Dish Network to close 500 Blockbuster stores in next six months

Dish Network Corp. said Thursday that it plans to shutter 500 Blockbuster stores across the United States within the next six months.

"We are closing 500 stores that are not performing well, that were primarily unprofitable," said Marc Lumpkin, spokesman for Douglas County-based Dish.

The move would leave approximately 1,000 Blockbuster stores, with about 150 of those selling Dish services, said Lumpkin, adding that the number of Blockbuster stores offering Dish services will expand.

Dish acquired the struggling video-rental chain out of bankruptcy in late April 2011.

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