Written by Liz Gannes
Posted Friday, August 10, 2007 at 3:57 PM PT

 

Google Shutting Down Paid Video

Google today emailed customers who had purchased videos from Google Video to let them know that the company will be discontinuing paid rentals and downloads five days from now. Not only will videos no longer be available for rental or download, but previously purchased videos will no longer be playable. By way of apology, Google is offering $2 coupons for Google Checkout (or at least that’s the amount on the notice we saw; see below; update: refunded amount seems to be however much the customer spent on Google Video).

Google Video went through many revisions before taking the state it has today — a video search engine — at one point offering TV screen caps, at another trying to match YouTube feature for feature, and now fading away as a destination now that YouTube is owned by Google. Interestingly, the ability to make purchases through Google Video actually preceded the company’s launch of its payment service, Google Checkout.

I’ve been tracking the Google Video RSS feed of items for sale since about the time we started NewTeeVee, and literally the only thing that comes across is episodes of the Charlie Rose Show. I don’t think the payment option was a very heavily used (or promoted) service.

On the other hand, it’s not like iTunes is stepping up to help independent video producers sell their wares, so it’s somewhat disappointing to see this go away.

Below is the reprint of an email sent out to Google Video purchasers today (thanks Jakob).

Hello, As a valued Google user, we’re contacting you with some important information about the videos you’ve purchased or rented from Google Video. In an effort to improve all Google services, we will no longer offer the ability to buy or rent videos for download from Google Video, ending the DTO/DTR (download-to-own/rent) program. This change will be effective August 15, 2007. To fully account for the video purchases you made before July 18, 2007, we are providing you with a Google Checkout bonus for $2.00. Your bonus expires in 60 days, and you can use it at the stores listed here: http://www.google.com/checkout/signupwelcome.html. The minimum purchase amount must be equal to or greater than your bonus amount, before shipping and tax. After August 15, 2007, you will no longer be able to view your purchased or rented videos. If you have further questions or requests, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, The Google Video Team Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043

 

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Topic: Money Power
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Comments & Trackbacks

  1. I got $10, which was exactly what I spent on the service. I better hurry up and watch Tripping With Caveh for the third time.

    Bal Heedy on August 10th, 2007 at 4:11 pm - Permalink

  2. Of course, since this is about Google Video, this is very significant.

    When and how will independant video producers have a business model for releasing videos on the Internet? What does Google have in store? Is it to provide Google Checkout as a payments solution for an open market of online video distributing technologies?

    How and when will Google Video and Youtube provide the platform for independant and major movie and music producers?

    Does this following clue provide a reason to think Google is preparing a DRM-free video and music content distribution solution?

    http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/9300/10324/Google-selling-Universal-Music-downloads.phtml

    Charbax on August 10th, 2007 at 4:20 pm - Permalink

  3. I’m curious if Google Video will merge their user uploaded content onto YouTube’s platform.

    amitry on August 10th, 2007 at 5:06 pm - Permalink

  4. Brightcove has pay/rental download tools for indy producers.

    Nat on August 10th, 2007 at 5:24 pm - Permalink

  5. Wow. I’m kind of surprised. I guess Google Video goes the way of Google Answers - at least in its traditional sense.

    David Mackey on August 10th, 2007 at 5:28 pm - Permalink

  6. Google must have some DRM-free video and music content deals in the works, and thus to be compatible with that anti-DRM policy, Google simply decided to stop doing the DRM video over at Google Video, which was the only type of DRM that the whole Google company had released.

    Most probably that Google is going to try to provide monetization for video and music distribution without any usage of DRM.

    Charbax on August 10th, 2007 at 5:51 pm - Permalink

  7. Cause DRM is evil, and that was incompatible with Google’s philosophy:

    “6. You can make money without doing evil”

    http://www.google.com/corporate/tenthings.html

    Charbax on August 10th, 2007 at 5:53 pm - Permalink

  8. Vuze.com allows filmmakers to monetize content
    [ads and VOD]

    charles on August 10th, 2007 at 5:59 pm - Permalink

  9. I find it absurd people are defending google because they think that they’re going to go away from DRM. The fact remains that people purchased these videos with full intention of being able to watch them at later dates. What Google is doing is stealing, plain and simple which better fits their distaste for being evil. I’m sick of this image of Google being so pure and progressive, they’re no better than any other company, and this proves the point. It’s just like the FCC deal, saying what the terms will be but not giving any thought to the other party’s concerns. I for one am done with this pseudo-saint company.

    Swit on August 10th, 2007 at 6:33 pm - Permalink

  10. Where the !#%!%$ did my comment go?!

    Swit on August 10th, 2007 at 7:01 pm - Permalink

  11. [...] Read more at NewTeeVee. [...]

    Surflizard » Google Video Pulls Plug On Legally Purchased Vids on August 10th, 2007 at 7:08 pm - Permalink

  12. This is another reason why DRM sucks

    You purchase content and the content service shuts down and you are left with content that cant play any more and you have no recourse because of shrinkwrap ELUAs .

    Peer Impact and Wurld Media sold recently to ROO media and ROO decided it only wanted Wurld’s LX Systems Hybrid p2p CDN technology so they killed off Peer Impact without warning the user base .

    I’m glad there are tools like FiarUse4WM to strip DRM and so users not subject to the whims of a corporation,

    Matt_ on August 10th, 2007 at 9:02 pm - Permalink

  13. I couldn’t understand some parts of this article o.us poetry, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

    Daniel on August 10th, 2007 at 9:37 pm - Permalink

  14. @charbax: “When and how will independant video producers have a business model for releasing videos on the Internet?”

    Probably about the same time any other product producers are able to figure out a business model for releasing their products on the Internet. I hear some people have toyed with getting a website and accepting credit card payment in exchange for delivery of goods, but it’s probably just a rumour. I guess you’ll just have to wait for some megacorp to come along and handhold you.

    Richard Wakefield on August 10th, 2007 at 10:10 pm - Permalink

  15. I don’t think it was doing well to begin with, so it makes sense. Plus some of the prices were outrageous, I doubt anyone would pay $5.00 to see Charlie Rose from PBS.

    Online TV on August 10th, 2007 at 11:06 pm - Permalink

  16. I am only surprised it was just killed. It should have been stopped long time back no one asks about it. Still also, I find it weird Google enforce Google Checkout $20 bonus available for 2 months only. What harm could it mean if they make it for 1 year for example?

    Bashar on August 10th, 2007 at 11:30 pm - Permalink

  17. Cause within 2 months Google will probably unveil a service that provides unlimited access to independant content, tv episodes and movies at full quality for a fixed monthly fee, and the whole of it without DRM. So I guess us users of the DRM Google Video could be offered a free access for a few months to that service before the expiration of our current $50 Google Checkout bonus ($50 of Google Checkout bonus is the compensation I got, according to my usage of Google Video’s DRM).

    If each independant video producer starts charging people using credit cards on their own sites, this is not a business model that is going to work. We need the big coorporation or the government to set a standard for web content monetization. Currently there are none that work as far as I know.

    Google can launch a $5 monthly Youtube Gold access, one that provides access to all the originally uploaded qualities, full length content, tv episodes and movies. As well as DRM-free one-click pay-per-view transactions.

    Charbax on August 11th, 2007 at 12:31 am - Permalink

  18. is google planning to overtake youtube?

    nishugoyal on August 11th, 2007 at 3:33 am - Permalink

  19. [...] but topping off a week full of head-scratching Google initiatives, the Googleplex ungallantly pulled the paid video plug on its YouTube wannabe, Google Video; Paid Google Video customers were left in the [...]

    Insider Chatter by Donna Bogatin » NOT On Google Video: The (Bad) Google Week That Was on August 11th, 2007 at 5:01 am - Permalink

  20. [...] more here Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]

    Google Paid Video shutting down in 4 days! on August 11th, 2007 at 5:17 am - Permalink

  21. A situation like this really brings out one of the large flaws in DRM. Prior buyers just should not suffer if an online service closed, the content shouldn’t be in anyway tied to a specific service at that point.

    I also have to join the commentary on Google going for non-DRM content, it just makes sense and there is evidence now pointing towards it. Let’s wait and see.

    Erkko on August 11th, 2007 at 6:22 am - Permalink

  22. [...] read more | digg story [...]

    Universe_JDJ’s Blog » Google Shutting Down Paid Video on August 11th, 2007 at 7:55 am - Permalink

  23. Kinda surpriced they are shutting it down. Had always sort of hoped they would stream movies that had just came out in the cinema for a fee.

    steve on August 11th, 2007 at 8:06 am - Permalink

  24. @charles

    Google is giving 100% of the money back that people spent on the DRM’d video. That’s pretty damn non-evil to me–though it ought to be cash and not “credit.” It’s still a long way from “stealing.”

    However, the main reason I’m writing this comment is your snide remark about Google’s dealings with the FCC. I worked with a non-profit group that fully supported Google’s plans. The only interests to come ought against it were the telcos…. imagine that. Whatever you think about the company’s other policies, they’re one of the first major players to ask the FCC to set rules that would be in the public interest, and not just in the interest of their bottom line. Google’s work with the FCC improved my opinion of them.

    dhv on August 11th, 2007 at 8:13 am - Permalink

  25. The bottom line is Google Video sucked. The interface was not user friendly and it was a chore to browse what they offered. It was one of Google’s biggest failures in my opinion and I am a fan of Google. Not a big loss in my eyes.

    Mr. Viddy on August 11th, 2007 at 9:49 am - Permalink

  26. [...] materiale de pe Google Video că serviciul își încetează funcționarea pe data de 15 august, aflăm de pe NewTeeVee. Ca și compensație sunt oferite diferite sume proporționale cu numărul de materiale închiriate [...]

    Netuality » Blog Archive » La revedere, Google Video cu plata on August 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am - Permalink

  27. [...] [1] NewTeeVee: Google Shutting Down Paid Video [2] The New York Times: Google Is Closing Its Video [...]

    » Google Video Closing Down The Paid Model || Pulse 2.0: Web 2.0 Reviews & Profiles || » Blog Archive on August 11th, 2007 at 11:36 am - Permalink

  28. @ Mr. Viddy

    Google Video isn’t closing. It’s only the DRM part of Google Video that is shut down.

    Hopefully the video files will be available without DRM on a different business model or by simply selling the higher quality downloads without DRM just as Charlie Rose has been doing on Google Video from the start.

    Charbax on August 11th, 2007 at 1:16 pm - Permalink

  29. In other news, Trader Joe’s to stop selling Eggplant Pasta Sauce.

    A representative from Trader Joe’s will be round later to remove any jars of Eggplant Pasta Sauce you might currently have in your pantry, as the sauce is incompatable with Trader Joe’s pasta strategy moving forward.

    Or maybe not.

    Mark Day on August 11th, 2007 at 1:17 pm - Permalink

  30. @charbax: “If each independant video producer starts charging people using credit cards on their own sites, this is not a business model that is going to work. We need the big coorporation or the government to set a standard for web content monetization. Currently there are none that work as far as I know.”

    You want the government (and you don’t specify which of several hundred countries governments you’d prefer) to come in and start regulating purchasing standards? Wow. Seriously dude. There’s this thing called a free market which allows people to start a business in their garage on a shoestring budget and then the consumers decide which one is best. Or you could let the government be your nanny just so that some video producers who want to make a buck are able to without any effort.

    Nick Berg on August 11th, 2007 at 4:01 pm - Permalink

  31. Very interesting, I’m surprised google kept it going for so long tho.. considering they bought youtube over a year ago.

    James on August 11th, 2007 at 4:42 pm - Permalink

  32. The music business has changed forever and so has video. It is time to start making online video content that you want to be stolen and figure out other ways to monitize your brand.

    Tim Street on August 11th, 2007 at 9:30 pm - Permalink

  33. [...] No more paid video for Google. [via NewTeeVee] [...]

    Crush « citizen geek on August 11th, 2007 at 9:57 pm - Permalink

  34. [...] will no longer be playable. By way of apology, Google is offering $2 coupons for Google Checkout.read more | digg [...]

    copy and paste this url : www.alex.id.or.id to your web browser. » iA Notebook » Google Shutting Down Paid Video on August 12th, 2007 at 4:14 am - Permalink

  35. [...] posts: TechCrunch,  WebProNews, Google Blogoscoped ,  Googlified, Profy.Com, NewTeeVee , ResourceShelf.  Tags: Google, Google Video, Class Action, google blunders, customer [...]

    Google Video: Do I Hear Class Action?| Zoli’s Blog on August 12th, 2007 at 9:45 am - Permalink

  36. [...] Link [...]

    Google Killing paid video and screwing those that used it. at starshun.com on August 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pm - Permalink

  37. [...] deeper, was Google Video’s distribution model working for you? Nope. Some online commentary, like Charbax on the NewTeeVee post, suggests Google probably has something better in the works, like adding [...]

    Online Marketplace: Watching on Demand / Fast Forward - FWD:labs on August 12th, 2007 at 10:14 pm - Permalink

  38. [...] via NewTeeVee [...]

    Google inchide serviciul platit Google Videos | Blogging tips, SEO, monetizing on August 13th, 2007 at 3:23 am - Permalink

  39. [...] what happens when a provider, let’s say Google, kills their digital media paid service? After August 15, 2007, you will no longer be able to view your purchased or rented [...]

    Zatz Not Funny!»Blog Archive » The High Price of DRM: Google Kills Pay Video on August 13th, 2007 at 6:08 am - Permalink

  40. [...] Yet another reminder that DRMed content can disappear at almost any time. If you bought any video fr…  # if (ShowGoogleAd == 1) { document.write(”"); } [...]

    Stefan Hayden » Yet another reminder that DRMed content can disappear at almost any time on August 13th, 2007 at 7:13 am - Permalink

  41. [...] of the 15th, you’ll no longer be able to buy video downloads from Google [...]

    Pilgrim’s Picks for August 13 on August 13th, 2007 at 7:47 am - Permalink

  42. [...] old argument that “only pirates hate digital rights management (DRM),” just point out what just happened at the old Googleplex. They just canceled their pay-per-download Google Video site and locked [...]

    Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat :: DRM Lock-In Becomes Lock-Out on August 13th, 2007 at 8:02 am - Permalink

  43. I agree with James. The best way to resolve the problem is to make online video content free with ads. According to the recent Online Publishers Association and Piper Jaffray studies over 50% of online video consumers willing to be served ads in exchange for viewing free content. It seems to me that ads are the answer to monetization. So just like in other areas of publication, content creators will be compensated based on their ad revenue. Why should online video content be any different than television or print media content?

    The key is to get content that is relevant to what the consumer is watching or searching for—OPA found 56% of consumers polled wanted contextual, relevant, video ads.

    Companies like ScanScout will be the ones that drive advances in online video and online video consumption. ScanScout matches content with appropriate contextual ads. ScanScout’s technology provides a three way, aural, visual, and text/data, tagging and filtering system—it is the only company in this space to offer all three. It matches contextually relevant ads with all types of video media, including UGC video media.

    achartwell on August 13th, 2007 at 9:11 am - Permalink

  44. [...] Charlie Rose. It seemed like he was the only one really using the [...]

    » Google Video Store Turns Off The Lights » InsideGoogle » part of the Blog News Channel on August 13th, 2007 at 1:12 pm - Permalink

  45. Google Video Store was a foolish distraction for Google. All along it should have been using its formidable position in online advertising to help content providers monetize their video. Hopefully they’ll now get on the right track. For more detailed analysis of what this means, please view http://www.broadbandvideo360.com/2007/08/13/good-riddance-to-google-video-store/

    -Will

    Will Richmond on August 13th, 2007 at 1:54 pm - Permalink

  46. [...] Google in einer E-Mail an registrierte User bekannt gab, wird ab heute das kostenpflichtige Video-on-Demand Angebot komplett eingestellt. [...]

    Ab heute nur noch kostenlose Videos bei Google : websehen on August 15th, 2007 at 1:15 am - Permalink

  47. [...] some of the comments point out in this and recently stopped offering”>this articles about Google Video, details about this latest [...]

    Google Video to Stop Offering Paid Video Downloads on August 16th, 2007 at 5:18 pm - Permalink

  48. [...] being blamed for this move. Since this was very abrupt and non Google like, it received a lot of negative feedback from the blogosphere. Om Malik even openly referred to this as “bunch of bologna” on his [...]

    Google Apologizes For the Abrupt Shutdown of Video Download Service on August 20th, 2007 at 10:33 pm - Permalink

  49. [...] Decides To Give Full Refund For Video A few days after a lot of folks took Google to task for shutting down their video download service, and in exchange offering $2 Google Checkout coupons. Well, Google has [...]

    NewTeeVee Google Decides To Give Full Refund For Video « on August 20th, 2007 at 11:06 pm - Permalink

  50. [...] delivered a “Sesame Street-style” lesson in why DRM is evil (notice the irony?). In an email sent out to Google Video customers, the company revealed that, as of August 15th, purchased videos will [...]

    Google shows why DRM is evil | Poor Tag on January 31st, 2008 at 12:42 pm - Permalink

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