Originally published February 8 2006
Google to launch downloadable video service
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Google Video Store will let users search and browse video content to buy or rent. TV shows that are from last season or older cost $1.99 to download and own. Users can also rent recent episodes from CBS shows for 24 hours at the same price.
The sofa spuds among us may have already stolen a glance at Google Videos--a motley hotchpotch of advertising skits, home-recorded vaudeville efforts, bone-crunching motorcycle crashes and other esoterica uploaded by users for the public's amusement.
It has created a couple of Internet memes--if you're on the ball you'll know the Numa Numa dancing craze started by a bespectacled teenager flailing wildly to the Moldovan-Romanian pop song Dragostea Din Tei.
On Friday it announced Google Video Store, a service that will let people rent or buy downloadable videos online.
You can search and browse, and we make it fast and easy for you to watch," said Larry Page, Google's co-founder.
Consumers will pay $1.99 to download and view for an unlimited time episodes from TV programs from last season or older.
Also for $1.99, people will be able to rent recent episodes of popular TV series from CBS (nyse: CBS - news - people), such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation for 24 hours.
"Making our programming accessible to the Google Video Store guarantees our shows significant new exposure to millions of users who are likely to access this Web service and who may not be traditional TV viewers," said Leslie Moonves, president and chief executive of CBS.
A full slate of NBA games from this season and outstanding performances from the past, music videos from Sony BMG--a joint venture between Sony's (nyse: SNE - news - people) U.S. unit and Bertelsmann--Charlie Rose interviews and news and historical content from ITN will also be available.
Most of the content, which customers purchase by making credit card payments via Google's (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people) account system, is copy protected and users will not be able to share it with other devices.
Other content comes from GreenCine, a provider of independent, international, documentary, classic films and other esoteric fare--which should suit Numa Numa fans down to the ground.
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