Wal-Mart Threatens Movie Studios Over DVD Downloads

Tim Arango, reporting in the New York Post:

But several weeks ago, in the midst of rumors that Apple was close to announcing a deal with Disney, Wal-Mart’s David Porter — the executive responsible for stocking the retailer’s shelves with DVDs and CDs and whose influence is so immense in Tinseltown that he’s been named to Premiere magazine’s annual power list — made the rounds of Hollywood studios.

His message, according to a studio exec involved in the discussions: that there would be “serious ramifications” if the studios hopped in bed with Apple.

“They threatened to hurt us in terms of buying less products,” said this person.

Scared of some competition, apparently.

★ Friday, 22 September 2006