According to industry sources, the popular online video sharing site YouTube may begin offering movie rentals by the end of the year, as parent company Google is currently in talks with the major movie studios.
The negotiations have stalled on only two issues, say the sources, which are pricing and "agreed-upon release date."
The pricing will likely be in line with current rental models, such as those offered by iTunes, VUDU and CinemaNow which each offer the movies for between $1.99 and $3.99 USD, with 24-hour viewing periods once you have started watching the movie.
Studios very close to already signing deals are Lions Gate, Warner Bros., MGM and Sony, likely because they all currently have working revenue-sharing relationships with the streaming site.
Google declined comment on the speculation, as did the studios.
If the sources are accurate, YouTube could begin testing the rental service later this month, as a three-month "beta." Studios would receive about 60 percent of all revenue from the rentals, but that number could vary from studio to studio, adds the sources.
The pricing will likely be in line with current rental models, such as those offered by iTunes, VUDU and CinemaNow which each offer the movies for between $1.99 and $3.99 USD, with 24-hour viewing periods once you have started watching the movie.
Studios very close to already signing deals are Lions Gate, Warner Bros., MGM and Sony, likely because they all currently have working revenue-sharing relationships with the streaming site.
Google declined comment on the speculation, as did the studios.
If the sources are accurate, YouTube could begin testing the rental service later this month, as a three-month "beta." Studios would receive about 60 percent of all revenue from the rentals, but that number could vary from studio to studio, adds the sources.
