Will you pay for YouTube? Google approaches partners about ad-free subscription service set to launch this year
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YouTube is set to offer an ad free, subscription-based service for the first time.
The plan was revealed in an email sent out to YouTube Partners.
It will offer consumers the choice to pay for an 'ads-free' version of YouTube for a monthly fee.
YouTube is set to offer an ad free, subscription-based service for the first time, according to an email sent out to YouTube Partners.
The additional monetization option requires partners to agree to updated terms on YouTube's Creator Studio Dashboard, which notes that the changes will go into effect on June 15, 2015.
According to YouTube's updated Partner Program Terms, YouTube will pay creators 55% of the total net revenues from subscription fees – the same percentage associated with advertising revenues.
"By creating a new paid offering, we'll generate a new source of revenue that will supplement your fast growing advertising service," the letter said.
One thing the letter to creators nor the updated Terms references is the price of the subscription offering itself, nor does it disclose when the service will be offered to the public.
'The June 15 date references when the Terms changes go into effect, but this doesn't necessarily mean that the service will be immediately public to all YouTube users at that time – it could be a staged roll out, or YouTube could have simply wanted the legalese in place ahead of the broader subscription service's launch,' said TechCrunch.
YouTube star: Felix's (top right) channel has received seven billion hits since he launched it four years ago - and youTube says people like him could make more money using the new subscription service
However, sources told Bloomberg the offering is expected to go live this year.
The email promises YouTube Creators will generate additional income beyond what's available today through advertising, and speaks of the subscription service as something that will 'excite your fans and generate a previously untapped, additional source of revenue for you.'
'YouTube will pay you 55% of the total net revenues recognized by YouTube from subscription fees that are attributable to the monthly views or watchtime of your Content as a percentage of the monthly views or watchtime of all or a subset of participating content in the relevant subscription offering (as determined by YouTube),' it says.
'If your Content is included in and viewed by a user in multiple subscription offerings, YouTube will pay you based on the subscription offering with the highest amount of net revenues recognized by YouTube, as calculated by YouTube.'
In October, YouTube head Susan Wojcicki, who had been spearheading the monetization efforts, explained at the Code Mobile conference that the option would especially appeal to mobile viewers who are increasingly interested in avoiding advertisements.
Earlier this year, after a year of speculation, YouTube officially launched its subscription music service.
Called Music Key, the beta version launches today - but is currently invite-only.
YouTube's (pictured) Music Key beta launches today but is currently invite-only. Following trials, the California-based video site said it will launch in more regions 'soon'. The service will cost £9.99 a month in the UK, $9.99 in the US and €9.99 in Europe, and users will be given ad-free music and offline viewing
Following trials, the California-based site launched the ad-free, offline service in the UK, US, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Finland.
For a monthly fee, Music Key subscribers will be able to watch videos offline and without adverts.
Anyone who receives an invite code will be able to use the service for free, for six months, before paying £7.99 ($7.99 in the US, €7.99 in Europe) a month.
When it officially launches, Music Key will cost £9.99 a month, $9.99 in the US and €9.99 in Europe.
'You've asked us for ways to listen to music without ads, to keep playing music videos even if you lock the screen or start using another app, and to play music even if you're not connected to the internet,' said the Google-owned firm.
'That's why today we're announcing YouTube Music Key beta.
'Thanks to your music videos, remixes, covers, and more, you've made YouTube the biggest music service on the planet.
'To turn YouTube into your perfect music service, we're launching YouTube Music Key as a beta with our biggest music fans first, and then we'll bring YouTube Music Key to the whole world together.'
People can learn more about the beta at the YouTube Music Key site.
YouTube has also announced its new YouTube Music Tab, which will help find videos more easily.
Speculation about YouTube's Spotify rival began last year. Music Key matches the options, and the price, offered by Spotify on its own paid-for subscriptions, but with the added bonus of videos, for example
YouTube also announced its new Music Tab, which will help find videos and full albums more easily
The desktop site, as well as the Android and iOS apps, have been redesigned to make favourite music videos, recommended playlists, and playlists of trending music more visible.
Users can now see an artist's discography, and play a full album with both their official music videos and high-quality songs from music partners.
Speculation about YouTube's Spotify rival began last year when 'two people familiar with the matter' announced its arrival was imminent.
It matches the options, and price, offered by Spotify for its own paid-for subscriptions, but with the added bonus of videos.
It is not be the first time YouTube has experimented with paid-for plans.
In May last year, the Google-owned video giant launched a paid-for subscription service that charged users from 79p (99 cents) a month to watch videos on specialist channels, such as Comedy.TV and PGA Digital Golf.
Individual channels charge more for a subscription if they choose to, and the majority of UK subscriptions charge £1.49 ($2.50) a month.
Over 50 channels were launched as subscription-only, but not all paid-for channels can be subscribed to in the UK - namely Jim Henson Family TV, and National Geographic Kids.
The revenue split between YouTube and the channel producers and musicians is expected to be similar to the 45-55 split that YouTube currently has with advertising revenue.
It is not be the first time YouTube has experimented with paid-for plans. In May last year, the Google-owned video giant launched a paid-for subscription service that charged users from 79p a month to watch videos on specialist channels, such as Comedy.TV and PGA Digital Golf
Earlier this week, the BBC launched a permanent, on-demand video section on its iPlayer service.
The station now offers exclusive content including live performances, documentaries and interviews.
Each week, there will be a 15-minute show hosted by Chris Stark called ICYMI.
The Official Chart Bite will be weekly, and presented by YouTube stars Jack and Dean.
And a Radio 1 DJ will put together their top five things to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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