YouTube launches UK movie rental service

YouTube has launched a movies-for-rent service in the UK following last month’s launch of a service in Canada. A US service was launched in May.

The Google-owned video site is making about 1,000 titles available in the UK from major Hollywood and British studios, including new releases Hanna, Fast Five and Red Riding Hood, library titles including The Dark Knight and Reservoir Dogs, and British classics including Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

YouTube will also feature extra features for a number of films including free behind-the-scenes videos, cast interviews, parodies, clips and remixes from YouTube’s community of content creators.

News releases will be priced at £3.49 (€4)(with a 30-day period in which to view, and a 48-hour period once they have started watching the movie) with older films costing £2.49, with higher charges for HD versions.