YouTube, the video brand most closely associated with freak babies, freak kids and cheap pranks, is reportedly poised to charge for its high quality content. Whatever high quality content, that is, the Google video service can drum up.

The company is negotiating with major Hollywood studios for content to fuel a pay-per-view version of YouTube, the Financial Times said, a service that would presumably connect to your TV through a Google set-top box. So instead of just watching television shows free and reliably on your television, you could hook your TV up to the Hollywood studios via Google, via YouTube, via a special Google set-top contraption, via your credit card. Or you could just stick with Keyboard Cat, who will remain as free and easy to watch as ever.

[Pic: Karl Jonsson/Flickr]