YouTube is Considering Subscriptions
While YouTube may still offer user-created content, the site is looking at subscription-based services.
Reuters reports that YouTube has considered tossing out the idea of solely relying on its free-to-watch plan, and may jump on board with additional paid subscriptions. The news shouldn't come as a surprise, as recent rumors indicated that Hulu was considering the same option. But in YouTube's case, subscriptions could encourage more media companies to license their content--movies and premium TV shows--to the site.
"We're making some interesting bets on long-form content; not all content is accessible to us with the advertising model," Google's vice president of content partnerships, David Eun told Reuters. As it stands, Hollywood is reluctant to hand over content available in the DVD and Blue-ray market for consumers to watch for free online without some kind of revenue outside the current advertising revenue-share model.
For now YouTube is weighing different options, perhaps providing different subscription models as used by cable companies. YouTube is also considering the iTunes and Amazon model where consumers can rent/buy movies and other programs. According to Reuters, YouTube has already held talks about rentals with Lions Gate Entertainment, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros.
So does that mean all user-created content will be a part of the subscription plan? Not necessarily. Eun told Reuters that the site will still offer the content using the advertising revenue scheme, and that content partners will begin to see the green in 2010. "If we just continued to focus on our advertising model that would be enough opportunity to create meaningful revenue," he said.
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youtube is becoming shit.
i love youtube and all, but I would not pay for it...
if this happens at laest a 90% of the users will just stop using it and not pay for it. Even though they will do somethign like XBL. Chosen offers. And if you think abotu it in order to not loose steam and rates of ppl searching they would start by subs only to ppl that want to upload videos. Then also comments only from subs and so on till they sink into the subs more and more ppl for the dmg control. if not youtube is daed and I dont have them for that stupid.
One way or the other its bound to need subs even if now or in 10 years. No high profile page/services will be free.
Greed is the cause of the fall of an empire
another reason for piracy to flourish.so go ahead youtube and make folks pay and they will all leave cause who will want to pay for youtube ?
not me.
I wonder how much of this subscription money will go towards keeping the record companies happy.
I don't see it as changing considerable, from what I gathered, all the free stuff is still free, they will be adding a subscription component for people who want to watch movies/tv series that hopefully the larger studios will have no problem releasing to them now that they will be getting revenue from more than just adds.
As
As long as the two remain separated from one another (user-created content and media-publishing companies), I have no problem with it. If the subscription fee covers viewing anything off of YouTube, then they can watch millions of people pull their plug from viewing the site.
they just dont know any better
youtube is probably the one place where you can type in "funny accidents" and be entertained for 4 hours straight. im not paying not even 5 bucks because creating a payapal is too much work
YES YES this could very well mean, i finally get to study rather than YTubing...
If they offer rentals of new movies for $1 (like RedBox) then I would probably rent one on occasion. Otherwise forget it.
End of all my content if I have to pay for it.
I'll simply take all my content down and delete my account.
End of all my content if I have to pay for it.
I'll simply take all my content down and delete my account.
Aye, Facebook is also thinking about charging it's members. Fastest way to watch You tube fail is to charge for subs.
I'm about ready to create a site called www.tubeyou.com. No guess as to what type of service model I would startup =)
1.Free video hosting (shocking)
2.Minimal advertising without ANY flash adds to slow down user's browsers and bog down internet connections.
3.Drop flash player and find a new method that doesn't eat all of someones CPU to play a shitty SD video.
@shuffman37: I'd be really interested in knowing what your hosting provider for that would be, because that's a truckload of bandwidth and speed you'll be needing there. Unless you happen to have unlimited money supplies?
I don't think YouTube could consider subscriptions, really. The site isn't associated with that in the public's mind; that kind of business decision is one that should happen at inception. Later on it's a recipe for disaster.
I think the real reason behind this, however, is pressure from media conglomerates.
I think YouTube is in drastic need for overhaul as well as the rest of the internet IN RELATION TO the laws of each country. Unfortunately there is so much crap that is out there, cached and what not that it would take YEARS to fix.
@shuffman37
I was just making a joke about the fact youtube is constantly trying new methods to bug users with advertising and hopefully someday they might come up with a better method to play videos in a browser. I've never been a fan of flash player due to it being crippled in Linux and the fact is causes many webpages to become unresponsive in IE at school.
Say whaaa?? So 80% of your regular users ditch you - that means that the rest will have to watch old stuff, and only stuff which they posted. Talk about a shrunken and bitter community; and before you know it you're finished googl.....errr.....youtube. Get real, youtube is not where it's at anymore!
fxck guess I have to get my p8rn from a different site
Nope, I like free...
Back to Google Video than? =D
HD streams TOO SLOW and even at the best quality, when the sync is close and both audio tracks work, is piss-poor for something you're paying for.