Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is edging into selling video downloads by offering buyers of the "Superman Returns" DVD a chance to buy downloads of the same movie, beginning Wednesday.
The world's largest retailer said Tuesday that shoppers have the choice of paying $1.97 to download the movie to a portable device, such as Apple's iPod or Microsoft's Zune, or paying $2.97 to download it to a laptop or desktop computer.
For $3.97, customers can download the movie for both formats.
"This unique Superman Returns physical/digital DVD combination not only marks our first step into the video downloads market, but gives our customers the best of both worlds in movie entertainment," said Kevin Swint, Wal-Mart's divisional merchandise manager for digital media.
"They have the DVD as a collectible and for viewing on their home theaters, plus the freedom to download and watch the movie on multiple devices."
Each copy of "Superman Returns" will contain a sticker with a promotional code, directing the customer to Wal-Mart's Web site. There, the customer can buy and download the movie.
Wal-Mart said it will test other DVD bundles that contain the download option in the coming months.
