As we reported earlier some time ago, many companies are launching or have launched movie download services including Apple who has added movies to thier iTunes Music Store. As we expected Wal-Mart has indeed stepped in and is tryin to stop studios from selling thier movies online. Wal-Mart believes that if movie downloads offered at a lower price than retail versions do take off then it would seriously hurt sales numbers at Wal-Mart stores. It appears a though Wal-Mart has already pushed thier weight around when it comes to the matter. iTunes is being seen as the market frontrunner for movie downloads but are yet to secure any studios to provide content other than Disney. Back when Disney revealed plans to have movies on iTunes, Wal-Mart threatened to decrease orders of Disney DVDs. Apparantly other studios are aprehensive about signing on with movie download services because they are afraid to damage thier relationships with Wal-Mart who is the leading seller of DVDs (the greatest source of income for film studios). However, it seems as though Apple and Wal-Mart may reach a compromise which would have iTunes prepaid cards being sold in Wal-Mart stores with the profit being split between the two companies.

Evorgleb: Wal-Mart may really be the devil!…That reminds me though, I need to go there later on and pick up a few things ;).