Roger Fingas
Google on Wednesday revealed YouTube Red, a $10-per-month subscription plan that will lift some of the limits of regular YouTube while also revamping Music Key as YouTube Music.
One of the primary draws of Red, launching in the U.S. on Oct. 28, will be the ability to watch videos without ads. While there are unofficial desktop browser extensions that block them, Red will remove ads on mobile devices as well — including secondary apps such as YouTube Gaming and the upcoming YouTube Music client.
Subscribers will also be able to cache videos on mobile devices for offline viewing, and listen to videos in the background. When using the Music app, caching will offer an audio-only mode, saving storage space.
Red includes free access to both YouTube Music and Google Play Music. Subscribers to the latter, in fact, will be able to use Red's video functions, which could make the service more competitive with rivals like Spotify and Apple Music.
Starting in early 2016, Red will additionally play home to to original shows and full-length movies. Many of these will come from current YouTube celebrities, such as PewDiePie and the Rooster Teeth team.
People interested in the service will be able to try a free one-month trial. Google has not said when the YouTube Music app will become available, or when Red will expand outside of the U.S.
Charles Martin
Wesley Hilliard
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39 Comments
I would say that the subscription is certainly a great way to get around that growing problem of ad-blocking, but ad revenue at YouTube has been increasing at a very steady pace, so it isn’t a threat that forced them into this. A "massive portion" of their audience is vastly overstating the prevalence of ad blockers. For me, sitting through 10-30 seconds of blank space before getting to your video isn’t a great experience either. The offline, background, and free use of Google Play Music, all included in the $9.99 monthly subscription, mean there is more value on offer than just, no ads. And of course, if you’re a rabid fan of some of YouTube’s biggest stars, their exclusive new content will now sit behind a paywall. All that said, I don’t think the majority of people I know will sign up for YouTube Red at $9.99 a month. But I do think there are millions, maybe tens of millions who will.
This looks likely to be a huge hit and revenue stream for YouTube.
iOS users have to pay $13 if they sign up in app, and possibly $13 period. Unclear yet which is the case.
Pay for YouTube ? Eh, naw. Plus it sounds like a porn version of YouTube with that name
YouTube ads is getting intrusive... And i think is will get more intrusive and force you to pay premium. Btw.. Is my viewing habit still sold to advertisers?