Wal-Mart's digital media chief departs for Apple

***AppleInsider*** · 02-04-2008, 10:14 AM

One of the executives behind Wal-Mart's recent push into the digital media download market has left the mega-retailer to help Apple grow its iTunes video business internationally.

Kevin Swint, former divisional manager for digital media at Wal-Mart Stores, will join Apple this week as general manager of international video for iTunes, where he'll be responsible for acquiring movies and TV shows for all non-U.S. countries.

He'll reportedly be seeking licensing deals for both pay-per-download content and timed digital rentals, the latter of which would help see the launch of iTunes Movie Rental services over seas.

Swint's departure from Wal-Mart comes just weeks after the retailer shuttered its much-hyped online video download service and also decided to scale back on its remaining digital music and movie initiatives.

"I am starting at Apple this week and the role is head of video international, but I really shouldn't comment any further," Swint said in an e-mail to MultiChannelNews, confirming his departure from Wal-Mart.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

**JeffDM** · 02-04-2008, 10:31 AM

Hopefully he doesn't bring along the Wal-Mart cooties.

BRussell · 02-04-2008, 10:34 AM

Gee, given Walmart's success both with media downloads and with international expansion, this is terrific news for Apple. For me to poop on.

freelander51 · 02-04-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRussell

Gee, given Walmart's success both with media downloads and with international expansion, this is terrific news for Apple. For me to poop on.

Hey - whats the pessimism for ? There is nothing available now - which means that things CAN only get better. As nothing can be as bad as nothing - which is the rough situation for any other country then the the US of A

grayum · 02-04-2008, 11:33 AM

iTunes Movie Rentals overseas? It would be great if Apple got themselves organised and brought iTunes to other parts of the world, namely Singapore :-(

tuneman07 · 02-04-2008, 11:42 AM

I'm surprised Wal Mart is giving up on digital media- I figured they would undercut everyone as they usually do. Really though- it seems weird they just gave up on it.

Leonard · 02-04-2008, 11:58 AM

It's probably hard to underpay computer people.

Ireland · 02-04-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Hopefully he doesn't bring along the Wal-Mart cooties.

Apple's management will make sure of that.

It's high time Apple took the rest of the world seriously.

paxman · 02-04-2008, 12:10 PM

Nice career move, Wal-mart to Apple iTunes ;~)
My guess for the Wal-mart digital download shut-down is that they just aren't that kind of a company. Whoever checks Wal-mart online? It would take an awful lot more than just setting up a digital service to make such a project swing.

BuzDots · 02-04-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Hopefully he doesn't bring along the Wal-Mart cooties.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRussell

Gee, given Walmart's success both with media downloads and with international expansion, this is terrific news for Apple. For me to poop on.

AGREED !
I sure hope this guy has got something going for him other than the WalMart tag. As Divisional Manager, he obviously didn't exceed any sales goals at WalMart.

SpamSandwich · 02-04-2008, 01:12 PM

You guys don't understand the influence Wal*Mart has in music and video sales. Wal*Mart and Target are the top two retailers of this kind of product in the world. Apple getting one of their execs is not insignificant.

elroth · 02-04-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

You guys don't understand the influence Wal*Mart has in music and video sales. Wal*Mart and Target are the top two retailers of this kind of product in the world. Apple getting one of their execs is not insignificant.

In physical sales, yes, but this guy was head of ONLINE sales, which have been terrible for Wal-Mart: a bad system with bad results. That could be a result of the technology used, and the fact that the typical Wal-Mart shopper is probably not too tech-savvy, and probably not inclined to buy much online (compared to Apple, Amazon, etc. customers). This new job is for acquiring international content, which he may be good at (we hope).

"I am starting at Apple this week and the role is head of video international, but I really shouldn't comment any further," Swint said.

Sounds like he's already read his Apple employee manual.

GregAlexander · 02-04-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Wal-Mart's digital media chief departs for Apple

I guess the "Wal-Mart" part of this title is the most interesting thing to US residents. To the rest of the world, "Apple employs new manager for international itunes video" is far more interesting.

Hiro · 02-04-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elroth

In physical sales, yes, but this guy was head of ONLINE sales, which have been terrible for Wal-Mart: a bad system with bad results. That could be a result of the technology used, and the fact that the typical Wal-Mart shopper is probably not too tech-savvy, and probably not inclined to buy much online (compared to Apple, Amazon, etc. customers). This new job is for acquiring international content, which he may be good at (we hope).

"I am starting at Apple this week and the role is head of video international, but I really shouldn't comment any further," Swint said.

Sounds like he's already read his Apple employee manual.

I would be slow to evaluate the Wal*Mart connection too quickly. Just because you head a division doesn't mean the CEO, CIO & CFO give you their full support, let alone the Board. Like others have said there is a large up-front investment to be able to do large-scale streaming online sales, and Wal*Mart has a history of wanting to do process on-the-cheap.

It's quite plausible the decision-makers & board, started thinking cheap and easy, made the PR splash and then got hit with reality. I would think Apple's track record on hires would indicate the due-diligence indicates something like this. No free ride though, the new gent may not have run things as well as they should have causing premature death of the division.

The only way to tell for sure is watch how iTunes video international performs over the next two years or so.

MacGregor · 02-05-2008, 04:48 PM

Two words for the future: Bolly-Wood

ecking · 02-05-2008, 10:42 PM

Kevin first order of business, rentals in canada.

02-04-2008, 10:14 AM	#1
*AppleInsider* Kasper's Automated Slave Join Date: Nov 1997 Posts: 6,151	Wal-Mart's digital media chief departs for Apple One of the executives behind Wal-Mart's recent push into the digital media download market has left the mega-retailer to help Apple grow its iTunes video business internationally. Kevin Swint, former divisional manager for digital media at Wal-Mart Stores, will join Apple this week as general manager of international video for iTunes, where he'll be responsible for acquiring movies and TV shows for all non-U.S. countries. He'll reportedly be seeking licensing deals for both pay-per-download content and timed digital rentals, the latter of which would help see the launch of iTunes Movie Rental services over seas. Swint's departure from Wal-Mart comes just weeks after the retailer shuttered its much-hyped online video download service and also decided to scale back on its remaining digital music and movie initiatives. "I am starting at Apple this week and the role is head of video international, but I really shouldn't comment any further," Swint said in an e-mail to MultiChannelNews, confirming his departure from Wal-Mart. [ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

02-04-2008, 11:33 AM	#5
grayum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 36	International? iTunes Movie Rentals overseas? It would be great if Apple got themselves organised and brought iTunes to other parts of the world, namely Singapore :-(

02-04-2008, 01:12 PM	#11
SpamSandwich Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 8,453	You guys don't understand the influence WalMart has in music and video sales. WalMart and Target are the top two retailers of this kind of product in the world. Apple getting one of their execs is not insignificant. "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground." —Thomas Jefferson Proud AAPL stock owner.

02-05-2008, 04:48 PM	#15
MacGregor Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Stumptown, with the nation's highest concentration of brewpubs, stripclubs, volcanoes and bookstores! Posts: 1,316	Two words for the future: Bolly-Wood The Mother of all flip-flops!! Support our troops by educating yourself and being a responsible voter. Democracy and Capitalism REQUIRE Intelligence and Wisdom if they are to be worth a damn beyond the next election or quarterly earnings report! And the lessons of the 20th century are that neither the state nor the free market hold a monopoly on Wisdom.

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02-04-2008, 10:31 AM	#2
JeffDM Global Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: .US Posts: 9,127	Hopefully he doesn't bring along the Wal-Mart cooties.

02-04-2008, 10:34 AM	#3
BRussell Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: In rehab for sex addiction Posts: 9,481	Gee, given Walmart's success both with media downloads and with international expansion, this is terrific news for Apple. For me to poop on.

02-04-2008, 11:42 AM	#6
tuneman07 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 54	I'm surprised Wal Mart is giving up on digital media- I figured they would undercut everyone as they usually do. Really though- it seems weird they just gave up on it.

02-04-2008, 11:58 AM	#7
Leonard Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 398	It's probably hard to underpay computer people.

02-04-2008, 12:10 PM	#9
paxman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 640	Nice career move, Wal-mart to Apple iTunes ;~) My guess for the Wal-mart digital download shut-down is that they just aren't that kind of a company. Whoever checks Wal-mart online? It would take an awful lot more than just setting up a digital service to make such a project swing.

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