Google is planning a subscription service for some high-quality YouTube channels to raise revenue from sources beyond advertising and to help spur more professional video production.
The move, which could be announced as early as this week, would require viewers to pay about $2 or more per month, with about 50 channels participating initially, according to the Financial Times, which first reported about the companys plans.
YouTube has previously expressed its desire to start charging viewers for content, in keeping with Netflix, Hulu and other subscription-based video-streaming services. That would open up a potentially lucrative new source of revenue beyond advertising. And video makers say theyve been approached in recent weeks by YouTube with its subscription plans.
While YouTube is largely known for homemade videos, the content displayed in the channels belonging to professional producers and large media organizations has become increasingly sophisticated.
Starting in January last year, YouTube also has been spending $100 million to fund production firms to create more channels and content that would keep viewers on its site longer.
YouTubes pricing plans and the quality of video content they can help create will dictate whether the new service will be successful, says Dan Rayburn, an analyst at StreamingMedia.com.
© 2013 USA TODAY. All rights reserved.
