People have many different ways to watch their favorite movies and TV shows, thanks to an increase in competing services over recent years. The Internet provides both free and subscription resources, like Hulu and Netflix, that allow viewers to watch movies and shows through their computers. Along with websites, another leader in the new age of movie-watching is Redbox.

All of these changes are giving cable companies and movie rental retailers reason to worry.

Redbox is a movie rental machine located outside of popular stores like Wal-Mart, Walgreens and McDonald's. What makes it competitive is that customers can use the machine to rent new releases for only $1 per night. After customers have finished watching the movie, all they have to do is return it to any Redbox; it does not even have to be the same machine from which it was rented.

Due to the convenience and price of Redbox, places like Blockbuster find it difficult to keep business going.

Connor Shaw, employee of the Manhattan Blockbuster, said his store has managed to keep business steady, but it has had to adjust because of Redbox.

"Blockbuster has made deals with certain movie companies that allow us to get movies several weeks before Redbox," said Shaw, junior in pre-dentistry and hotel and restaurant management.

He said he attributes some of his store's success to the Blockbuster Rewards program, something Redbox cannot provide. However, not all Blockbusters have managed the same success as this locally owned store — just recently, msnbc.com released a report saying Blockbuster plans to file for bankruptcy in September, a development that could close anywhere from 500 to 800 of its retail stores.

The Internet has contributed to the decline in movie rental stores with Netflix, a convenient way to rent movies through the Internet or by mail.

Cable companies are also taking a hit. It does not take a computer whiz to find a television show and watch it through the Internet for free with websites like Hulu. Due to this phenomenon, college students have less need to subscribe to cable.

"Well, I watch TV shows almost exclusively online, except for sporting events," said Patrick Marks, sophomore in geography, who is also a resident of Putnam Hall.

Cristin Mays, senior in architectural engineering, subscribes only to the basic cable package. She said she gets basic cable mostly because of the price.

However, she said having the convenience of watching shows on the Internet played a small role in her decision to buy the basic package.

With all of these means to watch movies and television shows, Marks said the future is not looking too bright for conventional cable providers and movie rental retailers.