TIME Technology

YouTube Considers Ad-Free Paid Subscriptions

The details have yet to be determined

YouTube executives are considering offering a paid subscription service that will allow users to view videos without advertisements, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

“That’s actually a pretty interesting model because it’s giving users choice,” YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki told a crowd at tech conference. “We’re thinking about how to give users options.”

YouTube, which is owned by Google, has been exploring ways to move beyond its traditional ad-based revenue stream to increase its profits in recent years, but has yet to release ad-free subscriptions. Video sites like Hulu Plus have seen increased revenue by offering subscriptions for online video streaming, while music sites such as Spotify and Pandora have also introduced premium ad-free packages.

YouTube has reached out to some content producers about potential subscription offerings,according to the Journal, but the details have not been determined.

[WSJ]

Tap to read full story

Your browser is out of date. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com


YOU BROKE TIME.COM!

Dear TIME Reader,

As a regular visitor to TIME.com, we are sure you enjoy all the great journalism created by our editors and reporters. Great journalism has great value, and it costs money to make it. One of the main ways we cover our costs is through advertising.

The use of software that blocks ads limits our ability to provide you with the journalism you enjoy. Consider turning your Ad Blocker off so that we can continue to provide the world class journalism you have become accustomed to.

The TIME Team