Why YouTube wants to pay to see their videos – BBC

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption What Youtube want to do is as a combination of Netflix and services Spotify.

In the last decade YouTube has managed to become the most popular video service through Internet you can access your content for free .

Now, the company owned by Google wants its users to start paying.

At least those who choose to subscribe to YouTube Network, the new payment service YouTube presented Wednesday in Los Angeles.

With a monthly fee of US $ 9.99, YouTube Network will be available in the US from next October 28, reaching other countries later.

It will allow you to view videos without advertising and store content for viewing later without internet connection.

In addition, given access to the new application YouTube Music, which replaces YouTube Music Key and with which you will watch and listen to music videos in both the computer and the phone, with a similar Spotify or Pandora and including the catalog of Google Play Music function.

YouTube Network access will also have to series and films themselves that YouTube is occurring and are featuring some of the biggest stars of the video platform, as Pewdiepie, The Fine Brothers or Lilly Singh

Read. The five most money they have in YouTube

Users who do not want or can not subscribe to the new service, still see the contents with ads.

willing to pay?

Image copyright AP

Image caption Robert Kyncl, president of YouTube business, was the one who made the announcement.

Robert Kyncl, YouTube president of business, said the launch of YouTube Network responds to the fact that “consumers are embracing free content with paid subscriptions to advertising incredible rate. “

Kyncl denied that they had intended to compete with platforms like Netflix, the popular service of movies and TV shows online, ensuring that offer an entirely different content.

Following the announcement on Wednesday many analysts wonder how react about 1,000 million people accessing YouTube as usual.

How many of them are willing to pay for content, except for new original series, will remain free?

Natalie Jarvey, technology editor of the journal The Hollywood Reporter is cautious about the possible success of YouTube network, in part by demographic profile of users of YouTube.

“Many young people are without income and have to see how they manage the $ 10 it costs the subscription” Jarvey explained in conversation with BBC World.

In addition, Jarvey believes that with the proliferation of payment services like streaming Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or HBO- consumers have a wide range to choose from, so the monthly bill by signing several of them can be high.

That’s why journalist The Hollywood Reporter think that a few years is likely to subscription packages that include several platforms are offered, as in television cable.

Image copyright Thinkstock

Image caption How many of the billion people who use YouTube will be willing to pay?

Complaints creators

Some analysts believe that if only a small part of the 1,000 million people YouTube used to subscribe to YouTube access network, the service will provide enough revenue to fund Google.

In addition, it allows them to join the growing group of digital platforms that are creating their own content, competing directly with broadcasters traditional.

Some YouTube content creators have complained that they have been given no choice but to access their videos were part of YouTube network, because otherwise they risked these were no longer accessible to the public.

Ian Maude, the company Enders Analysis, is skeptical about the success of YouTube Network.

“Half the audience YouTube is not going to sign. They will be relatively small numbers, “Maude told the BBC.

Are you willing to pay for something that has so far been free?