Walmart reportedly looking to sell TVOD service Vudu

Walmart is looking to sell its Vudu transactional video-on-demand service, according to a report by The Information, citing unnamed sources.

According to the report, Walmart is mulling a sale as the video streaming market in the US becomes more competitive, with the launch of multiple new SVOD and AVOD offerings including Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock. The TVOD model is also increasingly seen as being overtaken in popularity by subscription streaming, according to the The Information.

Walmart told The Information that it was always “open to conversations with new and existing partners to explore opportunities for continued growth” of the service, without divulging details.

Bloomberg reported last yearthat Walmart was considering opening up Vudu to streaming partners such as HBO Now, Showtime and Starz on the model of Amazon Channels as part of a move to convert retail shoppers to users of online services.

There were also press reports earlier last year that Walmart had plans to launch a broader OTT TV serviceand was working with former Epix CEO Mark Greenbergon a plan to develop an offering that would target the Middle American non-urban market, as part of a broader strategy by the retail giant to compete head on with Amazon.