Walmart brings movies to your home

Filed in archive Entertainment on November 30, 2006

CNN reports Wal-Mart will offer digital movie downloads. It's using an interesting methodology (example from the CNN article): With the purchase of the "Superman Returns" physical DVD, Wal-Mart said customers can also choose from three video download format options -- $1.97 for portable devices, $2.97 for PCs/laptops, and $3.97 for both portable players and PC/laptops.

Buy a physical DVD, then get a download, and offer different prices for different devices, and then a 2-for-1 price...This could change the way people think about movies. Right now, many fight for their right to rip movies and put them in any format they want, use it any way they'd like, and basically "own" the movie. This seems to be more of a rental method than a purchase method, though with Wal-Mart, you never know what they're going to do or going after.

Also, I'll bet Wal-Mart offers only movies it morally approves, potentially limiting the choices of those who only have access to a Wal-Mart. Or it could just be one more option for those who love watching movies online, and drive the price lower for everyone. Anything could happen.