Wal-Mart has introduced a new in-store disc-to-digital service that takes your DVD or Blu-ray and converts it to digital, allowing you stream your purchased movies wherever you have an internet connection. The service is powered by VUDU, the digital movie company Wal-Mart purchased in 2010 which will give customers access to their digital movies. Supporting devices include PCs, HDTVs, tablets, phones, gaming consoles, and other devices that can run VUDU.
The Disc-to-Digital service will be offered in Wal-Mart’s Photo Centers, where associates will help you through the process (including creating a VUDU account if you don’t already have one.) Let’s be clear though, Wal-Mart is not actually “converting” your discs to digital format (like you might convert a VHS to digital format). They are simply giving you a digital license to view the film.
How much will the digital license cost? Wal-Mart says a standard conversion for both DVDs and Blu-ray Discs will cost $2, with an option to upscale a DVD to high-definition for $5. The service will launch on April 16th in at least 3,500 Wal-Mart stores.
Wal-Mart isn’t going this path alone, with Paramount Home, Sony, 20th Century Fox, Universal, and Warner Bros. all supporting the soon-to-launch service.
Just an FYI, Wal-Mart Entertainment also supports UltraViolet, so you if you’ve got a UV copy you’ll be able to view it through your VUDU account.
