The Disappearance of DVD Rental Companies in Lyon: Turning to Public Libraries for Film Fans

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With the disappearance of the last private DVD rental company in Lyon, fans of this format will now have to turn to the public network formed by libraries and media libraries.

France Télévisions – Culture Editorial

Published on 09/11/2023 9:36 p.m.

Reading time: 1 min.

Screenshot of a subject made in the L’Aquarium ciné-café video club in October 2022. Clément Seguin, in charge of the rental activity, then provides advice to a customer. (FRANCE 3)

Knowledgeable film buffs and amateurs searched the catalogs of the Aquarium ciné-café in Lyon on September 9: the last private DVD rental company in the city is putting an end to this activity to devote itself to workshops. DVD can no longer resist streaming platforms which are increasingly expanding their offerings. So after seven years, the Aquarium ciné-café is pulling back the curtain on DVD rental, to devote itself to its main activity of screening and workshops around cinema. Decision was made to put its 12,000 titles up for sale.

In 2016, the association launched itself by agreeing to continue the video club activity of the previous owner, “as long as we could”, explains Clément Séguin, one of the five employees who held the reins of the rental activity. “We lasted seven years, because there were fewer and fewer rental companies. But it took us time, management, it started to cost us money and did not stabilize”he continues.

“There should be room for all types of use”

Clément Séguin is from the generation that grew up with DVDs, at a time when the internet had not yet become the primary method of distributing films. “What’s a shame is that there should be room for all types of use. This mode remains the only physical solution”he regrets.