We reported a couple weeks back that Disney and Google were partnering to bring Disney content to YouTube, and today the first of that content is beginning to roll out with movies from Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks available for rent at youtube.com/movies (U.S. and Canada).
Adding to the thousands of Hollywood titles already available for rent through YouTube, the company will roll out hundreds of Disney titles in the weeks to come, with a handful of titles available today including Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Cars 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. As always you’ll have 48 hours to view the rentals which range from $1.99 for older titles to $4.99 for newer releases.
While YouTube has already signed up Warner Brothers, Sony, and Universal to provide content, the addition of Disney films sees Google buddying up with one of Apple’s closest allies. Apple has a close relationship with Disney, to say the least. Other than iTunes previously being one of the biggest online portals to Disney content, the company was also the first to back movies on iTunes and became even closer connected with Apple as the acquisition of Pixar saw Steve Jobs become the largest individual shareholder at Disney. More recently, Disney CEO Bob Iger joined Apple’s board after restructuring named former board member Arthur D. Levinson Chairman. This major push of Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks content to YouTube could prove to be one less reason to pick iTunes over Google’s content services.
This new service just doesn’t impress me. There are tons of ways to rent pay-per-views, and why clog up Youtube with it? This is where people got to search for quality amateur content, and one of the best ways for new indie filmmakers to get noticed and hone their craft. Plus there’s simply better ways to rent movies, consumers have a ton of options—with varying degrees of quality, convenience, and price—my favorite being the new Blockbuster Movie Pass. I’ve had it for about a month and a half or so, and couldn’t be happier with all the choices it gives, including: movies and video games by mail (with the option for in-store exchanges), instant streaming, and about 20 movie channels. For years now I’ve been a subscriber of DISH Network, and more recently an employee too, and although I’ve always been happy with the service, adding on the Blockbuster Movie Pass has really completed my entertainment options.