Walmart Launches Digital Video Service So Customers Who Still Buy Blu-rays, DVDs Will Redeem Digital Copies

Walmart appears to be going Hollywood. No, the company isn’t going to be the focus of a movie. Instead the mega-retailer and its digital entertainment service, VUDU, have launched a new service putting digital copies of movies at customers’ fingertips – or rather on their smartphones and tablets.

The new service called InstaWatch aims to make it simpler for consumers to redeem digital copies of the the physical movies they purchased in-store or online, USA Today reports.

Customers can access their digital copies by scanning their receipt with the Walmart Savings Catcher app. At that point a digital copy of the film will appear in the users connected VUDU account.

Users will receive an email that they can stream the video on their smartphone, tablet or computer.

InstaWatch will initially provide access to digital copies of 800 movies available at Walmart stores and 1,100 movies available on walmart.com.

Available films include those produced through major studios such as DreamWorks Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Officials with Walmart tell USA Today that InstaWatch was created in part to solve the problem of customers not redeeming digital copies of movies they purchased.

“If you are not getting your digital copy, you are simply not getting the full value,” Gibu Thomas, Walmart senior vice president of digital and mobile says.

Walmart delivers movie digital copies to Vudu [USA Today]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.