YouTube Introduces Movie Rentals

It's a new revenue model for them. As long as their primary video sharing service remains free, this is a good idea. Plus, youtube has had HD video support for a while so I think this might actually work for them.

And I like the fact that you have a time limit within which you can watch the movie multiple times so you don't have to worry about your computer crashing, etc. But as Youtube gets more studios on board for rentals, will they still be able to compete with Netflix and their unlimited service to $8.99?

Why not cable providers and dish does on demand which is basically the same thing, media tranferred and controlled over a network.

You had to expect youtube to introduce more things to make money now that Google owns them.

With the huge amount of ads and google chrome spots on youtube, I have used it a lot less lately it seems.

Agreed, and it seems that every other video has been disabled or modified because of copyright issues. I would much rather prefer if Google took a little longer to take down some of those videos.

I use a ROKU device connected to a NetFlix account. 17 bucks a month and they have Hundreds of movies to choose from. You watch whenever you want to, as many times as you want to,........

The list is always changing and they are good titles too. It's a much better deal.

Oh yeah, they have an incredible number of movie titles available online along with an impressive catalog of TV shows as well. Combine this with their huge mail order selection (I don't think I've ever come across a movie, foreign or domestic that I couldn't find on Netflix) and you know why Netflix is so successful...and why Blockbuster is going out of business.

I think in differing ways this will become a standard.

When Blockbuster was the only game in town, they were costly and treated people like kids. Their rules were too restrictive and I found them to be arrogant at times. I have no pity for them.

NetFlix is a good deal.

I think this is a good business decision for them and I can see it working well as well

realneil:

When Blockbuster was the only game in town, they were costly and treated people like kids. Their rules were too restrictive and I found them to be arrogant at times. I have no pity for them.

NetFlix is a good deal.

Yeah, even before Netflix they were losing ground to RedBox and Hollywood Video. I remember being charged $11 for being one day late to returning a new release...I could have bought one for that amount. Netflix and their policy of no late fees is what appealed to me right from the start.

I'm not surprised they lost around $200 million in 2009.

Speaking of which in my area Hollywood is going out of business, and grocery store's (Ingle's next door has one) and Blockbuster as well as redbox etc is it. SO I am sure Netflix does well in Atlanta.

This idea is very valid today and I see many companies using it in the near future. I also think it's a smart step for this company as well.