*By Michael Teich* Walmart thinks Netflix's content has failed to entertain Middle Americaーand the retailer's potential streaming service may hold the answer, says Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah Nassauer. “They’re discussing programming that would target their core customer. Walmart’s customer base mirrors America, which means it skews low income, middle income,” she said on Cheddar Monday. “They see a window of opportunity to go after those types of viewers.” To help evaluate the project, veteran TV executive Mark Greenberg has been advising Walmart for several months, Nassauer [reported](https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-explores-its-own-streaming-service-1532775600). Most recently, Greenberg served as chief executive of pay-television channel Epix and held senior positions at Showtime and HBO. Nassauer said her sources believe Netflix is neglecting much of the country, and Walmart sees an major opportunity. Two-thirds of Republicans reportedly [prefer](https://morningconsult.com/2018/01/25/walmart-vs-target-a-political-divide-among-shoppers/) Walmart over superstore rival Target. And on average, Walmart shoppers are older, more rural, and lower-income. [Reports surfaced](https://cheddar.com/videos/walmart-streaming-plans-could-boost-retail) earlier this month that Walmart is planning to launch a video-streaming service as early as the end of summer or this coming fall. According to tech website The Information, the service could be priced at less than $8 a month, below the $11 Netflix charges for a standard subscription. The reporter who broke the story, Jessica Toonkel, told Cheddar in an interview that the likelihood of Walmart entering the streaming business will depend on the company's willingness to spend billions of [dollars](https://cheddar.com/videos/walmart-could-launch-video-streaming-platform). Nassauer, though, said the company may not want to pay up for original content. Netflix has said it plans to spend as much as $8 billion on its own this year, and some reports suggest it could go upwards of $12 billion. For full interview, [click here] (https://cms.cheddar.com/videos/VmlkZW8tMjEzMjE=).

Share:
More In Business
U.S. Approves Sale of 'Lab Grown' Cell-Cultured Chicken
For the first time, U.S. regulators on Wednesday approved the sale of chicken made from animal cells, allowing two California companies to offer “lab-grown” meat to the nation's restaurant tables and eventually, supermarket shelves.
Apple Watch Alerts Woman to Blood Clot
A 29-year-old Cincinnati woman was awakened by her Apple Watch, which alerted her about an elevated heart rate, prompting her to head to a doctor who notified her of a blood clot.
Keeping Employees Safe in Extreme Heat
UPS recently announced it would equip delivery trucks with air conditioning. Dr. Douglas Casa, CEO of Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, spoke with Cheddar News on the dangers of heat stroke and how workers can keep themselves safe from extreme weather.
Load More