-->

YouTube Will Offer Subscription Service for Avoiding Ads

Article Featured Image

Ads used to be nonexistent on YouTube. Then they became occasional nuisances (that the viewer could often skip). Now they're regular occurrences, and a hassle for people who watch a lot of video.

But are they enough of a hassle that people will pay to avoid them?

At the Code/Media conference that concluded yesterday in Dana Point, California, YouTube head of content and business operations Robert Kyncl announced that his company will launch a subscription service that lets people go ad-free. The offering is currently undergoing fine-tuning and should launch in the next few months. Kyncl didn't announce what the price will be.

This isn't the first time YouTube has talked about this type of subscription offering. In fact, at the 2014 Code/Mobile conference, the company's CEO suggested that this type of subscription plan might be coming. A year later, it's soon to be a reality.

According to a Reuters report, YouTube first launched a pilot program for this type of service in May 2013 where creators could charge a subscription fee for a video channel.

That wasn't the only news coming out of Kyncl's session. He also announced that YouTube's top creators will get more support, TechCrunch reports. Kyncl didn't suggest what form that support will take, but it's likely to mean letting them keep a bigger share of the ad revenue they bring in as YouTube fights to keep its most popular creators from straying to competitors.

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

Vessel Launches, Offers Early Access to Popular YouTube Content

Members who sign up in the first three days will get 12 months of premium service for free; after that $2.99 per month.

March Madness Highlights Come to Official YouTube Channel

Watching the NCAA tournament's 67 games live online, however, will require cable or satellite authentication.

YouTube to Launch Child-Friendly App for Android Devices

The app will help young viewers find popular series, while letting parents set a timer to control daily viewing time.

The Key to Online Video Success Is Authenticity, Says YouTube

Any voice can find an audience on YouTube as long as viewers believe it's authentic and honest about what it wants to communicate.

YouTube Brand Marketing Success Starts With These 4 Steps

If teens in their bedrooms can build channels with millions of subscribers, then why are brands with million dollar budgets struggling to do the same?

YouTube Brass Pitch Google Preferred at Brandcast

Advertisers can zero in on the good stuff with Google Preferred, buying ads on the top five percent of YouTube's inventory. Plus, that buy now comes with a guarantee.