Wal-Mart Will Purchase Vudu
By Chris Weiss
Wal-Mart reportedly plans to get a piece of the growing Internet movie market by purchasing Vudu, according to a NY Times article. The terms of the deal have not yet been reported, but the move will help Wal-Mart to shift its movie business from hard-copy-only toward an Internet streaming.
Previously limited to standalone boxes, Vudu technology is now offered in a variety of Web-enabled televisions and Blu-ray players, allowing buyers to access Internet movies. The company currently supplies major television manufacturers like Samsung, Sharp and Toshiba with streaming technology.
The marriage of the two companies should be mutually beneficial, as Vudu has struggled to keep its head above water and Wal-Mart needs to find a way to compete in the changing digital movie market. The NY Times speculates that the acquisition could also open up the door for Wal-Mart to sell other retail goods via television in the future.
Wal-Mart already toiled in the Internet movie market when it partnered with HP in 2007 to offer a short-lived movie downloading service. [via NY Times]
