Forum Moderators: goodroi
Video-sharing site YouTube is taking its first steps into the online movie rental business.The fledgling service will go live on 22 January. Initially only five films will be available to rent.
The movies will come from the 2009 and 2010 Sundance Film Festival and will only be available in the US.
Hurray for more competition!
Mack.
this seems like, figuring out a way to make money so it can keep a failing model running. It probably won't even break even when you add in the bandwidth costs to running that kind of service.
who knows they might end up just making the hole deeper.
J_Rad points out YouTube doesn't play Videos as well as they use to. Could this be because the servers are getting old or Google has started restricting the bandwidth to contol the bleeding?
My thoughts are if Google can't get the spiriling downward loss turned around in the next 3 years Google has no option but to shut it down and or sell at a monster loss just to get rid of the beast.
only 5 films
Is this a joke? With 5 films they're just wasting their time.
And rentals are over, they should do streaming. And god knows they have the know how to make that work.
This rental thing is just a waste of time IMHO.
Hopefully YouTube can build up a collection bigger than NetFlix's online collection and also charge by movie instead of a monthly fee.
Below are some successful existing examples of online movie rental, all of which have much more available titles than NetFlix's misguided no fee instant selection. They all support streaming or download...
Amazon.com Unbox
Blockbuster.com (from last year's Movielink buyout)
Cinemanow.com (now owned by Roxio)
Apple TV (set top box only)
LoveFilm (UK based)
Et al.
Most of the above also offer TV show rental or purchase. In addition movies can be streamed to your TV via set top boxes. They are extremely profitable. Undoubtedly the future of movie rental and, further down the road, probably television as well.
If YouTube handles this well the tie in from people posting movie trailers and TV clips could take a big chunk out of their unprofitability.
Netflix has +11 million subscribers and 2009 revenues at $1.67 billion. It's also very profitable.
What are the numbers for the other online video rental sites? I've never even heard of those (I've been a Netflix subscriber almost from the beginning.)
That's the speed at how fast your local Blockbuster store will close in the near future.
Computer prices are lower than ever and performance is continually increasing, the future is in streaming and not long after in sharing computer downloads with traditional tv sets in your house via wi fi.
Coming to a home near you in 2012. Cable companies wanting a box on your tv should take notice too, the future is in computers.
That's the speed at how fast your local Blockbuster store will close in the near future.
Sadly you might be right. But there is something special about hiring a DVD. Being in store, looking at the cases, choosing munchies for during the movie to name but a few.
But online having the ability to view trailers might be enough of an incentive.
Blue ray might be the savior of the high street rental outlets. If you have a massive display you will want a great viewing experience.
Mack.
the future is in streaming and not long after in sharing computer downloads with traditional tv sets in your house via wi fi.
Indeed it is. No need for wi fi, all of the main streaming movie rental services (Blockbuster included) offer, or are compatible with, a set top box for your TV.
Also some newer TV's have that capability built in.
Blue ray might be the savior of the high street rental outlets.
It will keep them going for a little longer but bandwidth will increase to the point where you can stream full HD before long.
