As Video on Demand (VOD) services are advancing, and Netflixand Amazonare gaining influence in the Emmys and other galas that reward the audio-visual productions, the Walmartchain is looking to boost Vudu, its virtual video shop. The goal is to make Vudu bigger and better, so that it can compete with higher productions from these large platforms.
Although Vuduhas been working with Walmart for almost eight years, and owns around 150 titles to buy or rent, and 5,000 more movies and TV shows on its free advertising service, Movies On Us, it has not been able to compete with services offered by Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, or Google Play.
At the beginning of the year, the company planned to create a Streaming or Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service, but apparently this idea was redesigned to invest in the relaunch and renewal of its video platform.
Neither Vudunor Walmarthave yet confirmed the launch of the video service as an SVOD system for the last quarter of 2018. If it were in the works, it would undoubtedly be one of the United States’ greatest innovations this year, since it would be a low cost package of no more than $100 per year.
The Information, a technology portal, said the company believes it can offer a digital platform for audiovisual content at a lower price than current Netflixand Prime Videosubscriptions, which could potentially shake up the US audiovisual sector.
Currently, a Netflixsubscription costs between $7.99 (basic user) and $13.99 (premium user) per month, while Amazon Prime Video's cheapest offer is priced at $8.99 per month.
Walmartplans to create a platform with a subscription fee under $8, with potential for a freemium model, like Spotify, which would be free to users and supported economically by ads.
According to our sources, Walmartbelieves that although Netflixand Amazoncurrently dominate the east and west coasts of the United States, in the interior of the country, known for having less economic resources, could benefit from a cheaper streaming offer than the existing ones.
In addition to Walmart, other entertainment and technology giants such as Disney, Apple, and Facebook, have recently expressed interest in entering the online broadcasting world, or strengthening their current pre-existent position within the sector.
With information from
