Barnes & Noble Inc. says it will launch a video service this fall that lets users buy and watch movies and TV shows on their mobile devices and televisions.

The New York-based company says users of Nook Video will be able to shop an extensive collection of movies and shows from major studios including HBO, Sony Pictures, Viacom and Warner Brothers. The move into video puts Barnes & Noble more directly into competition with other online video providers, including Amazon.com and Apple Inc.

Users will be able to download videos and view them on Barnes & Noble’s Nook tablets and other devices with the Nook Video app, which the company plans to launch soon.

Good for them for trying to stay relevant (and solvent), in the modern digital era. But I think they’re going to have a long, uphill battle against the entrenched incumbents like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple, not to mention direct channel apps like HBO GO. Is there really room for another video app? Does Barnes & Noble bring anything new or unique to the table?

Read the rest at chicagotribune.com.