In 2020, NBC Universal’s Fandango division purchased On-Demand video rental and purchase service VUDU from Walmart. Some observers assumed at that time that VUDU would fold into its own similar service, FandangoNOW.
However, it looks like the reverse is going to happen as current FandangoNOW account holders received an email during the week of July 19-23 2021, informing them that all FandangoNOW accounts and libraries would be moving to VUDU soon. This means that the two services will be combined under the VUDU brand name.
The email didn’t provide any details as to the exact date that FandangoNOW users need to move their accounts. Hopefully, there will be several follow-up emails or another type of notification. According to FandangoNOW, follow-up instructions will be provided on how to move user accounts. Users should also check the FandangoNOW site for any info.
What FandangoNOW Users Should Expect
According to the email and a FandangoNOW information page. FandangoNOW accounts will not be active after the move to Vudu. However, users will still be able to access their library, watchlist, and account details on VUDU after the account move.
If you have a Movies Anywhere account linked to your FandangoNOW account, FandangoNOW and Movies Anywhere libraries are entirely safe. You can continue to watch and enjoy them anytime on VUDU. You will need to re-link your Movies Anywhere account once you have moved your FandangoNOW account to Vudu.
For users that have FandangoNOW Gift Cards, they will be able to be used with VUDU. FandangoNOW promo codes will also be available on VUDU as long as the promo codes haven’t expired.
What Vudu Offers
Similar to FandangoNOW, VUDU is an online video-on-demand streaming service that provides access to a large library of movies and TV shows for rental or purchase. No subscription is required or charged.
Instead of a monthly or yearly subscription, you pay for each movie or TV show you want to rent or own. Rentals usually range from $.99 to $5.99. If you want to purchase content, prices may range from $4.99 to $24.99 (or more). VUDU periodically runs discounted rental and purchase discount promotions.
Rented or purchased movies and shows can be viewed immediately or later. However, rentals have a 30-day viewing time limit. You can watch rented movies as often as you want during the rental period, but when you hit play, you have to finish your viewing within 24-48 hours.
Additional Vudu perks include:
Movies on Us: This is a selection of movies that can be viewed free with ads. However, you can pay a small fee to watch without ads. The movies are often older titles.
Movies Anywhere: Select movies purchased on Vudu that can be played on mobile or other compatible devices.
Instawatch: Some movies or TV shows purchased on DVD/Blu-ray at Walmart, may include instant access to a free digital copy on VUDU that can be viewed on smartphones, tablets, PCs, and laptops.
Digital Gift Cards: You can purchase a VUDU Digital Gift Card(s).
Disc-to-Digital: If you own movies previously purchased on DVD or Blu-ray you can use VUDU to get a digital version to watch on compatible devices. There are fees associated with this service.
More to Know
Select titles will continue to be made available in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision HDR and/or Dolby Atmos audio. However, whether Vudu’s 3D viewing option for select titles will continue is open to question. Currently, Fandango only offers its 3D titles on the Oculus Go or Oculus Quest, but not on a 3D TV.
With the blending of FandangoNOW and VUDU, it’s being promised that the “new” service will be available on more streaming devices. This means that titles that any titles that may have been exclusive FandangoNow should become available on VUDU.
It’s also possible that additional yet-to-be-revealed changes might be implemented on VUDU as a result of this “merger.”
