Who knew that you too could Vudu so well?
Vudu, A Santa Clara, Calif.-based proprietary service that streams movies via broadband to an HD television set using a proprietary set-top box, has grown its HD selections to more than 1,100. That's about 10 percent of its full complement of available VOD movie and TV titles, it says.
The firm has been working mostly on improving its HD services this fall, and in September it began incorporating what it said is a 1080p-like format (HDX) that is designed to improve the imaging quality for the HD content in its menu. Vudu said it's trying to add about 150 HD titles to its list weekly—both recent theater releases as well as classics such as "Cool Hand Luke" with Paul Newman.
Edward Lichty, Vudu's executive in charge of content, said the motivation to grow its HD menu as quickly as possible "sprang from our customers, retail partners and home theater installation professionals, all of whom were asking for more HD content." He said in a statement that Vudu's goal is to offer "the deepest library anywhere when it comes to HD."
In partnership with Best Buy, the nation's largest CE chain, Vudu is promoting its STB (dubbed the "Vudu Internet Movie Player") and $200 in movie/TV title credits for about $300 (not including a broadband connection).
In October, CNET.com reviewed the Vudu service and said it had the best video quality of its kind it has tested to date.
