YouTube and Google Play to Gain Nearly 500 Paramount Movies
Continuing its evolution as a premium video destination, YouTube has signed a licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures that will bring nearly 500 titles to YouTube and Google Play viewers in the United States and Canada. The titles will be added over the next few months, says Malik Ducard, YouTube's director of content partnerships, in a blog post.
Some of the titles are already available, and they're major hits. A 48-hour HD rental of Hugo goes for $4.99, while 48-hour rentals of Transformers, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and The Godfather go for $3.99 each. Standard definition versions generally rent for a dollar less. Renters get 30 days to begin watching their selection, but then need to complete viewing in 48 hours.
While YouTube is still new to the movie rental business, notes Ducard, it now has titles from five of the six major studios, as well as content from over ten independent studios. Its total rental library has nearly 9,000 titles.
In October, 2011, Paramount signed a multi-year deal with Amazon-owned LoveFilm to provide streaming rights for its content, including first-run films, in Germany.
Related Articles
Yes, there is a way to produce great-looking YouTube videos every time. Read on for expert advice and test results.
19 Jul 2012
It now takes three full days to watch all the videos uploaded to YouTube in the average minute.
21 May 2012
YouTube is gaining a channel of scripted dramas for women and one for Olympic profiles and historic footage.
02 May 2012
YouTube's 100 channel rollout gains some live entertainment thanks to the popular entertainment studio.
22 Mar 2012
Providing context is one way that Yahoo hopes to stand out against YouTube, as both pursue original premium content strategies.
10 Feb 2012
Didn't make it to Park City? YouTube partners with Sundance to put indie titles online.
27 Jan 2012