YouTube finally looks set to launch its long-rumoured paid subscription service.
According to a report by Re/code, Google is planning to send the service live “near the end of October”.
The article cites an e-mail sent by YouTube to content owners requesting that they sign up to new terms of use.
What’s more, the e-mail mandates that content owners must agree to the terms by October 22, or their “videos will no longer be available for public display or monetisation in the United States”.
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It continues: “That’s why we’re asking you to update your agreement to reflect the updated terms for the ads-free service…To accept, simply log into YouTube.com as “username” from a desktop or laptop and follow the prompts by October 22nd.”
Interestingly, the service will reportedly be comprised of two separate offerings bundled into one.
The report suggests these two services will be YouTube’s existing Music Key music service – currently in beta – and another service, “yet to launch”, the will remove ads.
It’s suggested that Google intends to charge $10 a month for both services combined.
However, there is a risk that YouTube may struggle to woo paying users who are already signed up to one of a growing number of paid subscription services.
For instance, someone who already has a paid Netflix plan, a Spotify Premium account, and Amazon Prime for deliveries could find it difficult to justify shelling out for another recurring charge.
It’s also worth noting that YouTube’s Music Key service was reported to cost $10 per month at launch as a standalone service.
Related: Netflix vs Amazon Prime Instant Video
YouTube provided a response to the report, which reads as follows:
“We are progressing according to plan to provide fans more options in how they enjoy content on YouTube. We have support from the overwhelming majority of our partners, with over 95% of YouTube watch-time covered by agreements, and more in the pipeline about to close.”
Would you pay for ad-free YouTube videos? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.