It appears Google’s possible $4 billion bid for Groupon.com isn’t the only big-ticket item the search giant is mulling this holiday season.
Google is in talks with Filmyard Holdings about acquiring the rights to Miramax’s archives — once Filmyard completes its $660 million acquisition of the film studio from Disney, a source close to the deal told TheWrap.
The Disney-Filmyard sale is expected to close by year-end, and a deal would not be announced until that goes through, the source added.
A representative for Google said the company "won't comment on rumor or speculation." A representative for Disney did not immediately return requests for comment.
The Miramax deal with Google would include rights to more than 700 films — like “No Country for Old Men” — in the studio’s extensive archive.
The Post cites unidentified sources that say Google “is eyeing the film rights to bolster its efforts to turn YouTube into a Web destination for longer form content, although Google may have to do battle with Netflix, which has also shown an interest in Miramax's film library.”
The Miramax archive would also bolster content currently offered by Google TV, which the company launched in May.
The paper noted that back in September, Google hired Robert Kyncl — a former Netflix executive — to “spearhead its efforts in Hollywood.”
News of the discussions was first reported by the New York Post.
