Saw this in the news yesterday.

Video site YouTube has started a movie rental service in the UK.


Blockbusters such as The Dark Knight and classics including The Birds can be watched via the site. In total, about 1,000 movies have been made available.


New releases will cost £3.49 to rent and library titles £2.49. Users have 30 days to begin watching a film, and 48 hours to finish it once they start.

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Is movie rental still something that goes on these days?

Certainly, where I am, the local blockbusters and their peers have mostly shut down. I know some of the websites, lovefilm etc, are still on the go, but is this online streaming rental service something that would work?

Not to condone it, but it's not exactly difficult to watch films online at the moment. I would suspect though that the bulk of the time no money changes hands?

It's a truly massive market in the US and a few other countries. Over there, it's Netflix and the streaming video services in general make up one of the majority of what's downloaded on the internet as a result. The emergence of set top boxes like Apple TV, Boxee, various boxes from Popcorn Hour and a few others including HTPCs, PS3 and XBoxs as media players shows the growth in streaming media which doesn't need any physical disc being played.

Personally I've never used one of the services on offer though I have been marginally tempted. I've got the Lovefilm app on the PS3 which I'm still to activate in terms of the free 30 days BUT given the rental cost and the price of DVDs, it hardly seems worth it - I can pick up most films that are even just a year or two old for under £3. Plus I kind of like having something physical and appreciate the packaging that's put into a DVD or BD that you never get with a download.

I think you're onto something, especially with the bit about the phyicality of a film.

I've no time for music downloads (although I have to use them) as you don't have the cd/booklet or the endless replacment of cases.

I'd imagine there'll be a market for it, but I do feel it may end up being a false economy!