Google’s YouTube is reportedly in negotiations with movie studios to offer pay-per-view videos by the end of the year — possibly via YouTube streaming.
Google has been promoting the international appeal of a streaming, on-demand movie service pegged to the world’s most popular search engine and YouTube that would work on a global scale, but starting in the United States first.
A pay-per-view deal is expected to bring to YouTube profits, which so far have not been realized. YouTube, which is embedded on many phones, would have an instant pay-per-view smartphone play. Of course, YouTube is widely viewed on desktop computers, as well.
The YouTube pay-per-view effort would be competing with Hulu, Apple’s iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, RedBox and the cable industry. Originally, Hulu set out to differentiate itself quite clearly from YouTube by not showing homemade movies.
Videos may become available on YouTube pay-per-view as soon as they are released on DVD’s.
If available to websites, they would likely be available from The Cardinal and CardinalTheater.com