4 Sep 2009

YouTube reportedly in talks with movie studios

1:44 pm on 4 September 2009

There are reports that YouTube is in talks with major film studios about showing their movies on its website.

YouTube, which is owned by Google and is yet to turn a profit, has apparently met Sony, Lionsgate and Warner Brothers about a potential deal.

The idea is that YouTube would offer users a chance to stream films for a rental fee.

An internet expert at Enders Analysis, Ian Maude says Google is hoping to use YouTube as a network operator in a lucrative market.

However, he says Google will have to grapple with a number of problems: including removing copyrighted material that's been uploaded illegally, and whether studios will feel comfortable with some of the other content that's posted on YouTube.