Walmart Explores Streaming Deals and other latest news

Walmart’s Walmart+ membership program may be bundled with a streaming service. The New York Times report sparks discussion about the unusual idea of the retail giant entering the streaming world. According to sources, Walmart is in discussions with major media companies such as Paramount (Paramount+), Disney (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu), and Comcast (Peacock).

Given the company’s rivalry with Amazon and its Prime membership program, Walmart’s interest in a streaming deal could provide an opportunity to launch its own service similar to Amazon Prime. While it is unknown whether Paramount+, Disney+, or Peacock will reach an agreement with the company, it would be an interesting development in the streaming landscape.

A Walmart+ membership, which costs $12.95 per month, includes a free six-month subscription to Spotify Premium, in addition to free delivery and discounted gas prices. Wireless carriers such as Verizon and T-Mobile have also struck deals with streaming services, offering customers similar bundles. Verizon users with select Verizon Unlimited plans can get The Disney Bundle (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu). T-Mobile customers have access to Netflix as well as a year of Apple TV+ and Paramount+.

This would also not be Walmart’s first attempt to enter the streaming market. The company purchased the on-demand video service Vudu in 2010, but it was unable to compete and sold Vudu to Comcast-owned Fandango in 2020. Walmart has also made an investment in Eko, an interactive video firm.

In June, Roku announced a partnership with Walmart, bringing shoppable ads to the streaming platform and uniting Roku’s 61.3 million subscribers with a retailer that reported total revenue of $141.6 billion in Q1 2022. Click here to read more.

According to a new study, more than two-thirds of UK consumers are willing to accept ads with OTT content. The Verve report for Samsung Ads Europe comes ahead of plans by Netflix and Disney to launch ad-funded tiers later this year.

In addition to the importance of quality free content in exchange for advertisements, 63% of audiences said the relevancy of advertisements was a significant factor in their willingness to accept viewing advertising on TV services.

The report discovered that consumers reacted above average on all positive emotional measures when they were monitored for how they responded to ads on FAST services. 50% thought such platform ads were trustworthy, 49% thought they were exciting, and 46% thought they were both enjoyable and premium.

According to the study, FAST viewers are slightly more likely to engage with ads (48%) than BVOD (45%) and Linear (43%). When broken down further, FAST took a small lead over other platforms, with audiences claiming they are more likely (22%) to watch ads in full than BVOD (20%) and Linear (18%). Click here to read more.

The SVOD is getting a new mobile and desktop app just days after it was revealed that HBO Max will be discontinued in mid-2023 in favor of a combined offer with discovery+.

While HBO Max’s content offering has received widespread acclaim thanks to hit originals such as Peacemaker and Hacks, the app’s architecture is based on the shaky foundations of HBO’s years-old streaming offerings. As a result, it has consistently come under fire for technical issues, which Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has emphasized.

However, contrary to popular belief, HBO Max has completed the rollout of a new user experience on desktop, iOS, and Android Mobile devices. The replatformed app migrates all HBO Max apps to a new tech stack, which includes features like a shuffle button, iOS Share Play support, a dedicated section for downloaded content, and tablet support for both landscape and portrait orientations.

Other new app features include an improved screen reader experience, the ability to split screens with other apps, updated navigation, Chromecast stability improvements, and an overall refined design.

Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming’s SVP of product design, Kamyar Keshmiri, said: “We are excited to present the updated HBO Max mobile and desktop apps. The updates provide our users more of the features they value most, better navigation, and a more immersive narrative environment, making it easier and faster for them to enjoy their favorite content.” Click here to read more.

TikTok to increase its emphasis on in-app purchasing. Users may have noticed a new ‘Order Center’ window in the app, which keeps track of any things you’ve looked at, purchased, or even potentially found interesting.

The app’s pivot towards eCommerce has already been successful in the apps Chinese version. In fact, in-stream eCommerce integrations now account for the majority of Douyin’s revenue, the Chinese version of TikTok. This has opened up new avenues for creative monetization through brand relationship integrations that enable more natural style promotions in the app.

As a result, TikTok is eager to promote the same in TikTok as well, despite recent indications that western audiences are not as enthusiastic about social commerce as those in the Chinese market.

ECommerce is necessary for TikTok to function, especially in terms of income sharing. Since in-stream commercials cannot be used to directly monetize content on TikTok, it keeps moving forward with eCommerce innovations.

As a result, as the holiday season approaches, you should anticipate seeing a significant increase in the number of eCommerce options on your TikTok feed. Whether or not you want them. Click here to read more.