Is Google on track to turn YouTube into the Google version of Netflix?
Why do I ask these questions?
Well. Back when I first was a YouTuber, uploading YouTube videos, one was restricted to a maximum running time of 10 minutes.
Soon after I cut my connection to my Cable TV provider, AT & T U-verse, I discovered that YouTube had drastically changed.
YouTube now has full length movies available for free viewing. I've long wanted to watch the controversial Leni Riefenstahl documentary, Triumph of the Will. I watched it on YouTube.
On my smart phone.
I've long wanted to watch Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator. YouTube had that movie available for free viewing.
When James Garner died I wondered if YouTube had any Rockford Files episodes online. Near as I can tell the entire series is available for YouTube viewing.
I don't know where one can find a comprehensive listing of what's available on YouTube. I found The Rockford Files via the YouTube search tool. After I watched a few Rockford episodes YouTube started recommending other series, like the original Hawaii 5-0, Quincy, Gunsmoke, Beverly Hillbillies, Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, The Carol Burnett Show, I Love Lucy, Perry Mason and others I am not remembering right now.
Sometimes when you search for a specific recent movie YouTube will offer to show it to you for a price, like $1.99 to view it. Is this the direction YouTube is heading? Will all this new content eventually no longer be free to view?
I have no idea. All I know is what Google and YouTube are doing right now sure made it painless to cut the Cable TV cord....
