{{Short description|Digital video store and streaming service}} {{Redirect|Vudu|other uses|Voodoo (disambiguation){{!}}Voodoo}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox company | logo = Fandango at Home logo (horizontal).svg | logo_size = 250px | logo_class = logo-nobg | type = Subsidiary | industry = Entertainment | founded = {{start date and age|2004}} | former_name = Vudu (2005–2024) | founders = Alain Rossmann<br />Tony Miranz | hq_location_city = Beverly Hills, California | hq_location_country = United States | area_served = United States | services = Video on demand | owner = | parent = {{unbulleted list|Walmart (2010–2020)|Fandango Media (2020–present)}} | website = {{url|https://athome.fandango.com/|Fandango at Home}} | footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Fandango at home – Watch Movies |url=https://athome.fandango.com/content/movies/contactus |access-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217000957/https://athome.fandango.com/content/movies/contactus |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
'''Fandango at Home''' (formerly known as '''Vudu''') is an American digital video store and streaming service owned by Fandango Media, a joint-venture between Versant and Warner Bros. Discovery. The company offers transactional video on demand rentals and digital purchases of films, as well as integration with digital locker services for streaming digital copies of films purchased as home video at retail.
When Vudu was founded in 2004, the company initially focused developing a digital media player known as the Vudu Box. In 2010, Vudu began to abandon its hardware business and focused on integrating its service and associated app platform into third-party devices such as televisions and Blu-ray Disc players. The company has since offered its services online, via mobile apps, and on devices such as digital media players and smart TVs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=October 18, 2016 |title=Walmart's Vudu Launches Free Movie, TV Service With Thousands of Titles |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/vudu-walmart-free-movies-tv-shows-1201892407/ |access-date=April 28, 2020 |website=Variety |language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429040535/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/vudu-walmart-free-movies-tv-shows-1201892407/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2010, Vudu was sold to Walmart. In 2020, Fandango Media acquired Vudu for an undisclosed amount. While initially maintaining the Vudu name due to brand recognition, Fandango Media nevertheless rebranded the service under the Fandango brand in 2024.
==History== Vudu was founded by Tony Miranz and Alain Rossmann (the creator of the Wireless Application Protocol). The Vudu Box had been secretly in development since 2004, but in April 2007, ''The New York Times'' revealed Vudu had signed deals with several movie studios and independent distributors to deliver access to nearly 5,000 films.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Brad |date=April 29, 2007 |title=Vudu Casts Its Spell on Hollywood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/business/yourmoney/29vudu.html |access-date=June 15, 2011 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711080948/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/business/yourmoney/29vudu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{As of|2007|4}}, Vudu had received $21 million in venture capital funding from Greylock Partners and Benchmark Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2007 |title=Faultline: Vudu, RawFlow and Joost all target web video services – Analyst Insights |url=http://hpinnovator.com/index.php?articleID=11435§ionID=269 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928164909/http://hpinnovator.com/index.php?articleID=11435§ionID=269 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |publisher=HPInnovator}}</ref> The company is based in Santa Clara, California.
In May 2008, Vudu began displaying and selling its set-top box in Best Buy stores. Before this, the box was only available via online retailers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ault |first=Susanne |date=May 22, 2008 |title=Vudu casts boxes onto Best Buy shelves |url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6563617.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630234608/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6563617.html |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |website=Video Business}}</ref> In October, Vudu announced that it would begin to stream films in 1080p high definition, branded as "HDX".<ref name="crunchgear.com">{{Cite web |last=Ha |first=Peter |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Vudu officially announces full HD service, HDX |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/10/02/VUDU-officially-announces-full-hd-service-hdx/ |access-date=September 21, 2011 |website=TechCrunch |archive-date=August 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802205227/http://techcrunch.com/2008/10/02/VUDU-officially-announces-full-hd-service-hdx/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These films would feature a series of encoding and processing techniques branded as "TruFilm", including the dampening of artifacting and pixelation associated with darker areas of pictures, film grain preservation, "color gradient processing" to improve appearance on flat-panel televisions, and "statistical variable bitrate" to optimize streaming performance.<ref name="crunchgear.com" />
On February 24, 2009, Vudu became the first on-demand service to offer high-definition movies for download to own. Prior to Vudu allowing users to purchase high-definition movies, studios only allowed their films to be purchased in standard-definition format.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2009 |title=Press Release |url=http://athome.fandango.com/press_release02.24.2009.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324044816/http://athome.fandango.com/press_release02.24.2009.html |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |website=VUDU}}</ref> LG was the first to integrate Vudu into its HDTVs, with access beginning in August 2009 through the television's NetCast application.<ref name="HD Report">{{Cite web |last=Chabot |first=Jeff |date=July 29, 2009 |title=LG first to bring Hulu to HDTVs |url=http://www.hd-report.com/2009/07/29/lg-first-to-bring-hulu-to-hdtvs/ |access-date=September 21, 2011 |website=HD Report |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006205101/http://www.hd-report.com/2009/07/29/lg-first-to-bring-hulu-to-hdtvs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Albanesius |first=Chloe |date=February 22, 2010 |title=Wal-Mart Confirms Plans to Buy Vudu |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/248608/update-wal-mart-confirms-plans-to-buy-vudu |access-date=September 21, 2011 |work=PC Magazine |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511050845/https://www.pcmag.com/archive/update-wal-mart-confirms-plans-to-buy-vudu-248608 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 8, 2010, at Consumer Electronics Show, Vudu announced that it would phase out its in-house hardware business in favor of focusing on integration of its rich Internet application platform,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Mark |date=December 16, 2008 |title=VUDU Offering 120 Channels of Free Media with New App Platform |url=https://gizmodo.com/5111309/VUDU-offering-120-channels-of-free-media-with-new-app-platform |access-date=September 21, 2011 |website=Gizmodo |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213203438/http://gizmodo.com/5111309/vudu-offering-120-channels-of-free-media-with-new-app-platform |url-status=live }}</ref> "Vudu Apps" (which featured Vudu as well as other streaming video and internet services), directly into internet-connected televisions and Blu-ray players, with initial hardware partners including LG, Magnavox, Mitsubishi, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, and Vizio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pogue |first=David |date=February 10, 2010 |title=Vudu Lives (Outside the Box) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/technology/personaltech/11pogue.html |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307194011/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/technology/personaltech/11pogue.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=January 8, 2010 |title=New TV Apps Borrow a Page From iPhone |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704854904574644460347513746 |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919195019/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704854904574644460347513746 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On February 22, 2010, Walmart announced its intent to acquire Vudu. The company had previously attempted to offer digital video sales in 2007, but the service folded due to competition with the iTunes Store.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bustillo |first=Miguel |date=February 23, 2010 |title=Wal-Mart Re-Enters Digital Downloading of Movies With Purchase of Vudu |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704454304575082010734950440 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511065803/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575082010734950440.html |url-status=live }}</ref> To comply with Walmart's content policies, Vudu subsequently discontinued its "After Dark" service (a collaboration with AVN), which offered pornographic content.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Siegler |first=MG |date=February 24, 2010 |title=Hot And Bothered: Walmart Shutting Down Vudu's Adult Section |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022403266.html |access-date=September 26, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
In 2012, Vudu partnered with UltraViolet, an industry-backed digital locker offering online streaming of retail DVD and Blu-ray disc purchases.<ref name="forbes-uv">{{Cite news |last=Keys |first=Phil |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Vudu/UltraViolet: Make or Break Moment for UltraViolet and Walmart |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/phillipkeys/2012/03/16/vuduultraviolet-make-or-break-moment-for-ultraviolet-and-walmart/ |access-date=August 29, 2014 |work=Forbes |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903120054/http://www.forbes.com/sites/phillipkeys/2012/03/16/vuduultraviolet-make-or-break-moment-for-ultraviolet-and-walmart/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Vudu also joined Disney's competing Movies Anywhere initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Disney Movies Anywhere Now Works with Vudu |url=http://blog.vudu.com/?p=11298 |access-date=April 11, 2015 |website=Vudu Blog |archive-date=November 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120185844/http://blog.vudu.com/?p=11298 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February 2020, it was reported that Comcast (via NBCUniversal) had entered talks into acquiring Vudu from Walmart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=February 21, 2020 |title=Comcast in Talks To Buy Walmart's Streaming Service Vudu |url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/comcast-walmart-vudu-1202865987/ |access-date=February 27, 2020 |website=Deadline |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223144755/https://deadline.com/2020/02/comcast-walmart-vudu-1202865987/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
thumb|Vudu 2014 logo with Fandango byline
In April 2020, it was announced that NBCUniversal subsidiary Fandango Media would acquire Vudu for an undisclosed amount; the sale closed on July 6, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lipman |first=Ashley |date=July 6, 2020 |title=Vudu is Now Officially Part of the Fandango Family |url=http://www.xanjero.com/news/fandangos-acquisition-of-vudu-is-complete/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708030035/http://www.xanjero.com/news/fandangos-acquisition-of-vudu-is-complete/ |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |access-date=July 7, 2020 |website=Xanjero |language=en}}</ref> Fandango is minority owned by Warner Bros., and operated the similar service FandangoNow. As part of the sale, Walmart will maintain its relationships with Vudu, including account integration and promotion of the service via Walmart's website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Shelby |title=Walmart to sell Vudu to Fandango |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/walmart-reportedly-sells-vudu-to-fandango/ |access-date=April 28, 2020 |publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428045303/https://www.cnet.com/news/walmart-reportedly-sells-vudu-to-fandango/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Fandango Purchased Vudu">{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=April 20, 2020 |title=Fandango just purchased Vudu from Walmart to better compete against Amazon, iTunes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/20/21228486/fandango-vudu-streaming-purchase-walmart-comcast-nbcuniversal-amazon-itunes |access-date=April 20, 2020 |website=The Verge |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421002244/https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/20/21228486/fandango-vudu-streaming-purchase-walmart-comcast-nbcuniversal-amazon-itunes |url-status=live }}</ref>
On August 3, 2021, FandangoNow was merged into Vudu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=August 3, 2021 |title=Fandango chooses Vudu as the way forward for its streaming business |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/3/22607391/vudu-fandango-now-combining-roku-movies-tv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604102958/https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/3/22607391/vudu-fandango-now-combining-roku-movies-tv |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Fandango chose to retain the "Vudu" name as it was the larger service and had better brand recognition. As a result of a prior agreement with Roku, Inc. inherited from Fandango acquisition M-Go, Vudu would also become the official digital media storefront of Roku digital media players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=August 3, 2021 |title=Vudu Becomes Roku's Official Movie and TV Store, as Fandango Kills Off FandangoNow Brand |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vudu-roku-movie-tv-store-fandangonow-killed-off-1235032740/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315161507/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vudu-roku-movie-tv-store-fandangonow-killed-off-1235032740/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In June 2023, AMC Theatres (which has been a long-time partner of Fandango's online movie ticketing service) announced that Vudu would subsume its AMC Theatres On Demand service, with its library being transferred to the platform and upgraded to higher quality formats where applicable. Users would be able to migrate to Vudu through August 31, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forristal |first=Lauren |date=June 1, 2023 |title=AMC and Vudu score big with new on-demand streaming partnership |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/01/amc-and-vudu-score-big-with-new-on-demand-streaming-partnership/ |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602020622/https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/01/amc-and-vudu-score-big-with-new-on-demand-streaming-partnership/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On February 16, 2024, it was announced that the service would be rebranded as "Fandango at Home" to unify it with its parent company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=February 16, 2024 |title=NBCU Killing Off Vudu Brand, Will Rename Service 'Fandango at Home' |url=https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/vudu-rebranding-fandango-at-home-1235914247/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511050902/https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/vudu-rebranding-fandango-at-home-1235914247/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This took effect March 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouma |first=Luke |date=March 12, 2024 |title=After 20 Years Vudu Is Now Called 'Fandango at Home'. What You Need to Know |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/after-20-years-vudu-is-now-called-fandango-at-home-what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Cord Cutters News |language=en-US |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312225021/https://cordcuttersnews.com/after-20-years-vudu-is-now-called-fandango-at-home-what-you-need-to-know/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Content == As of June 2019, Vudu's selection contains over 24,000 titles in their catalog and over 8,000 television shows.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}} Titles range from major motion pictures, independent films, documentaries, children's programming, anime, musicals, recorded musical performances, cartoons, and television series. Vudu has established content licensing contracts with all major movie studios as well as over 50 smaller and independent studios. Films are available to rent in standard-definition, high-definition, and 4K ultra high definition formats, with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 available on supported devices and content.
In October 2016, Vudu added a free, ad-supported streaming library to its platform in the United States branded as "Movies on Us", featuring recent and classic films.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Perez, Sarah |date=October 8, 2018 |title=Walmart partners with MGM on original programming for Vudu |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/08/walmart-partners-with-mgm-on-original-programming-for-vudu/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020214421/https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/08/walmart-partners-with-mgm-on-original-programming-for-vudu/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Walmart launches a free streaming service, Vudu Movies on Us |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/18/walmart-launches-a-free-streaming-service-vudu-movies-on-us/ |access-date=April 28, 2020 |website=TechCrunch |date=October 18, 2016 |language=en-US }}</ref><ref name=":0" />
In October 2018, Vudu partnered with MGM Television to develop and acquire original programming for Movies on Us, with a focus on "family-friendly, advertiser-friendly content" derived from existing MGM properties.<ref name=":1" /> Vudu premiered its first original series, ''Mr. Mom''—a continuation of the 1983 film of the same name, on September 12, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=August 26, 2019 |title='Mr. Mom' Trailer: First Original Series From Walmart's Vudu Streaming Service |url=https://deadline.com/video/mr-mom-trailer-vudu-original-series-hayes-macarthur-andrea-anders-walmart/ |access-date=August 27, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827112857/https://deadline.com/video/mr-mom-trailer-vudu-original-series-hayes-macarthur-andrea-anders-walmart/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also ==
*Over-the-top media service *Interactive television * Internet television
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website}}
{{Fandango}} {{Warner Bros. Discovery}} {{Walmart}} {{Video digital distribution platforms}}
Category:Advertising video on demand Category:American entertainment websites Category:Transactional video on demand Category:Internet properties established in 2004 Category:Companies based in Sunnyvale, California Category:Fandango Media Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions Category:TvOS software