Internet company Ihug has moved decisively into the video hire business with a 51% purchase of the country's largest video supplier, Video Ezy International (NZ) Ltd.
In a statement released on Wednesday Video Ezy is described as having 114 outlets, 600,000 database members, and 150,000 transactions per week.
It says Ihug will explore ways of using Video Ezy to reward customer loyalty and Video Ezy will use the connection to add home delivery to its operations.
Video Ezy director Russell Clark says a new website for online ordering of hire videos is currently being tested.
Ihug director Tim Wood says the move relates to long term plans "to introduce online ordering and delivery services for a wide range of goods" and is part of their E-mmediate real-time service currently being trailed in Auckland.
Directors of Video Ezy will be Clark, Kevin Peterson (Video Ezy), Nick Wood (Ihug), and Rob Campbell (Tappenden Holdings, an Ihug shareholder).