[Note that VUDU's business model is a la carte PPV, while Netflix offers content as an all you can eat streaming subscription. If you want to watch more than a few TV episodes per month, VUDU becomes a very expensive choice.]
Wal-Mart's Vudu To Conjure Up 10,000-Plus TV Shows Over-the-Top Service Bulks Up on Content from Cable, Broadcast Networks By Todd Spangler Multichannel News 9/22/2011 1:33:28 PM http://www.multichannel.com/article/474251-Wal_Mart_s_Vudu_To_Conjure_Up_10_000_Plus_TV_Shows.php Vudu, the over-the-top video service owned by Wal-Mart Stores, expects to offer more than 10,500 episodes of TV cable and broadcast shows for à la carte purchase by the end of October -- bulking up its television content as Netflix staggers from its major marketing misstep. Wal-Mart's streaming-video service, whose other big competitors are Apple and Amazon.com, has inked deals with programmers including Bravo, BBC America, Comedy Central, Discovery Communications, MTV, National Geographic, Nickelodeon, NBC, Oxygen, Showtime, Spike TV, Starz Entertainment, Syfy, TLC and USA Network. Vudu TV listingsTV shows that have been added to Vudu's lineup this month include 30 Rock, Breaking Bad, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Shark Week, Suits and The Kennedys. Vudu now offers "next-day air" for more than 60 TV series, including: NBC's The Office Season 8, Law and Order: SVU Season 13, Pan Am Season 1, Parenthood Season 3 and Parks and Recreation Season 4; BBCA's Doctor Who Season 6 and Top Gear UK Season 17; TNT's The Closer Season 7; Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 and The Rachel Zoe Project Season 4; and AMC's The Walking Dead Season 2. Episodes are available for purchase only with pricing ranging from $1.99 to $2.99 per episode depending on whether the content being purchased is in standard-definition or HD. The majority of Vudu's library still comprises movies, with some 20,000 titles available to rent or buy. Netflix offers unlimited-access subscription to TV and movie content, as opposed to Vudu's à la carte model, but Netflix has suffered a massive customer backlash from its decision to split its streaming and DVD plans. Meanwhile, Vudu also is offering limited-time free premiere episodes from several new fall TV shows in a deal with NBCUniversal. Those include NBC's Whitney, Prime Suspect, Free Agents and Up All Night; Oxygen's Bachelorette Party; and Bravo's Fashion Hunters and Mad Fashion. The free episodes will be available for approximately two weeks following the original premiere dates. Vudu's TV and movie content is available on Vudu.com, Walmart.com/vudu and on more than 300 Vudu-enabled CE devices including Apple's iPad, Internet-capable HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players and Sony's PlayStation 3. Earlier this summer Wal-Mart -- the world's largest retailer -- integrated Vudu into Walmart.com, which now provides links to the streaming-video service alongside DVD search results. _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
