Washington, D.C. (November 10, 2008) -- Vudu, the VOD set-top service, now has more than 1,100 movies available in High-Definition, which it says exceeds the number of HD titles available from any other TV provider.
The Vudu set-top, which starts at $299, enables users to download movies over a high-speed Internet connection. The box, which can also store movies, includes both standard-def and HDTV films.
However, Vudu has struggled to generate interest due to competition from traditional TV services such as cable and satellite and a general 'set-top' fatigue among Americans. (In Amazon's list of best-selling electronics products, the Vudu set-top is now ranked just 15,107. By comparison, an Apple TV with 40GB hard drive is ranked #887 while an Apple TV with a 160GB hard drive is ranked #488. LG Electronics' set-top, which includes Netflix's movie service, is ranked #348.)
Will HD lead Vudu to victory?
But Vudu hopes that the expanded HD library of films will appeal to high-def enthusiasts still hungry for more content. (Vudu offers nearly 10,000 standard-def titles as well as the high-def films.) The company has been adding roughly 150 HD titles as week, which cost between $4-6 each to watch.
“We’re certainly proud to offer the largest HD library on the planet but the motivation to accomplish this really sprang from our customers, retail partners and Home Theater installation professionals, all of whom were asking for more HD content,” Edward Lichty, Vudu's executive vice president, said in a company statement.
Vudu and Best Buy are now bundling a $200 movie credit with the $299 set-top at retail.
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The Vudu set-top, which starts at $299, enables users to download movies over a high-speed Internet connection. The box, which can also store movies, includes both standard-def and HDTV films.
However, Vudu has struggled to generate interest due to competition from traditional TV services such as cable and satellite and a general 'set-top' fatigue among Americans. (In Amazon's list of best-selling electronics products, the Vudu set-top is now ranked just 15,107. By comparison, an Apple TV with 40GB hard drive is ranked #887 while an Apple TV with a 160GB hard drive is ranked #488. LG Electronics' set-top, which includes Netflix's movie service, is ranked #348.)
Will HD lead Vudu to victory?
But Vudu hopes that the expanded HD library of films will appeal to high-def enthusiasts still hungry for more content. (Vudu offers nearly 10,000 standard-def titles as well as the high-def films.) The company has been adding roughly 150 HD titles as week, which cost between $4-6 each to watch.
“We’re certainly proud to offer the largest HD library on the planet but the motivation to accomplish this really sprang from our customers, retail partners and Home Theater installation professionals, all of whom were asking for more HD content,” Edward Lichty, Vudu's executive vice president, said in a company statement.
Vudu and Best Buy are now bundling a $200 movie credit with the $299 set-top at retail.
Comment on this article!
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