Wal-Mart closes its online film download store

Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, has closed its online film download service it launched less than 12 months ago.

The service was launched in February offering 3,000 films and episodes of popular television shows to US customers to watch on a PC or a portable device compatible with Microsoft Windows Media Player.

A message on Wal-Mart’s video download website said the store closed 21 December. A spokesperson for Wal-Mart said the company abandoned the effort after a decision by Hewlett-Packard which provided the software operating the site.

A spokesperson for Hewlett-Packard said the company had dropped the service because it was not meeting expectations and would be looking at other digital entertainment ventures to invest in.

In August this year, Blockbuster entered the market when it acquired Movielink, the online video download site.

Story link: Wal-Mart closes its online film download store