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YouTube announced in February that it was launching its own subscription streaming service. It’ll be called YouTube Premium, and it will include original shows, as well as ad-free access to all of the site’s videos and new music streaming features.
The launch of a paid service is excellent news for creators who have long complained about the way Google siphons revenue from their work. The old model meant that if someone uploaded your video on YouTube, you didn’t get paid directly. Instead, you got a small fee if someone decided to watch a clip on that site; it didn’t matter if they watched it there or somewhere else online.
Creators argued that this prevented them from uploading their work elsewhere, why give Google free content and not get paid for it? And as users are increasingly watching videos on demand, rather than having clips appear at random when they browse channels, the imbalance becomes more pronounced and less fair.
Creators therefore welcome this change. If you want to try out YouTube Premium before spending any money on it, you're in luck. New customers can take advantage of a one-month free trial to test the service. It can be difficult to find trial offers on streaming video platforms for example, there's a 30-day free trial for Hulu but the Disney Plus free trial has been off for a while so we like to see a month-long YouTube Premium trial.
So, What’s The Deal With YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium (or YTP for short) will be a paid subscription for $11.99 a month. This will give you access to ad-free videos and music, as well as a new slate of original content. You’ll also get access to YouTube Kids, meaning you can let your children watch videos on the app without being bombarded by inappropriate or unsuitable content.
And you’ll also be able to save videos for offline viewing, so you can catch up on your favorite YouTubers when you’re in a no-data zone. The good news for people who already subscribe to YouTube Red is that your subscription will be folded into the new service. You’ll get all the same features, including the original programming that will launch later this year. The only difference is that the branding will change.
New Shows On YouTube Premium
There are no standalone discounts on YouTube Premium right now, but you can save some money by opting for the annual plan rather than choosing to pay month-to-month. If you’ve already taken advantage of the YouTube Premium free trial and have decided to sign up, this is a viable and easy way to save a little cash.
YouTube Premium normally costs $12 per month. This comes to $144 per year. However, you can sign up for the annual plan for $120 upfront, which saves you $24 not a fortune, admittedly, but it’s money in your pocket.
The main selling point of YouTube’s new service is that it will bring new shows to the platform. These will be exclusive to Premium subscribers and will be made by some of the site’s biggest stars and production companies, including Endemol, Big Frame, and PewDiePie. The slate of shows will include:
- Cobra Kai: This continuation of The Karate Kid franchise is a 10-episode series starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka. It follows Macchio’s character as he sets up a karate dojo and competes with his old rival, Zabka’s character.
- Impulse: This show is about a young woman who finds herself with superhuman abilities after she survives a mysterious car crash.
- Wong Fu Productions: This will be a sci-fi series from the team behind the Asian AF sketch show.
- Bazar Bollywood: This is a reality show about an Indian music festival.
- Sucker: This show is about two young women who try to solve murders.
- Sing Your Heart Out: This is a singing competition hosted by Demi Lovato.
- Untitled Prank Show: A series of comedy sketches.
- Untitled Drone Racing Show: A drone racing competition.
- Untitled Gamer Show: A reality show about the lives of YouTubers who play games.
How Much Will It Cost?
As mentioned, YouTube Premium will cost $11.99 a month. If you’re also a YouTube Red subscriber, you’ll automatically get Premium once the new service launches. And if you’re in one of the countries where YouTube Red is available, you’ll be able to subscribe to the new service as well.
Users in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico can sign up to be beta testers for the service from March 13. If you live outside of those countries, you’ll have to wait until May when the service launches globally.
Exclusive Content For Subscribers
One of the major selling points of YouTube Premium is that it will offer subscribers exclusive content. This could include:
- Bonus footage, like deleted scenes or additional interviews.
- Behind the scenes footage from live events and studio sessions.
- Sneak peeks at new shows.
- Peter Panda.
Music Features On YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium will include ad-free music streaming from Google’s new music service. This will include songs from your favorite artists, new releases, playlists, and albums. If you sign up to Premium, you’ll also get an app called YouTube Music.
This is a dedicated music app that lets you watch music videos, listen to playlists, and explore the app’s “endless” music library. You’ll also be able to listen to music without an internet connection.
Final Thoughts
YouTube’s new subscription service sounds great but we’ll have to wait until May to see if it lives up to the hype. The app has had a rocky start to life and doesn’t seem to offer enough over the existing service to entice users to pay the extra money. But this doesn’t mean that YouTube Premium isn’t going to be worth your while.
On the contrary: with a ton of original shows, dedicated music playlists, and an ad-free experience, YouTube Premium could be the way to go for all your video needs.
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