Watching movies and eating pizza are two popular activities among college students, and one just got easier.

Video Update purchased the Moovies chain in March and is making changes beyond its name and management. For those Ames residents who do not know about the management change, there may be an obvious reason. The signs on the Ames stores at 3615 Lincoln Way and 222 Lincoln Way still bear the former name, Moovies.

Cheaper rentals, longer hours and new incentives are reasons Ames residents might want to check out the new video stores, according to the new manager.

Paul Flagge, west store manager for Video Update, said many positive things have happened since the change in management, including the change in closing time from 11 p.m. to midnight. Also, a new policy allows children to receive a free video with each rental.

Moovies traditionally had 99-cent rentals on Wednesdays, but now customers can get two for 99 cents on Tuesday, Flagge said.

“Video Update definitely has their focus on catering to clientele at each specific location,” Flagge said. He said the Ames stores will focus on keeping a wide variety of videos, but especially ones that would interest college students.

Since Moovies did not have local headquarters, having the headquarters of Video Update in Minnesota is not much a of a change, Flagge said.

“Video Update has 400-plus stores across the nation,” he said.

One change that is not yet obvious is the logo change. Flagge said management hopes to have everything converted to the red and white Video Update logo by Thanksgiving of this year. For now, some employees have Video Update shirts, and the rental cards are new.