Walmart, one of the world’s largest retailer of DVDs, may be moving beyond physical media sales and jumping feet first into the online streaming business. According to the New York Times, Walmart is reportedly in the process of purchasing VUDU, an online movie streaming service that recently inked some sweet deals with big name TV and Blu-Ray drive manufacturers. Some of them include LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Toshiba and VIZIO. Walmart could possibly use its retail presence to sell the VUDU box and offer up VUDU’s 3,000 strong HD movie catalog at its famous discounted prices. With its name, its retail presence, and its influence on the DVD distribution channel, does Walmart wield enough power to be the game changer that forces the movie industry to let go of its precious DVD and embrace the online streaming model of distribution? We can’t say for sure but one thing is certain, Hollywood will be watching this deal and the resulting service very closely.
