YouTube's upcoming
subscription service for normal video clips, alongside the existing version for music videos, will not include content from any major TV networks, a report claims. Instead of offering a more typical video on-demand service, including popular programs available on other paid services, the paid subscription will apparently solely rely on existing YouTube stars and the removal of advertising from its videos in order to attract customers.
According to sources
of Bloomberg, YouTube has not struck any deals with NBC, Fox, CBS, and others to use their shows on the service. Instead, the plan will see YouTube working with major personalities to create its own programming, with partners including Fine Brothers Entertainment and Joey Graceffa receiving funding and assistance for new shows. It is believed that many of these new shows will only be available to view by subscribers, with budgets for each show ranging from the thousands of dollars up to $5 million.
So far, Google has apparently signed up partners accounting for 90 percent of all YouTube viewing to the paid service, with the percentage likely to rise further as the service prepares to launch later this year. The holdouts have been warned that their previous clips will not be allowed to view on the free public service if they do not sign up for the subscription version. This is a
similar tactic YouTube used last year, with independent record labels being threatened with the removal of their music videos from the service if they didn't agree to new terms, ahead of the launch of YouTube Music Key.
Aside from exclusive content and the removal of advertising, subscribers to the incoming YouTube service will also gain two other features that free users will not be able to use. Videos will be available to download and view offline, with the extra option of playing videos in the background while using other applications on a mobile device, something that is already available to
YouTube Music Key and Google Play Music All Access subscribers for musical content.
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