What: By acquiring Vizio, its best selling TV devices brand instore, Walmart also purchases a new ad platform.

Why it is important: Is tech (as a capability, not a category) the new thing for private labels?

Walmart has announced its acquisition of TV manufacturer Vizio for $2.3 billion, aiming to enhance its high-profit ad business through Vizio's SmartCast Operating System. This acquisition, revealed alongside Walmart's fourth-quarter earnings, is part of Walmart's strategy to expand its media and advertising segment, Walmart Connect, which has recently seen a 22% growth in ad sales. Walmart aims to leverage Vizio's platform to offer extended reach for advertisers and innovate in-home entertainment, competing with Amazon's growing ad segment.

Walmart buys TV maker Vizio