With the recent acquisition of television maker Vizio, Walmart is positioning itself to compete in the evolving advertising landscape dominated by Amazon. The $2.3 billion deal closed on Tuesday after a regulatory waiting period.
Vizio’s 19 million account data will give Walmart a competitive edge in the connected TV ad space, where rivals like Roku, Samsung, Apple TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV are already operating. Walmart’s retail media business Walmart Connect saw a 26 percent growth in the third quarter, and the addition of Vizio will further strengthen its position.
Walmart CFO John David Rainey highlighted the potential for revenue growth in the software aspect of TV sales, as opposed to the lower margins on hardware. The synergy between Vizio’s products and Walmart’s customer-centric approach aligns with Walmart’s values and omnichannel strategy.
According to Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief growth officer of Walmart U.S., the partnership with Vizio will enhance Walmart Connect’s advertising capabilities and drive further investments in the business. Vizio’s CEO and founder William Wang expressed excitement about the collaboration and the opportunity to continue delivering innovative home entertainment experiences with Walmart’s resources.
Overall, the acquisition of Vizio positions Walmart as a major player in the advertising world and allows the company to leverage Vizio’s technology and customer loyalty to drive growth in the competitive connected TV ad market.
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