Sony streams 'The Interview' online and makes Hollywood history - NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A bit of Hollywood history unfolded on Wednesday. And it might be a glimpse into the future.

The controversial Sony Pictures comedy "The Interview" was released on YouTube, Google Play, the Microsoft Xbox video game console, and a special Web site.

The movie, which started streaming online around 1 p.m. ET, costs $5.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy.  So it is having historic simultaneous release in both living rooms and, come Christmas Day, about 300 independently-owned theaters across the United States.

Sony announced the digital release just an hour ahead of time, after CNNMoney and other news organizations began to report on the studio's plans to distribute "The Interview" through YouTube's movie rental store. Word spread via social media, and some curious fans started watching -- and live-tweeting -- the movie right at 1 p.m.

Sony's extraordinary announcement encapsulated days of sometimes desperate negotiations between the studio and a number of potential Internet distribution partners.  Read More at CNN

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