Wal-Mart’s Vudu Movie Service Offers Browser-Based Access
Vudu, the Web-based film rental business owned by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), began offering a browser-based service that lets customers access movies without having equipment such as a game console or Blu-ray player.
Customers can search for, select and stream movies and TV shows from the Vudu.com site using a Web browser, the Santa Clara, California-based Wal-Mart unit said in a statement today.
Vudu and other providers have been trying to gain market share by emphasizing features not available on Netflix Inc. (NFLX)’s $7.99 monthly service. Vudu offers a la carte downloads the same day as DVDs or Blu-ray discs go into stores. It also emphasizes high-definition films and stereo soundtracks.
Netflix Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings has stayed away from the pay-per-view market, focusing on unlimited offerings for a monthly fee.
Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, rose 70 cents to $53.52 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Netflix, based in Los Gatos, California, gained $5.76 to $233.29 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading.
To contact the reporter on this story: Cliff Edwards in San Francisco at cedwards28@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net
Rate this Page