youtube.com
YouTube movies and TV shows are part of YouTube's gigantic streaming network. It's much similar to Vudu in operation; you can either rent or buy a movie or particular episode of a TV show. Unlike YouTube TV, YouTube movies and shows offer the freedom to buy or rent the content that you like instead of subscribing to its services.
I have bought over a dozen movies on YouTube, including titles such as "Avengers: Endgame", "Pete's Dragon", "Goosebumps", "The Big Sick?", "Anabelle Creation?", "Rampage" and a Bollywood classic "Rockstar".
If you have read my Vudu review, you would already know that I am a big fan of the video-on-demand model. These mediums are not cord-cutting alternatives but they do make interesting content available which can be rented or bought without any commitment. I am quite neutral about YouTube?s movies and shows because there is nothing overly positive or negative to share with you.
Sense of Familiarity
YouTube is a separate channel, with nearly 97.2 million subscribers. You can find almost all types of movies from around the world here, and they are available in different languages. Before we talk about its history, I'd like to clarify something: YouTube is not Google's video service.
Difference between YouTube Services
YouTube Movie Rental Service is different from YouTubeTV or YouTube Premium. There's no monthly or yearly fee and no contract as is in majority of the Cable TV, Satellite TV or streaming subscription networks.
History
Did you know that YouTube was founded by three PayPal employees, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim? They were the brains behind the site and before Google acquired it, they established a partnership with NBC. Crazy right? Within a year of its launch, YouTube was one of the world's fastest-growing sites with 65,000 new videos being uploaded every day. The site averaged 20 million visitors per month and raked around 100 million video views per video in July 2006 which made it world's fifth-most popular website.
Google finally acquired YouTube in October 2006 for $1.65 billion. However, this acquisition wasn't simple as YouTube operated independently with its co-founders working with 68 Google Employees.
Since its establishment in 2005, YouTube has broken streaming records and become the social media powerhouse that defined the video-streaming industry. In addition to its movie rental service, YouTube has launched dozens of initiatives such as ?Premium Service?, ?Originals?, and ?YouTubeTV? to name a few.
Design
YouTube offers a rental service that is well known to users of the website. When you click on Movies and Shows, you are presented with a reel icon and text that reads "Movies and Shows." The color scheme is grey and black, which is something we are used to. There is no oomph factor or dissatisfaction with this design.
Materials
As usual, when you click on any specific title in the YouTube Video window, the window opens up and starts playing the trailer. The Title is displayed in white text against a light blue background, and its upload date and engagement parameters are shown on the left and right, respectively. Every movie or television show listed on the paid/rental service will have its description captured below in the following details: - Synopsis - Provider - Rating - Release Date - Running Time - Language - Actors - Director - Producer - Genres - Support Materials.
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Whether you're using a mobile device or a PC, the YouTube Rental Service's interface is good-looking and straightforward. YouTube's excellent machine learning ensures that you get tailored-made content. So, while there are a lot of recommended movies and shows, it does know what you might like or dislike based upon your viewing preference. For instance, I happen to be a big fan of Kumail Nanjiani and I often watch his videos, thus Big Sick is the first option I saw. This observation is personal though. I'm not claiming that it's been proven.
Content
Here comes the good news. YouTube's paid movie rental service has all the latest movies that you need. For example, it has 2019's best movies such as Avengers Infinity War, A Star is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody, Black Panther, Dunkirk, Despicable Me 3, It, Hunter Killer and Logan. All of these movies are available in either SD or HD quality. Though YouTube does have 4K content, it suggests that you have an internet speed of at least 15mbps to watch the content.
When you visit the YouTube movies and shows page, you will find well-curated playlists such as its own recommendation, New Releases, Top-Sellers, and various genres including Drama, Comedy, Documentaries, Thriller, Family, Music, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Suspense, Crime, World Cinemas.
Desktop/Mobile experience
YouTube will prompt you to sign up if you haven't already. If you have a Google account, it will help with the payment process. Watching a rental movie on YouTube is just like watching any other video. There's nothing special about it, and it's pretty similar to how the original experience would be.
To cast your movies or shows onto your Smart TV using Chromecast, you first need to get a compatible computer browser and the YouTube app for Android and iOS. You can then Cast your movies or shows from your computer onto your TV by using the YouTube app on your phone or by linking it with the smart TVs. You can also Cast content from gaming consoles such as PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Lastly, you can also Cast Apple TV and Roku TV.
The only time we watch a movie at SD is when there is no opportunity to stream it at 720p.
Seamless Refund Experience
My initial experiences with this streaming service were quite disappointing. My first rented stream stopped after the first thirty minutes and then directly jumped to the end and stopped. After contacting Google, this bug was fixed but that didn't stop the problem. my second rental experience saw the stream play for less than 10 minutes. After getting frustrated, I requested a refund, and the process was seamless.
- Fill out the form and attach a screenshot if possible
To be on the safe side, I suggest you file a refund request if you have had trouble streaming in the past. The process is simple: go to your Account Tab, click on Purchases, and then click on Report a Problem. Next, fill out the form and attach a screenshot if possible. I'm confident that with this precaution taken your streaming experience will be smooth sailing from here on out!
I have a problem with my video and I am looking for an option to receive a refund. With refunding though, sometimes the process is quick whereas other times it might take a tad bit longer. Especially, when YouTube wants to troubleshoot the problem and verify the issues before authorizing the refunding process. I don't mind the second step because they have a strong reason for doing the cross-check.
Plans & Pricing
YouTube offers movie rental and purchase options that range from $2.99 to $19.99. The amount you pay also depends on the movie or show. For renting, you can rent for a period of up to 24-48 hours. Once you hit play, the clock starts ticking and there is a 30-day window for some movies.
Suggestions I have for YouTube
I believe that YouTube should create a subsidiary service where users can rent or purchase movies. The service should be rebranded, and more promotion and advertising should be done to convince people to use it. This channel has nearly 100 million subscribers, but no one is buying or renting movies because there is no proper promotion and advertising.
Conclusion
I suggested at the start that there isn't much to talk about with this service. It's there, but it's not making any noise or causing a substantial difference. It's similar to Vudu in its operation except for YouTube, which can really make it stand out if it wants to. I understand that YouTube's primary focus is on YouTubeTV and YouTube Originals, but VOD shouldn't be undermined for demographics who watch movies occasionally.
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