YouTube may offer movies
Michael Bellocq grew up visiting the local video store with his father to rent movies. Now he is surrounded by them.
Bellocq, history junior and a manager at Video USA on Lee Drive, rents movies so he won’t have to wait for buffering like many of his friends who prefer watching movies online.
But his preferred method of obtaining movies may be dwindling.
YouTube is talking with major movie studios about a deal which would allow users to watch full-length movies online for a small fee.
YouTube, which already provides some free older movies, plans to add new releases from movie giants like Lionsgate Entertainment and Warner Brothers to its repertoire, according to a New York Times article.
“While we don’t comment on rumor and speculation, we hope to expand both on our great relationship with movie studios and on the selection and types of videos we offer our community,” according to a YouTube news release.
These talks between YouTube and movie studios could affect local movie stores, said Patrick Mulhearn, director of studio operations for Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge at the Celtic Media Centre.
“The days of renting movies are ending,” Mulhearn said. “It’s the way the industry is going. It’s changing how we see and get movies.”
Movie rental stores already suffered losses with the popularization of On Demand and Netflix, and YouTube movies are going to continue this trend, Mulhearn said.
“It won’t be long that you won’t be going down the street to a movie store and renting something for a night or two,” Mulhearn said. “You’ll be hooking your iPod up to the TV to
watch movies.”
Many students said they would prefer watching movies illegally to watching on YouTube.
Jordan LaFrance, photography junior, said he goes to movie theaters or downloads the movies online instead of renting movies. He said he used to enjoy renting movies as a child but doesn’t get the same thrill anymore.
