Widely used during the pandemic, AMC Theatres On Demand is now part of NBCU’s Fandango-operated movie sale and rental service.
Vudu, the digital movie and TV rental unit of Walmart, is being acquired by NBCUniversal’s Fandango division. The news was confirmed in a blog post on Vudu’s website. Comcast and NBCU had been reported to be in talks earlier this year to acquire Vudu, a deal that gives the company another streaming outlet as it integrates Xumo and also rolls out Peacock, which just went live for Comcast subscribers.
NBCUniversal is in talks to acquire Walmart’s Vudu video business, a source familiar with the discussions tells The Hollywood Reporter. A deal would give NBCU ownership of Vudu’s digital marketplace for movies and television shows. Vudu also offers a free, ad-supported video service.
Walmart is considering selling its 15-year old Vudu on-demand video service, say people familiar with the situation, a sign of how the digital video business has evolved from on-demand rentals and purchases to streaming.
Exclusives
One surprising new entrant is Vudu, the Walmart-owned streaming video company. Vudu has been ramping up its content offerings in a bid to directly take on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming offerings.
Walmart is expanding Vudu, its on-demand mostly-centric movie video service, to now include a free advertising-supported movie digital service — Vudu Movies on Us. Customers can access this new Vudu service from any of their Internet devices and can watch titles like Mad Max, True Grit, Abduction and School of Rock.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is moving its Vudu video streaming and rental service to a place where it can get attract more eyeballs — the Walmart.com web site — as the growing service competes for attention with a variety of video services.
Wal-Mart-owned online video service Vudu said Tuesday it has added the first seasons of Glee and Modern Family to its content library, as well as prior seasons of Weeds other series as it looks to beef up its TV lineup.
