Want an ad-free YouTube? See what the company is doing to make it happen
Google-owned video service YouTube is looking to branch out with a variety of new projects. One of the ideas the company is discussing is an ad-free, paid subscription service, for users who wish to permanently skip the ads.
At Re/code’s Code/Mobile conference on Monday, YouTube boss Susan Wojcicki said, “YouTube right now is ad-supported, which is great because it has enabled us to scale to a billion users; but there's going to be a point where people don't want to see the ads. People “will either choose ads, or pay a fee, which is an interesting model… We're thinking about how to give users options.”
This isn’t the company’s first movement toward a subscribing model. YouTube has already confirmed an ad-free, subscription-based music service, which will be able to compete with other streaming services like Spotify and Beats Music (recently purchased by Apple). According to Ad Age, the “music service could be considered a pilot for YouTube's larger paywall.”
The music service will be comparable to Hulu and Spotify, where users are able to opt for a free version or a paid, ad-free experience. The subscription would not only include music from professional musicians, but fan remixes and covers by YouTube stars as well.
YouTube also looks to compete with companies that provide premium programing, like Netflix and Amazon. The company is now trying to launch original, TV-quality shows and is taking proposals from YouTube creators. Along with this, they are seeking original series that would premiere exclusively on YouTube—much in the same way Netflix has done with hits like Orange Is The New Black and House Of Cards.
So what’s gonna change for you when you visit YouTube in the near future? Nothing, really. Even if they implement the paid subscription model, you’ll still have the option to use it free and just hit “skip” on the ads. You’ll have a new(ish) choice for music streaming (instead of Spotify, which most of America still doesn’t even use). But again, you can still just hear music on YouTube the way everyone does currently. And the premium, TV-quality programing may only be available to subscribers.
Would you consider using any either of YouTube’s paid services—an ad-free subscription or music streaming subscription (also ad-free)? Let us know your thoughts.
