Fandango has decided to completely rename its streaming video service Vudu, which has been in existence for more than ten years, to Fandango at Home. “We’ll still have the same great selection of movies, shows, deals and bundles, and your library will stay where it was,” the company said. In X’s post (via 9 to 5 google).
Vudu was acquired by Fandango in 2020 after operating under Walmart for many years. The service hasn’t seen many noticeable changes since then; this rebrand is certainly the biggest. Fandango shut down its previous FandangoNOW service after acquiring Vudu, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the company would eventually want to revive its name. (It has slapped “Fandango” under Vudu in the app’s logo.)
Vudu has been a top choice among home theater enthusiasts for years, and for many reasons. A few years ago, the company’s streaming bitrates and video fidelity were a step above most competitors. Under Walmart, Vudu also offers unique programs such as disc-to-digital conversion, allowing consumers to inexpensively add movies to their digital lockers, many of which will be compatible with Movies Anywhere. It initially required entering a Walmart store, but eventually Vudu simplified the process so that all it took was a smartphone.
Even with the new name, the cohesion between movie ticketing business Fandango and Fandango at Home isn’t entirely seamless. Fandango states in its FAQ that “Currently, you cannot use Fandango gift cards to purchase Fandango at Home.” Customers now have the option to link their Fandango and Fandango at Home logins, so at least that’s it.
