Walmart goes disc-to-digital
by March 14, 2012 4:42 pm 110 views
Walmart continues to think and apply technology to rev up store sales.
The retail giant unveiled its disc-to-digital service today (March 14) that will allow in-store consumers to convert DVDs and Blu-ray discs into digital movies in order to boost up the value of movie ownership for its customers.
The new service will kick-off April 16 at 3,500 Walmart stores. The cost for conversion is $2 for standard discs and $5 for a High-Definition upgrade, according to the company release.
The service is made available from Vudu video-streaming service, technology the retail giant acquired in 2010 as a Silicon Valley start-up.
Wal-Mart will team up with five major Hollywood studios: Viacom, Sony, News Corp.,Comcast and Time Warner. The company will use its Vudu video-streaming service to convert the discs to digital service through the movie industry’s UltraViolet technology.
Once converted, consumers can watch movies on multiple devices including televisions, tablets, smartphones and gaming consoles.
Analysts with Zacks Investment Research say this initiative will boost Walmart’s lackluster movie sales which have been declining due to the presence of other forms of entertainment and online alternatives.