YouTube movie rental service goes live

Around 3,000 to be added

YouTube movie rental service goes live. Online, YouTube, Video streaming, 0

10 May 2011 10:43 GMT / By Ben Crompton

YouTube is maturing, and hopefully about to start making some serious money for Google, as its movie rental service is now live in the US and planning to bring around 3,000 movies to users.

Pocket-lint brought you news of the plans, that will see YouTube take the leap from video clip streaming and offering a library of poor-quality movies - Jackie Chan's Meals on Wheels being the exception - to pay-for streaming of major Hollywood titles.

However, as mentioned, for now this seems to be a US-only launch with the rumoured UK service not getting a mention on the YouTube blog. If a UK service is launched then it'll compete directly with Amazon owned Lovefilm.

Along with the movies, you'll get reviews and "behind-the-scenes movie extras", as well as a "bolstering" of investment in the content that’s already being viewed.

"Through YouTube Next, we’re helping fuel the creation of this type of content with initiatives like the YouTube Creator Institute and YouTube NextUp, following past initiatives like Partner Grants (which brought us Key of Awesome, creators of one of 2010’s most-watched videos) and $1,000 B&H Photo credits. In the coming year, we’ll bring even more content to YouTube."

Hopefully we'll hear some UK news soon, so we'll let you know as and when.

Via: youtube-global.blogspot.com

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