Wal-Mart signs big 6 studios for movie downloads

Lookout iTunes, later today Wal-Mart will be announcing a download deal with all six major Hollywood studios -- the first of the big boys to do so. So not only will Wal-Mart's HP-created web site carry flix from Paramount and Disney just like Apple's service, they'll also tap into the treasures of Warner Brothers, Sony, 20th Century Fox and Universal. Television downloads can be had from the likes of Comedy Central, CW, FX, Logo, MTV and Nickelodeon. In all, about 3,000 productions will be available for download including films like "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Little Miss Sunshine" and TV series like "24" and "Veronica Mars." Download prices will be $12.88 to $19.88 on the day of the DVD release with older movies starting at $7.50; TV shows will go for $1.96 an episode. At this point, there's no mention of a download-to-burn capability or of cross-platform compatibility. However, it's likely to be Windows (DRM) only just like their existing beta service. Will this service go the way of their Wal-Mart Netflix DVD rental business or will it help drive down prices for consumers while mercilessly drubbing the competition out of the market? Time will tell.

Update: Wal-Mart's download site has sprung to life... kind of. We'll have to give 'em a few to sort out the kinks.

[Via The DVD Dossier]

[Pingspike @ Feb 6th 2007 4:58AM]

HOW MUCH ?! Roflmalamano

Will they ever learn.. sigh

[Echy @ Feb 6th 2007 7:11AM]

So what they really want me to do is buy the DVD? I don't get it.

[huh @ Feb 6th 2007 7:41AM]

"TV shows will go for $1.96 an episode."

So for example a DRM'ed "24" will end up costing close to 50 bucks. Crazy. Why not just get the DVD box with better quality and extras for $40, watch it and sell it on eBay?

Unless they are selling these in almost real time (right after they have been shown on TV), I fail to see *any* point in this. Not even then, actually.

Not that this really matters, as I live in Europe.

Our choices are the following:

* Wait a year or more for the series to start on TV (if they are shown at all)

* Wait even more for the R2 DVD box (or buy R1 DVD if you have a modded player)

* P2P (sadly)

I'd be happy to pay $20-25 for something like a season of 24 in downloadable format IF I could get it immediately after it's shown in the US, IF the quality was decent and IF it wasn't riddled with some ridiculous DRM ("watch once, rewinding not possible and we install some spyware on your computer").

As it is, media companies don't want my money. They want to spend *their* money and resources chasing teenagers who download stuff illegally from the internet, instead of coming up with a decent digital content distribution system.

The technology is already there, but the will isn't.

[stretchsje @ Feb 6th 2007 7:58AM]

Being WMV, I wonder if Walmart will soon be able to stream directly to X-Box 360 owners. That seems like a big market.

[gb @ Feb 6th 2007 9:59AM]

Logo? Pretty risque for Wal-Mart.

[Goodman @ Feb 6th 2007 10:03AM]

This seems like another one of those services that's designed by the studios to fail. Charge as much as a DVD for a computer file, but without the extras, no burning to disk and no cross-platform compatibility. I think the strategy of the studios is to charge as much as possible to preserve their DVD sales, and then gradually sweeten the deal as minimally as they can until consumers get on board. At this rate, there should be a viable movie download service in about 10 years.

Really though, no rentals? Not interested. I'll stick with Netflix and their combined offering of DVDs and streaming movies.

[picaso @ Feb 6th 2007 10:28AM]

I just wonder, during the checkout process will the virtual cashier close the register just before I get there? Will there be a virtual old gray-haired lady checking my receipt at the door?

[Jim @ Feb 6th 2007 10:58AM]

"I wonder if Walmart will soon be able to stream directly to X-Box 360 owners."

The FAQ states this is supported now.

As a test I just snagged a $7.50 video - came down at over 500kbps in little over 38 minutes. the process was simple and easy to setup. Windows Media can play the files which are simply wmv video. Seems pretty slick to me.

[dozx @ Feb 6th 2007 11:36AM]

Hmmm...... This is going to be a flop. This service will never make it. It doesn't support any of the popular portable players. Looks like Wal-Mart is shut out of this party. And it's video resolution is the same as iTunes, not better = no reason to even consider them to save 3 or 4 cents.

"Can I transfer movies or TV episodes to my iPod, Zune, or other portable hand devices?
Due to licensing restrictions, videos purchased from Wal-Mart Video Downloads are not compatible with Apple iPods, Sony PSPS, or Microsoft Zune portable players"

[Jake @ Feb 6th 2007 12:55PM]

Dead in the water. No PSP, iPod or Zune. From the FAQ:

What format(s) are available for TV episodes?

Portable: Our TV episodes are optimized for fast downloads and viewing on the go. All TV shows can be played on both your PC/Laptop and compatible portable video players. Please note that due to licensing restrictions portable files will not play on iPOD, Sony PSP, or Microsoft Zune portable players.
Technical Specification: 320 X 240 resolution, 30 fps, 500-810 kbps bit rate.

[Forrest Lowell @ Feb 6th 2007 9:11PM]

The episodes are updated real time, I have now watched all of the new episodes of 24, excellent!!!!

[fondy44 @ Feb 8th 2007 6:56AM]

Just finished reading this, asked my wife if she would pay $19.88 for a movie that could only be played on a PC or portable? Her response: Hell No! I can drive to Wal-Mart and pick up the DVD (at a better price) in the time it takes to download it.

[Jgreen @ Feb 13th 2007 8:48AM]

This service, so far, is horrible! The help files on the site are misguiding when it comes to how you play your files on Xbox360, and on how to back up your movies to DVD/CD. I called their so-called customer support line only to be told, “sorry, but we are in beta still…”. This is just another pathetic excuse at how large companies can rip people off and get away with providing bad service. Now I have paid for a movie that I can’t watch on my TV via Xbox360, and can’t back up to disc. Guess I should be happy getting told, “sorry”…I’ll never use walmart again. I’m sure by now they have removed the misleading information I speak of, since I made them aware of it Sunday night.

[5678 @ Feb 14th 2007 3:31PM]

It seems that you CAN burn a DVD backup of the downloaded movie but watchout. This statement is from the Walmart site: "The backup disk you burn will only play on computers that are linked to your Wal-Mart Video Downloads account."

Does this mean I need to have my DVD player online to watch a DVD copy??? If so this is a major deal breaker for me...

[Jake @ Feb 6th 2007 12:57PM]

No, it means that you can burn the actual file to a back-up disk, and can play that file on an authorized computer. It does not mean that you can burn a playable DVD-Video disk for use in your DVD player. Its for back-up and PC playback only.

[jays2000 @ Feb 23rd 2007 5:40PM]

For what it's worth, the site can now be browsed in Firefox and other browsers.

[Nathan @ Mar 6th 2008 3:03AM]

I agree with everyone who has thrown in a "This is crap" vote. Also, here's what the website looks like on my Mac with Firefox. In the foreground is a website screenshot program that I am assuming is running through Safari.

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/548/picture1zm0.jpg

The best part of this whole ordeal is the fact that the only recognizable thing on the Wal-Mart download page is the word "BETA." Indeed.

[Reginald @ Feb 6th 2007 10:03PM]

I agree, this movie site is teh suck!

Just like their music site, it is written for and renders fine in IE 6 on Win XP. However, the search window relies heavily upon client-side Java applets.

Also, during the related actor search, several of the movies listed the Film Cast as "null." Pretty sloppy programming.