Fandango purchases Vudu! (2 Viewers)

[Sam Posten]

Lame?
https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/20/walmart-is-selling-its-on-demand-video-service-vudu-to-fandango/

 

[Cranston37+]

...which means Vudu is now owned by a combo of NBC/Universal and Warner Brothers.

I can't see it bring much change to consumers, really. It will be interesting to see if Vudu goes away in favor of FandangoNow...

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Wasn’t this previously announced? I kinda remember a thread where we were wondering whether the Vudu interface or Fandango now one would be kept.

 

[Cranston37+]

Wasn’t this previously announced? I kinda remember a thread where we were wondering whether the Vudu interface or Fandango now one would be kept.

That was just discussion over the rumors that they were talking

 

[Cranston37+]

Do you plan to keep both online video services brands – FandangoNow and Vudu – or combine them into one?

Our priority is to ensure that Vudu customers and partners are given the highest level of service during this time of transition. There will be no immediate changes to either service. In the months ahead, we will explore ways to bring great online entertainment experiences to our valued customers.

 

[Tino]

Not a fan of fandango.

 

[Cranston37+]

Not a fan of fandango.

Whatever Fandango is now is a moot point because we are clearly going to get a new service/app out of this.

There is an opportunity here for this to be something. You are going to have a service that has a feature none of the other services can match - theatrical ticket buying.

From a movie being in the theater to being at home, your movie purchasing can be covered under one roof and maybe in one transaction. Think about this - if FandangoNow can get your digital purchase at the time it gets your ticket purchase, iTunes will be cut out.

And with the service being owned by Universal and Warners, there some muscle there...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Not a fan of fandango.

Why?

 

[Todd Erwin]

Why?

I'm going to guess that it is no Dolby Atmos support, limited device support (compared to Vudu, although FN did just add Fire devices).

 

[Tino]

Why?

In addition to what Todd said I just don’t like their interface either. I doubt in the end it will affect me either way.

 

[Robert Crawford]

In addition to what Todd said I just don’t like their interface either. I doubt in the end it will affect me either way.

Those reasons are why it’s good for Fandango to buy Vudu.

 

[Sam Posten]

Those reasons are why it’s good for Fandango to buy Vudu.

For Fandango. Maybe not for consumers. Time will tell.

I think it seriously puts into the question the possibility of hold out studios joining MA.

 

[Todd Erwin]

In addition to what Todd said I just don’t like their interface either. I doubt in the end it will affect me either way.

I agree - I find it much more difficult to find a movie in my library on their apps, not so much on the web (but I never stream from the web).

 

[Mark-P]

According to the information Vudu sent to me, nothing is changing, just new ownership. This isn't a case of Fandango buying out a competitor just to dismantle them. The Vudu infrastructure and customer base is so much bigger and better than Fandango, they would be insane not to take advantage of its superiority. I think if a service gets shut down, it would be FandangoNow and those customers would be transplanted over to Vudu.

 

[Tino]

1. Was Vudu purchased by Fandango? What does this mean for me?

Vudu has entered an agreement to be purchased by Fandango, the ultimate digital network for all things movies & TV. Vudu will continue to deliver an amazing experience; and we promise that the future will bring new exciting features, offerings, and other benefits. All your movies & TV shows will be safe on Vudu. You’ll continue to have access to them as always, across millions of devices.

2. Is Vudu shutting down?

No, we are not shutting down the Vudu service. Your movie and TV library on Vudu is safe. You will continue to have access to it as always.

3. Are my movies & TV library collections safe?

Yes. All the movies and TV shows you own on Vudu will still be there. You will continue to have access to them as always.

4. Can I still redeem digital copies on Vudu?

Yes, as always, you can redeem your digital copies at Vudu. InstaWatch auto redemptions at Walmart will continue to be supported.

5. Are my promotions codes, and offers still valid?

Yes, all your promotions codes and offers are still valid. Please follow the listed instructions to redeem them.

6. I signed up using my Walmart.com account. Will it still work?

Yes, you can continue using your Walmart.com account credentials to sign in to the Vudu service. In the months ahead, we will explore ways to bring great online entertainment experiences to our users.

7. I use Vudu on my Roku. Will that change?

Rest assured, nothing about your experience on any Vudu apps across devices will be different.

8. Vudu offers me new release movies before they are available on subscription services. Will that change?

Nothing about how and when we offer new releases or catalog titles will change. You will have the same great assortment anytime, anywhere.

9. Do you plan to keep both online video services brands – FandangoNow and Vudu – or combine them into one?

Our priority is to ensure that Vudu customers and partners are given the highest level of service during this time of transition. So, there will be no immediate changes to either service. In the months ahead, we will explore ways to bring great online entertainment experiences to our valued customers.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Our priority is to ensure that Vudu customers and partners are given the highest level of service during this time of transition. So, there will be no immediate changes to either service. In the months ahead, we will explore ways to bring great online entertainment experiences to our valued customers.

Hopefully this means that people's Fandango Now purchases will get rolled into their Vudu libraries, Fandango Now will go away, and "Vudu by Fandango" or whatever branding will endure going forward.

Vudu by far has the best UI and customer experience of the various digital lockers.

 

[Patrick Mason]

Mainly sad to assume Disc + Digital is going away, no one else had anything like that. Loved getting to buy the digital copy before the physical release was out, and then having Walmart ship the disc when it streeted. That was really the main reason I use Vudu.

 

[Tino]

Vudu by far has the best UI and customer experience of the various digital lockers.

Next to iTunes.

 

[Todd Erwin]

I think most of us have a much better feeling about this than we did when Target Ticket was shut down (and customers transitioned to CinemaNow) or when Rovi sold CinemaNow to OnTV (after Best Buy sold CN to Rovi) and shuttered the service without notice.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Next to iTunes.

I find the Vudu app far superior to the AppleTV+ app on my Roku Ultra by just about every objective measure. For one thing: You can actually watch the extras on the Vudu app. I have to use my PC to watch the iTunes extras. Navigating the AppleTV+ app is also pokey compared to the Vudu app.