AfterDawn: News

Wal-Mart to buy VUDU

According to the New York Times, Wal-Mart is set to purchase VUDU, the premium video streaming service, as a way to compete against iTunes, Netflix and cable VOD.

The move marks the third time Wal-Mart has tried to compete in the realm of video rental. In 2004, it started a DVD-by-mail service, but closed it in 2005 and set its customers right to Netflix as part of a deal.



In 2007, they started an a la carte music download program with full blessing from the major record labels, but killed the service in 2008 after Apple surpassed them as the biggest music retailer in the United States.

Vudu offers the most HD movies, and offers the best quality, but has remained for the most part, obscure, as it does not have broad marketing.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Feb 2010 14:59

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• 6 comments

• lissenup2

  Good luck.
  
  Vudu was a stupid idea from the start and hence the reason for its failure/struggling. Besides, what goofs just sit in front of their computers on a desk and watch tv? Maybe when most people set up their system as I have mine (computer hooked up to 52" tv and home theatre system) THEN vudu will be good. Hulu survives because people simply use it for catching up on missed shows.................not to watch regular tv on an every day basis.

  22.2.2010 18:18 #1

• cart0181

  Originally posted by lissenup2: Good luck.
  
  Vudu was a stupid idea from the start and hence the reason for its failure/struggling. Besides, what goofs just sit in front of their computers on a desk and watch tv? Maybe when most people set up their system as I have mine (computer hooked up to 52" tv and home theatre system) THEN vudu will be good. Hulu survives because people simply use it for catching up on missed shows.................not to watch regular tv on an every day basis.I know I'm in the minority, but I haven't had a "TV" since I lived with my Mom 10 years ago.

  22.2.2010 18:35 #2

• Ryoohki

  i watch everything on my laptop. i don't have cable or one of those set top boxes so my old tv (which is even smaller display than my laptop lol) can watch public channels. i only use it to test that dvds i had burned would play properly on my stand-alone dvd player which i also don't use anymore other than for testing purposes( i make dvds for my mother and always test them first). i'm completely unwilling to pay for any type of video on demand. i pay for broadband and the prices keep going up. that's good enough.

  22.2.2010 22:11 #3

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by lissenup2: Good luck.
  
  ... Hulu survives because people simply use it for catching up on missed shows.................not to watch regular tv on an every day basis.
  Generalization...
  I watch regular TV on Hulu, almost every day. With my schedule, I never catch the shows when they air.

  23.2.2010 00:30 #4

• peluynati

  thats all wee need another walmart monopoly.

  27.2.2010 15:16 #5

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by peluynati: thats all wee need another walmart monopoly.
  I doubt Walmart will ever get to have monopoly over streaming video...
  

  
  Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

  27.2.2010 15:23 #6