September 2nd, 2009
WSJ: YouTube and movie studios in talks over streaming rentals
Google-owned YouTube is in discussions with major motion picture studios, including LionsGate Entertainment, Sony and Warner Bros., to allow consumers to rent and stream movies for a fee, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal that cites unnamed sources.
The WSJ report stressed that negotiations are continuing and that there are no guarantees that a deal will be struck. Among the details still being hammered out is whether users will also be able to download movies, as opposed to just a stream over the Internet. Pricing would be around $3.99 or comparable to what people are already paying for video-on-demand titles.
YouTube, which isn’t yet profitable, has been looking for a solid revenue plan that goes beyond advertising on pages hosting free video clips. The site does include some full-length movies but those are largely free, lesser-known titles.
Currently, Apple, Amazon and Netflix offer some full-length motion pictures for download or streaming, though the titles and release dates vary based on a number of factors, including DVD release dates.
Sam Diaz is a senior editor at ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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