5 posts and columns on DVD-by-mail

Vudu Convinces Walmart to Pay Up: Why an Also-Ran Web Movie Service Sold for More Than $100 Million

in Media on February 22, 2010 at 1:37 pm PT

As I wrote in January, Walmart is indeed interested in buying Vudu, the online movie service. I was off about one thing, though–the price. Walmart will be paying more than $100 million for the service, people familiar with the deal tell me. That’s much more than the $50 million I had previously heard Vudu was seeking and much more than industry observers thought it would get.

Netflix CEO: iPad, iPhone Streaming Not a Priority

in Mobile on January 29, 2010 at 7:53 am PT

While unveiling the iPad this past Wednesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs touted it as “the best device” for watching mobile video. And that may well prove to be the case–but not for mobile video from Netflix, because at this point, the DVD-by-mail pioneer has no plans to bring its subscription-based streaming service to the iPad, or to the iPhone for that matter.

Is Walmart Ready to Try Web TV Again, With Vudu’s Help?

in Media on January 12, 2010 at 3:00 am PT

Walmart has tried twice to deliver movies and TV shows to its customers. Is it ready to try again? Maybe. Sources tell me Web video start-up Vudu is in “meaningful” acquisition discussions, and industry executives believe Walmart is the likely buyer.
vudu-logo-001

Streaming Video Revolutionaries Actually Closet DVD-by-Mail Users

in News on August 19, 2009 at 9:26 am PT

Kaufman Bros. analyst Aaron Kessler recently conducted a survey of 700 Internet users (see charts below; click to enlarge) and found that 20 percent of those who aren’t currently Netflix subscribers plan to register for the service in the next five years. Moreover, 68 percent of all respondents said that “the ability to watch videos on the Internet vs. renting from a physical store or by mail” doesn’t much matter to them. Only six percent said that feature is important.
shirt

Netflix to Stream Hannah Montana Contagion

in News on September 23, 2008 at 11:50 am PT

Looks like Netflix’s video-streaming business is developing quite nicely. On Tuesday the DVD-by-mail pioneer said it has signed deals with CBS and Walt Disney that will add some of those networks’ most popular shows to the Netflix streaming library.