YouTube May Soon Offer Streaming TV Shows For $1.99

How much would you pay to stream a TV show? Chances are, it wouldn’t be much, considering you’re not downloading it — but rather, viewing it once. But Google is currently in talks with major TV networks and studios with regard to offering TV Shows on YouTube — at a cost, of course.

If YouTube and Google have their way, you’ll be coughing up $1.99 to stream an episode on the day of or the day after it originally airs. But that’s all you’ll get — a stream. What does that mean for you? It means you can’t download it to your iPod or other device for viewing at some location without web access. Is that really worth it?

Both sides are apparently optimistic about this, reports ATD. What else could we expect from TV executives?

Considering that the companies do agree on some sort of deal, it’s still going to be a tough sell. Surely, many folks will be wary about the inability to download a TV Show, which gives them that sense of ownership, much like a DVD would. But Google argues that consumers who download programs only watch it once, so there essentially is little to no difference.

Both Amazon and Apple currently allow users to download programming after purchasing.