You may soon have to pay to watch videos on YouTube.
The
video site, owned by Google, is set to launch a paid-for subscription
service later this week that will charge users to access content on some
of its specialist channels.
According
to reports in the Financial Times, a single-channel subscription is
expected to cost £1.28 ($1.99) a month and will apply to as many as 50
YouTube channels.
Paying customers will be able to get access to exclusive videos, TV shows and films from select specialist channels.
Paying a subscription may also remove adverts from free videos.
YouTube revamped the site and introduced channels in December 2011.
In October 2012, the site launched 60
partner channels, including BBC Worldwide On Earth, ITN, the Jamie
Oliver Food Channel and Mixmag TV.
Other partners include Channel 4 and Film 4, Howcast and The Onion.
It is not yet known which of these partner channels will be included in YouTube's subscription service when it launches.
A 'person familiar with the plans' told the FT that the channels will show archived content or exclusive previews and clips.
The extra money is also expected to fund new TV and film shows that will be shown exclusively online.
Paid-for subscriptions are an alternative way for YouTube to make money, in addition to its advertising revenues.
The new channels have helped expand YouTube’s audience to 1bn users who watch 6bn hours of video each month.
You can already subscribe to get updates from channels for free.
YouTube hasn't confirmed the paid-for
subscription plans, but a Google spokesman said: 'We're looking into
creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great
content to YouTube for our users to enjoy and provide our creators with
another vehicle to generate revenue from their content, beyond the
rental and ad-supported models we offer.'
Rumours
about paid-for subscriptions began in January when AdAge reported
YouTube had been in touch with a 'small group of channel producers'.
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