Google plans pay-per-view YouTube movie service

[Jos]

Google has been working hard to expand YouTube's content beyond user-submitted videos and turn the site into a revenue-generating venture. Over the years the company has signed a few deals that have helped it avoid further lawsuits and brought some professionally produced (yet not quite popular) content to the table. But Google's plans are apparently far more ambitious, and after launching its somewhat limited movie rental service earlier this year, negotiations are underway with "leading" Hollywood studios for a wide selection of their latest and catalog movie offerings.

According to the Financial Times, the search giant has been in talks about the service for months, but is intensifying its efforts in light of expected announcements from Apple this week regarding Apple TV, as well as the continued growth of Netflix and Hulu. The movies would be available on a pay-per-view basis via streaming, rather than as downloads, and would cost about $5 for newer releases. They would also be available as soon as they are released on DVD, iTunes, or Amazon.com, and there's even talk about gradually rolling out such a service to other countries besides the U.S.

Looking at the bigger picture we're likely to see the service become part of Google TV, the company's foray into the living room with its own platform to consolidate TV, streaming media, and search all into one box.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/40107-google-plans-pay-per-view-youtube-movie-service.html

 

[gobbybobby]

There gonna take over the world!

 

[Vrmithrax]

So, they want to compete with RedBox, but will have streaming movies (which will have quality dependent on your internet connection) at 5 times the price? Seriously, 3 movies on Google's service and I've paid for a netflix subscription fee for the month. Somebody needs to do some examination of the economy and some basic math, I think.

Or they could stick with pricey rentals and go the way of Blockbuster (and cable movies on demand), who are getting massively spanked by the gauntlet of RedBox and Netflix. Google never struck me as stupid, so this one boggles my mind a bit.

 

[Relic]

Ya...I agree with Vrmithrax a $5 price per release is baffling if this is what intend. I don't have anything against the pay-per-view route vs subscription, but if your price per one release comes close to matching a monthly subscription of your competitors I have no idea how you plan on surviving.

 

[Guest]

5$?! laughable

 

[motrin]

seriously 5 moneys.. thats 5 movies at redbox!

 

[Guest]

The only difference between this service compared to redbox/netflix is that they will be available as soon as they're out on DVD. Redbox and Netflix can't release movies for 30 days after release on DVD. In that aspect they arn't necessarily competing with redbox/netflix because they won't be available for at least a month. That's about the only logic I can imagine them having for charging $5 to stream a movie. It's still streaming though and $5 is way too much for one movie in my opinion.

 

[fwilliams]

I would pay $5 if I could get the movie the same day it hits the theaters!

 

[fwilliams]

I would pay $5 if I could get the movie the same day it hits the theaters!

 

[Richy2k9]

hello ...

won't be available my part of the world & i already pay a lot for SAT TV even if the movies do come after 3 - 6 months & some after 1 or 2 years, i just don't have enough time so can still live with actual setup.

Would be happy to find some VOD/Movie stream services in paradise though

cheers!