YouTube Subscription

YouTube is set to launch a subscription service featuring exclusive videos as well as feature-length films of high profile vloggers.

18:06 22 October 2015

YouTube subscription service is set to be launched with a $9.99 (£6.50) a month price tag. Initially only available in the US, YouTube Red features exclusive videos as well as feature-length films with zero adverts.

 

Experts are sceptical as to how well its targeted audience will embrace it.

 

Brian Blau, an analyst with Gartner, said: "It's great to see YouTube offer an alternative to an ad-only model. Consumers want choice and options."

"But pay walls haven't always done well and uptake depends on how users balance the attractiveness of the exclusive content and the pain of sitting through lots of ads."

Ian Maude from Enders Analysis, added: "You are not going to see 50% buying this. Its going to be relatively small numbers."

"But," he added "they might be able to hoover up some more money and from Google's perspective it gets them into the high-quality, high-production value game."

 

"Google has deep pockets and a lot of money and it's a space it needs to be in so it makes sense to me that they would want to be there.”

 

One month free trial will be offered to US users from October 28 while international pricing is expected to be announced soon.

 

"For years, YouTube's fans have been telling us they want more," the company wrote in a blog post.

"More choice when watching their favourite content, more ways to support their favourite creators and, above all, the option to watch their favourite videos uninterrupted."