As if we didn’t having enough trouble getting films to be purchasable online – now Wal-Mart is threating studios over iTunes. Jeez…

Last year when Disney announced it would begin offering episodes of the hit shows “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” on Apple’s iTunes, the reaction of the world’s largest retailer sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
Wal-Mart, worried that offering the shows for viewing on iPods would cut into DVD sales at its stores, sent “cases and cases” of DVDs back to Disney, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Now, following Apple’s entrance in to the business of selling full-length films for download, the battle between Hollywood and its largest client is getting uglier, as studio executives say Wal-Mart has overtly threatened to retaliate if they go into business with Apple.

Jerks. I give these guys an F for ‘plays well with others.’ This is doubly annoying when Disney pulled in a million bucks from online sales in one week. That translates into a forecast of $50M in online movie sales in the first year alone. Hmm. It looks like Wal-Mart is having the classic reaction to the game-changing scenario as most old-media, big-business ventures: well-warranted abject terror.
Suck it, Walton.