YouTube has surpassed 125 million paid subscribers. The company announced this milestone on March 5th, clarifying that this figure includes trial subscribers. YouTube first crossed the 100 million paid subscriber mark in January of the previous year. To further boost this number, the company has introduced a new, cheaper plan to make YouTube Premium more accessible.
YouTube's Cheaper Plan Offers Ad-Free Viewing
YouTube launched a cheaper premium plan called Premium Lite in the United States, priced at $7.99 (approximately ₹695). This plan allows users to watch most videos ad-free. However, it does not include YouTube Music or other advanced features.
Jack Greenberg, YouTube Premium's Product Management Director, stated, "With the launch of YouTube Music and Premium, we are striving to provide subscribers with diverse ways to access their preferred content. Premium Lite is a significant step in this direction."
Premium Lite to Launch in Other Countries
While currently launched in the United States, YouTube plans to soon introduce this new plan in Thailand, Germany, and Australia. Reports suggest that YouTube aims to launch Premium Lite in other countries worldwide by the end of the year. The company believes that many users who opt for the Lite plan will eventually upgrade to the Premium plan, thereby increasing YouTube's subscription-based revenue. Google has been actively exploring avenues beyond advertisements to boost YouTube's earnings.
YouTube to Focus More on Subscription-Based Content
A recent report indicates that YouTube will now focus more on subscription-based content. The company plans to integrate third-party content, similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime. This may lead to a redesign of YouTube's layout to enhance the subscriber experience.
This move by YouTube signifies its commitment to providing users with affordable and attractive plans for ad-free video viewing. It remains to be seen when Premium Lite will launch in India and how well it will be received by users.
