Google Wants Miramax Content On YouTube [Google In Talks With Miramax To Get Streaming Content on YouTube Instead of User Generated]

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Word is that Google is in talks with Miramax to make a deal for Miramax’s fairly substantial library (over 700 titles by some reports) to put them all on YouTube.

Details on pricing and the like are still somewhat sketchy, but this is a perfect example of Google striking while the iron is hot. Miramax has had its share of troubles of late–so much so that Google isn’t technically in talks with Miramax, but rather with Filmard Holdings, who is just now finishing up its own deal to buy out Miramax and will likely have the Miramax name as part of its properties.

This is something of a coup for Google, assuming they manage to pull it off. Last I knew, Netflix was hot to get their hands on Miramax’s library for its own to add on to its own massive array of streaming titles. And it’s not like Google’s had a lot of success with streaming titles, though it hasn’t had access to much anything that was big for YouTube yet–somehow, The Cove really doesn’t compare with Kill Bill Volume One.

It’s a real point of contention–sure, Filmard is likely going to be hurting for quick cash following its big purchase of Miramax, and selling off the streaming rights isn’t exactly a huge problem. Filmard will still have DVD and Blu-ray rights to work with, and despite what the starry-eyed futurists have to say, even Netflix believes there’s life in the DVD market and will continue to be for some time to come. And if Google’s got one thing, it’s gobs of liquid cash and extremely valuable stock. But Netflix is an extremely credible player in the streaming market, and if you want to stream a movie legally the first place most go is to Netflix. YouTube is the first place you go to watch some idiot jump off a roof and land package-first into a fence post.

This is one to keep a look out for, folks, and if Google ends up with the Miramax library it’ll likely change the streaming video landscape for some time to come.

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