Wal-Mart Launches DVD-to-Digital Service

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here on Tuesday unveiled a new service that will allow customers to transfer DVDs to a digital Vudu.com account for a fee.

Starting April 16, customers can bring their previously purchased DVD and Blu-ray collections from certain partnering studios into more than 3,500 Walmart Photo Center locations and gain access to digital versions that can be accessed from Internet-connected devices.

Participating studios are: Paramount Home Media Distribution, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

According to reports, Walt Disney Co. has a competing service.

Prices are $2 to convert a standard DVD or Blu-ray movie, or $5 to upgrade a standard DVD to hi-def. Customers retain the actual discs.

Wal-Mart acquired Vudu.com in 2010 and launched it as an online streaming site for video last year.