Youtube: Paid video rental planned
The video platform YouTube (YouTube.com) plans to launch an online video rental service. According to insider sources, the Google-owned site is currently in negotiations with the major Hollywood studios to offer full-length movies on its site for a fee in the future.
The video platform Youtube Youtube.com wants to introduce an online video rental service. According to insiders, the Google portal is currently in negotiations with the major Hollywood studios to be able to offer full-length films on the site for a fee in future. There has been no official confirmation from Google so far. "At the moment, these are rumors in the market and we are not commenting on them. But of course we always hope to be able to expand our good relationships with the film studios and extend the offer for our users," said Google spokesperson Stefan Keuchel when asked by pressetext. YouTube already offers individual full-length films. However, there is currently no paid content, according to Keuchel.
If the film studios and YouTube actually reach an agreement, things could change for the platform. The site's huge audience is built around free videos and revenue is generated through online advertising. Paid services would be a completely new direction for YouTube and would also put the portal in direct competition with services from Netflix, Amazon and Apple.
According to insider information, Google is currently negotiating with Lionsgate, Sony and Warner Brothers, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, the film studios have so far refused to comment on the matter. However, it has been reported by informed sources that the film studios have been pushing for YouTube to integrate paid content on the platform for some time. It now appears that the video platform is quite prepared to do so if the film studios provide a wide range of films for YouTube in return, including more recent productions.
At the moment, the negotiations are apparently mainly about the exact prices and the timing of the releases on YouTube. In any case, the video platform is said to be aiming for a release close to the DVD launch. Analysts are currently unwilling to comment on the financial impact of the potential deal on YouTube, but are generally of the opinion that major collaborations with Hollywood can only benefit the site in the long term.
If the film studios and YouTube actually reach an agreement, things could change for the platform. The site's huge audience is built around free videos and revenue is generated through online advertising. Paid services would be a completely new direction for YouTube and would also put the portal in direct competition with services from Netflix, Amazon and Apple.
According to insider information, Google is currently negotiating with Lionsgate, Sony and Warner Brothers, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, the film studios have so far refused to comment on the matter. However, it has been reported by informed sources that the film studios have been pushing for YouTube to integrate paid content on the platform for some time. It now appears that the video platform is quite prepared to do so if the film studios provide a wide range of films for YouTube in return, including more recent productions.
At the moment, the negotiations are apparently mainly about the exact prices and the timing of the releases on YouTube. In any case, the video platform is said to be aiming for a release close to the DVD launch. Analysts are currently unwilling to comment on the financial impact of the potential deal on YouTube, but are generally of the opinion that major collaborations with Hollywood can only benefit the site in the long term.
