Vudu, the Walmart-owned video streaming service, has long tried to compete iTunes and Amazon Video. They offered options to rent or purchase popular movies and TV shows and stream them online.
Now Vudu is jumping in on the free with ads streaming model made popular by services such as Crackle and Tubi TV.
The new service, Vudu Movies on Us, will not include newer movies. Those will remain available only for rent or purchase. At launch Vudu on Us will offer movies such as Mad Max, True Grit, Abduction, School of Rock, Hoosiers, The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Young Adult, Margin Call, A Walk to Remember and The Magnificent Seven (1960). Vudu says it will be adding more content in the coming months.
“There’s no better value than free,” said Jeremy Verba, VP and GM of Vudu. “We see a gap in the marketplace for watching free HD movies on-demand.”
This is a move many had previously hoped a service such as Crackle or Tubi TV would offer. Watch for free with ads or watch ad-free by paying. Although the catalog is small, hopefully Vudu will grow their selection.
It will be interesting to see if competitors will be able to release a similar service; however, some have already dipped their toe into the market. Recently Amazon has started offering the first episode of many shows for free with ads to allow you to test the season before paying. It will be interesting to see if they jump in and try to compete in this new market with Vudu.
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Source: http://cordcuttersnews.com/vudu-starts-offering-free-movies/
