YouTube Readies New Ad-Free Service for Monthly Subscription

Google-owned YouTube is reportedly readying the launch of its much anticipated online subscription service. Sources indicate a launch is likely by the end of October. Two offerings are expected: an updated version of its Music Key service (previously launched in beta) and a new service that offers access to all YouTube content without ads. Earlier reports suggest the bundled offering would be available for $10 per month. While YouTube has hinted in the past about an upcoming subscription service, it has yet to unveil firm plans or a timeline.

youtube2The video site recently sent an email to content owners explaining that they should agree to new licensing terms by October 22 or their “videos will no longer be available for public display or monetization in the United States.”

Based on a temporarily available text update to the YouTube app, Android Police reports the name of YouTube’s new service will be “YouTube Red.”

According to Re/code, it is difficult to imagine how YouTube will make money at $10 a month, considering that was originally supposed to be the fee for the music service alone, “with the music labels and other copyright owners pocketing the majority of that.”

Regardless, YouTube indicated that it is “progressing according to plan,” and already has “support from the overwhelming majority” of its content partners, “with over 95 percent of YouTube watch-time covered by agreements, and more in the pipeline about to close. ”

Google has an event scheduled for tomorrow in San Francisco, for which select members of the press have received invites promising “a morning conversation about some new treats from Google.”

In addition to possible news regarding YouTube Red, Digital Trends suggests Google will likely unveil Android 6.0 Marshmallow as well as “an LG-made Nexus 5, a Nexus 6 from Huawei and maybe even new Chromecasts.”

 

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