YouTube in Discussions to Offer Movie Rentals From Major Studios
YouTube is talking to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Sony Corp., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. about charging for new titles on the existing YouTube site. In some cases, these titles might be available on the site on the same day that they come out on DVD.
Sources note that movies would likely be priced at approximately $3.99, comparable to movie rentals through Apple's iTunes Store. While details of the potential agreements reportedly vary from studio to studio, some agreements could allow for free, ad-supported distribution of movies.It is unclear when the service would be publicly launched, although YouTube is reportedly planning a three-month testing period involving about 10,000 Google employees. That testing period was to begin early this month, but longer-than-expected negotiations with the movie studios involved have pushed the start of testing back by an undetermined amount.
Apple introduced iTunes movie rentals in the U.S. in January 2008 and has added offerings in several other countries since that time. High-definition movie rentals debuted on the Apple TV at the same time and were extended on a limited basis to the iTunes Store in March of this year.
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GoogleTunes
GoogleBook/GoogleBook Pro
Something made by Apple, but we're not trying to copy them. We're just a humble search company that is slowly expanding our internet empire.
Don
But nothing beats renting an actual DVD
There are plenty of places to do this already, no?
Call me old-fashioned but I'd rather rend a $1 DVD from RedBox and watch extra features along with the motion picture. YouTube rentals? No thanks.
Agreed, although my poison of choice is Blockbuster Online.
Yet another way for Apple to make money. I'm so happy they do that stuff or else we wouldn't get such great products.
But nothing beats renting an actual DVD
How does Apple benefit from this? Google owns YouTube? This could actually hurt Apple.
Don
I get enough hanging while watching 5 min UToob videos as it is-and Im on DSL they had better massively increase the size of the server farm
great;
I get enough hanging while watching 5 min UToob videos as it is-and Im on DSL they had better massively increase the size of the server farm
Ding! Youtube has the slowest servers, maybe it's all the traffic but google can afford to increase that cant' they? I've learned that it doesn't matter your connection, it's hard to start a clip on youtube and have it finish without a stutter.
Call me old-fashioned but I'd rather rend a $1 DVD from RedBox and watch extra features along with the motion picture. YouTube rentals? No thanks.
x2. Add Netflix to that, too.
Much, much cheaper, much, much more selection, and 90% of them has subtitles/closed captioning!
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