AP Sources: YouTube to offer online movie rentals

Jordan Strauss/APLast year, the tech billionaire Sean Parker made headlines with his latest startup: a streaming service called Screening Room that would give users the ability to watch major movies still in theaters from the comfort of their homes for $50.

Recently, 21st Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Universal Pictures all confirmed they’re looking to offer high-priced, home-video rentals of new movies soon after they’re released in theaters. And according to a new report, Apple wants a piece of that pie.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA) is set to make a mark in Hollywood. Its founder Jack Ma is planning a visit to the US in order to meet with various studios and strike an online-content deal, reported Bloomberg.

Another big company is throwing itself into the original video content space. 

Welcome to the games, Target.

According to reports that surfaced on Sunday, Google Inc. (GOOG) is looking to acquire live-game video streaming site, Twitch, to integrate it with its online video streaming service Youtube. However, the development has not yet been confirmed as official sources from both companies refrained from commenting on the news.

Dana Blankenhorn submits: At first glance the whole idea sounds silly. What would Google (GOOG) want with Netflix (NFLX) when it already has YouTube? The real question is why Netflix should sell, right? Right.

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