YouTube introduces movie rentals, only independent titles for now

In an atypically low key beginning, YouTube is starting to roll out a new movie rental service. Currently stocked with only five titles from independent film producers, it won't be posing any threats to the Netflix empire any time soon, but plans are naturally afoot to expand what's on offer. Available between this Friday and the end of this year's Sundance Film Festival, the movies can be rented for $3.99 a piece through the Google Checkout payment system. Prepare your muscles to do some cringing though, as YouTube is said to be working on adding health, fitness and educational videos as well. Still, the focus seems to be on getting indie filmmakers more exposure -- and cash, "the majority" of rental revenue will go to the film producers -- and we can't really argue with that.

[Murphys Law Posted Jan 21st 2010 3:51AM]

Silly.. If they had Moon then just maybe I'd use it

[One Love Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:56AM]

@Murphys Law : Moon 2009 DVDRip XviD-LAP

[engado Posted Jan 21st 2010 3:12PM]

@Murphys Law 4.0$ is way too much to watch anything on youtube, be it Moon or Sun or Universe. You could watch Moon in a theater for a bit more or wait for it to show up at the redbox of $1.

[Tommo Posted Jan 21st 2010 3:53AM]

So maybe finally the movie induesty can stop being a crybaby and offer CHEAP movie rentals using EASY and RELEVANT technology - the obvious answer to piracy being that people are willing to pay if the price is right and the method of delivery is simple instead of forcing us to buy overpriced physical format DVD junk.

[jasonhaley Posted Jan 21st 2010 3:58AM]

I was hoping that hooking up youtube to my samsung blu-ray player would someday become useful. Looks like this may be just the reason.

[jareth86 Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:00AM]

This could be bad for all the youtube downloader plugins out there. Suddenly they could find themselves faced with fines :/

[SuperCharly Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:05AM]

from which movie is the picture from ? looks funny (-kinda like Napoleon D)

[Vlad Savov Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:12AM]

@SuperCharly Bass Ackwards, one of the five indie films on offer.

[SuperCharly Posted Jan 21st 2010 5:00AM]

@Vlad Savov
Ochen spassibo :-)

[Michael Scrip Posted Jan 21st 2010 5:54AM]

@SuperCharly

http://www.bassackwardsfilm.com/

I really wanna see it... I like their approach to film distribution:

"Basically it’s an experiment to see what will happen,” Woodrow said, “Rather than using Sundance as a market and being part of that old dream, we just make it available immediately in as many ways as we can.” - http://www.indiewire.com/article/eugene_hernandez_new_year_new_model/

And only $4 to watch it online? I think I can swing that. Best of luck to them.

[SuperCharly Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:10AM]

@Michael Scrip
Thanks - I live in France, it's not easy to keep track of all american flicks.
I'll watch it soon - looks great !

[mex Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:11AM]

it's again USA only?

[Murphys Law Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:13AM]

@mex .... Hulu is too, such suckiness.

[mex Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:16AM]

@mex as also netflix, iTunes (ok it's also UK/France/Germany) but I mean... WTF! You have a GLOBAL market damn you all! USE IT!

[octoberasian Posted Jan 21st 2010 5:04AM]

@mex

I believe the root of the problem are the copyrights involved. One copyright in one country wouldn't work in another country. Thus, it would have to be licensed to be permitted to do so and extra fees. There could be also limitations and restrictions on where it could be aired. It really does suck though If I wanted to watch something from Japan or Europe and they're blocking content because I'm not from that country, it's really unfair to me.

It's why I believe copyright laws are rather ridiculous just as much as DRM. Everything is separate, unfair and unequal, and in the end it's the consumer that pays-- whether it be extra fees or not having to experience the movie or music or what not. I'm already getting blocked watching Japanese anime officially uploaded on Youtube by Funimation in Japan because I'm not from that country.

It would be great that someday we get a chance to see everything, listen to everything without restrictions and without consequences, and without roadblocks. And, that day will probably never ever come, and probably never in my lifetime.

Wouldn't it be nice-- a world without borders?

[mex Posted Jan 21st 2010 5:19AM]

@octoberasian

you see that will be the happy ending, for now I'll be happy enough if they distrubute everywhere even with delay... for example, Avatar has to arrive 1 month later to Ireland, fine, let me wait a month, but then let me watch it on Netflix or buy in in iTunes!

They can manage a worldwide market of DVD and TV stream, why not web stream? and digital downloads?

[Johanu Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:38AM]

@mex Here in Portugal you need a license to rent and sell movies. The same happens in many countries, so it isn't easy to open a worldwide renting system..

[mex Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:42AM]

@Johanu

I'm not say that "it's easy" of course is not 'cause who own the rights of the movies/videos does not work in that direction.

If in Portugal you have a physical video renting, why not give the license to iTunes for that? To me doesn't sound so complicated!

[Wwhat Posted Jan 21st 2010 9:55AM]

It's the studios that made it that own the rights, and they own it everywhere surely, and as for countries not allowing rental, the site can be run in the US, to hell with their local silliness, just don't log the location info of the IP and put it in the books as 'internetuser' and have them pay by international CC.

Not that I'm interested myself.

[Davo Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:23AM]

is that a sock puppet? its no avatar, thats for sure.

[mex Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:43AM]

@Davo

btu that knitted jumper it's so cool!

[FAP FAP FAP Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:04AM]

DAT LLAMA

:D

[Davo Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:45AM]

@FAP FAP FAP

or is it an alapaca?? im no expert.

but i do know is that guy is eyeing it up, thinking 'ooh i bet i could make a new woolly jumper with your glorious locks'

[xdrewfacex Posted Jan 21st 2010 8:10AM]

@Davo

pretty sure it's an alpaca... like a llama, but it's not!

[Phrank Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:14AM]

@xdrewfacex

"like a llama, but it's not!"

it snot instead of it spit?

[Davo Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:48AM]

@xdrewfacex

i think an alpaca is a wool bearing llama.

but i cant help but feel this discussion is somewhat detracting to the general jist of the article.

[goldenthief Posted Jan 21st 2010 6:48AM]

what movie was that?

[sweet greggo Posted Jan 21st 2010 7:08AM]

YouTube is getting messy. Google should have just bought Netflix.

[nrb Posted Jan 21st 2010 12:27PM]

@sweet greggo

Then Netflix would be messy.

Netflix is doing things pretty well. Let's not mess with them.

[band3rsnatch Posted Jan 21st 2010 9:00AM]

I want what even styling gel that camel has.

[Wwhat Posted Jan 21st 2010 9:50AM]

They tried it before, it's called 'google video', where you can watch TV show pundits argue about if reagan will win the elections 30 years ago, for a mere $9.95.

[jimr1234567890 Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:31AM]

Now my new TV will also have to have full internet connection that supports YouTube content as will as being Reald 3d Compliant. I wonder how it will look on a 60+ Inch screen.

[MAS Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:31AM]

In the picture...
both are thinking: "what a loser haircut!"

[willowtwf Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:31AM]

$3.99 per movie?
someone call the fail whale, he'll be working overtime.

[nerdherd Posted Jan 21st 2010 12:16PM]

@willowtwf Agreed 100%. This only reminds me how much I love Redbox...

[savagemike Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:37AM]

that is a far more interesting move than it appears on the surface I think.
Providing a gateway directly to consumers from producers in the movie space is a potentially huge deal.

[One Love Posted Jan 21st 2010 10:57AM]

Is that a Sock Puppet?

[Ordeith Posted Jan 21st 2010 12:53PM]

$3.99 is $3 too much when you can rent from Redbox for 99¢ and netflix streaming is added to your netflix subscription for no extra charge.

[Ordeith Posted Jan 21st 2010 1:02PM]

$3.99 is $3 too much.

Expecially when you can rent from Redbox for 99¢.

And Netflix adds streaming to your subscription for no extra charge.

[IseWise Posted Jan 21st 2010 1:27PM]

I wonder if this is susceptible to the vast number of Youtube downloading programs and scripts out there. Can anyone test this out?

[chrgeorgeson Posted Jan 21st 2010 2:22PM]

I didn't read a single word of this article but when I saw the picture I thought it was Eddie Izzard and Fozzie Bear! I was quickly dissapointed by harsh reality.

[BrownSound Posted Jan 21st 2010 11:31PM]

good start they should get to work on more progress

[sr1329 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 4:40AM]

The only muscle that is cringing are my anal sphincter at the thought of taking a $3.99 rod to rent a little indie movie.