Google is reportedly in talks with the major Hollywood movie studios in order to secure content for its video rentals store. With Google TV on its way, this could bring Google in direct head-to-head battle with Apple and its new Apple iTV.
YouTube Video Rentals
YouTube has been offering video rentals since the beginning of the year, with offerings from the Sundance Film Festival the first to go live. The trial was deemed a success, and YouTube then opened the store for business on a permanent basis.
In May, YouTube began forging ahead with its plans to increase its video rental offerings, with content partners given the opportunity to sell their professionally-produced content.
Now, Google has even bigger plans.
YouTube Pay-Per-View Movies
could soon be the home of online movie rentals from the major studios. Google is thought to be in serious negotiations with the serious Hollywood players in order to bring big, well-known, and recent titles to the site.
The U.S. is likely to be the first recipient of the improved content, but the ultimate aim is to offer movies on a global basis. Films would be made available at the same time as the DVD is released, with a $5 asking price for a one-off streaming view.
No date has been set for when this could arrive, but Google will surely want to get it in place by the time the first Google TV devices start being sold. This would also help combat Apple’s push into the same territory with its rumored new iTV set-top box.
Conclusions
This could be huge. Although YouTube hasn’t been able to make much money through its video rentals store yet, that’s undoubtedly more about the content that’s available than anything else.
Gaining movies from the big Hollywood movies would surely make all the difference.
[Via The FT (Subscription Required)]
