed the Blockbuster brand has been called into question after Virgin Media denied it had signed a deal for its on demand service to appear on TiVo.

Virgin Media issued Eurogamer the following statement this afternoon: "You can already watch an unbeatable choice of on demand movies with Virgin Media and we are not in discussions about a service from Blockbuster."

Crash Entertainment Group's announcement that it intended to open 10 new Blockbuster stores by the end of 2014 has been removed from its website. That announcement had included a comment from Joseph P. Clayton, boss of Blockbuster owner Dish.

Eurogamer has requested comment from Dish.

ORIGINAL STORY: High street shop Blockbuster is back from the dead.

In December 2013 Blockbuster closed down all its remaining stores resulting in 808 people losing their jobs.

Now, two months later, Dish Network Corporation has licensed the Blockbuster brand to Crash Entertainment Group, which intends to get Blockbuster up and running with a retail presence and by mail DVD distribution by late 2014.

Crash will open 10 new Blockbuster stores and rebrand its five Crash Entertainment shops in Isle of Man to Blockbuster. It'll also operate the streaming service Blockbuster On Demand, available on Virgin Media's TiVo.

"This is good news for Blockbuster customers in the UK, as consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment," said Dish boss Joseph P. Clayton.

"Despite our closing of the physical distribution elements of the business, we continue to see value in the Blockbuster brand, and we expect to leverage that brand as we continue to expand our digital offerings."

Blockbuster first slipped into administration in January 2013, when 324 outlets were shut. Another 72 stores closed in November, and 62 more in December before the final cull.