9/1/2009

in

The No. 1 video Web site is now negotiating with a number of big name movie studios about the possibility of charging viewers fees for movie rentals.

Sara Eason

Google's YouTube is currently in the process of working out a deal with Lions Gate Entertainment, Sony and Warner Brothers that will allow YouTubers to watch full-length movies, but at a price, of course.  
  
If YouTube goes though with the deal, it will forever alter the Web site. The site will then be a major competitor against other movie rental sites such as Amazon, Netflix and Apple. It will also offer YouTube the chance to gain some kind of profit from something other than advertising which has never been offered to the site before.  
  
Videos could be rented as soon as they come out on DVD if YouTube and the studios come to an agreement. As of now, older movies are available on YouTube for free.  
  
Sources: [Hollywood Reporter](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i82908c6716f89cd157504318f8138982), [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN022227220090902), [N.Y. Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/technology/internet/03tube.html)