Home > Xtravision
Xtravision is Ireland's largest chain of video rental stores, founded in 1979. Owned by Blockbuster for a number of years, the chain has never rebranded, as the Xtravision name is better known and more respected than Blockbuster. Even in Northern Ireland, where Blockbuster trade separately as part of their UK division, Xtravision operate separately. They have 202 stores across the island of Ireland.However, the few Xtravision stores outside of Ireland - those in Manchester, London and New Hampshire were rebranded to Blockbuster after the takeover.
The company was involved in what was once Ireland's largest corporate bankrupcy, with massive expansion of their retail network causing a massive increase in their stock price on the ISEQ. The companies value reached IR£27,000,000; but the low turnovers in the video rental market meant that there was no cash to continue their huge expansion - up to ten new stores a week - and the company went bankrupt - with its shares being valued at 1/8th of a penny on its sale to Cambridge Investments, who in turn went bankrupt and sold out to Blockbuster.
The company has an exclusive deal meaning that any movie with funding from the Irish Film Board will initially be provided for rental and sale solely through their network of stores.
