YouTube Expands Paid Subscription Option to More Channels
YouTube is opening up its paid subscription option beyond its initial pilot program. The online video giant began offering paid subscriptions with 53 partners in May, 2013. StreamingMedia.com was doubtful that many viewers would want to pay for content on YouTube, given the vast amount of free video on the site, but the program has apparently been successful enough for YouTube to expand with it. As of today, any YouTube partner with an account in good standing (free of copyright strikes and other offenses) and over 10,000 subscribers can opt to charge a monthly fee for their content. Subscriptions start at $0.99. In its blog post, YouTube doesn't mention what percentage of the fee goes to the channel owner.
As with the channels in the pilot program, all subscription channels will offer viewers a 14-day free trial. Subscription channels are available in the countries included in the pilot program (Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States), as well as Mexico. YouTube notes that it will add more countries in the near future. Subscription channels are now available to mobile viewers, as well.
YouTube has created a page to help channel owners set up their channel for subscriptions.
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