Walmart goes after Chromecast with $25 Vudu Spark

Walmart thinks it can out-price the Google Chromecast, Roku Streaming Stick, and Amazon Fire TV Stick. The mega retailer has quietly put out its very own streaming device, called the Vudu Spark, and it costs just a meagre $24.95, a Walmart representative tells Gigaom. And there’s a currently a promotion that will effectively make the device free — Walmart will give you $25 in movie credits over five months when you purchase the streaming stick. The device first leaked from the FCC in November.

But you do get what you pay for. Unlike the $35 Chromecast or its other, more expensive competitors, there’s no Netflix or Hulu. There’s no HBO Go. In fact, there are no apps whatsoever. All the Vudu Spark can do is play streaming videos from Vudu, the Walmart-owned site that rents TV shows and movies. It also comes with a traditional remote.

Nevertheless, with Walmart’s considerable muscle behind it, the Vudu Spark could end up finding its way into a number of homes across the country. And since the device only serves as a portal for customers to spend money renting videos from Vudu, Walmart likely doesn’t care if it loses money selling the sticks.