Video streaming site YouTube has launched its new movie rental service in the United Kingdom, featuring thousands of movies including Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
British film fans can now rent new movie releases for £3.49 and older movies for between £2.49 and £3.49 through YouTube.
The move puts Google to compete directly with Amazon’s LoveFilm service, which claims around 1.6 million subscribers in Europe. The Amazon LoveFilm service makes new releases available to non-users for between £2.49 and £3.49 per film.
“We’ve got some cracking films to keep everyone entertained through the upcoming winter months and beyond,” wrote YouTube Business Product Manager Matteo Vallone in a blog post. “From blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Reservoir Dogs, to new releases such as Hanna, Fast Five, and Red Riding Hood, and even British classics like Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, you can find many of your favorite films in high quality available to rent now.”
Viewers will be given a window of 30 days to watch their ordered film on YouTube, and 48 hours once they have begun viewing it.
The service has signed UK-specific deals with film companies, which include Lionsgate, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures. YouTube also signed deals with Revolver Entertainment, the studio behind Metrodome and Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon.
YouTube has launched the movie service in May, as part of its move to shift away from short video clips that made the side popular. The website is the busiest video service online, with more than 100 million unique viewers monthly.
via: Management Today
