NBCU reportedly in talks to buy Walmart’s TVOD service

Comcast’s NBCUniversal is reportedly in talks to acquire Walmart’s Vudu TVOD service.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the SNL broadcaster is in “advanced talks” to buy the streamer, though a source said that these discussions “may not result in a deal.”

The Journal adds that NBCU would view Vudu “as a complement Peacock,” its upcoming streamer that will start rolling out in April for Xfinity subscribers before a full launch in July.

It is also believed that the movie rentals and purchases would be tied into cinema ticket buying service Fandango, which is also owned by Comcast. Fandango operates its own FandangoNOW streaming service, but it has a much smaller pool of users.

While primarily being known for its rental and purchasing capabilities, Vudu has had an AVOD component since October 2016 which offers a range of films and series on demand.

The service has widely been praised by technically-minded users for its high streaming quality, with its HDX rental tier.

News first emerged of Walmart’s interest in selling the service in late 2019, with a spokesperson telling The Information that it was always “open to conversations with new and existing partners to explore opportunities for continued growth.”