Vudu Knocks $200 Off Its Device (Will You Buy?)
Vudu has dropped the price of its movie delivery set-top box by $200 as the company continues to try something, anything, to get you to buy one (hat tip to Gizmodo). The “Vudu Christmas Special” knocks the price of the box down to $99 from $299, though you still have to purchase an additional $50 worth of movie credits.
Is this Vudu’s last gasp? The company has tried just about everything to build up an install base: previous price cuts, porn, bargain movie rentals, a high-end HD format — none of which have given the box much traction. Vudu also recently opened up its box by allowing users to access other video and services such as YouTube and Flickr (and from comments left on our story, it looks like Boxee might be taking up residence in Vudu-ville as well).
Vudu’s new $99 price point puts it in line with Roku (kinda, since the Vudu is actually $149), which just enabled its HD capabilities and is preparing to open up to other video services beyond just Netflix streaming. Vudu, however, does offer a much larger selection of HD movie rentals.
Will this be the move that gets you, or anyone else, to buy a Vudu? The severe price cut, while nice, also has an air of desperation, and after the company’s CEO left and it went through layoffs, such a move doesn’t exactly confidence in consumers that Vudu will be around this time next year.
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The special deal doesn’t include WiFi, though there is a half price deal on that too. Wifi takes the total up to $198.
Dave Craig on December 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 am - Permalink
From $299.00 to $99.00 I feel like they where trying to rip me off.
Neno Brown on December 23rd, 2008 at 9:00 am - Permalink
Akimbo discounted their box to $99 before they closed. Deja vu here? What is next? Free box?
james pierce on December 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 am - Permalink
Deja Vu-du
Spike on December 24th, 2008 at 9:29 am - Permalink
[...] VUDU told me it’s sold “five figures” worth of devices, which I believe is less than 50,000 [...]
The Streaming Content Is There, But Not Enough People Are Watching It — Yet on May 29th, 2009 at 12:02 am - Permalink
[...] VUDU told me it’s sold “five figures” worth of devices, which I believe is less than 50,000 [...]
Technic Dude » The Streaming Content Is There, But Not Enough People Are Watching It — Yet on May 29th, 2009 at 3:45 am - Permalink
[...] me it’s sold “five figures” worth of devices, which I believe is less than 50,000 [...]
The Streaming Content Is There, Just Not Enough People Watching It — Yet | Our World...travelling by the seat of our pants.... on May 29th, 2009 at 12:08 pm - Permalink
[...] VUDU told me it’s sold “five figures” worth of devices, which I believe is less than 50,000 [...]
Technical blogs with pictures and videos » The Streaming Content Is There, Just Not Enough People Watching It — Yet on May 29th, 2009 at 6:00 pm - Permalink