Is YouTube Erecting a Paywall?

Reports suggest that, by the end of 2015, YouTube will be putting premium videos behind a paywall. Speculation regarding YouTube subscription services has been buzzing around since March, with talk that the video streaming site was aiming to position itself as a rival to Amazon Prime Instant Video, Netflix, and Hulu.

Since its inception 10 year ago, YouTube has been a free service supported by advertising revenue, but the decade-old site is about to become unrecognisable, if the rumours are true. It seems YouTube want to move away from being an all-encompassing video-on-demand service, instead mutating into something akin to the online equivalent of a cable or satellite provider, offering channel packages for a monthly subscription fee.

The subscription service is said to be launching in conjunction with Music Key, YouTube’s music subscription service. Music Key has been in beta since November, and is set for its full roll-out by the end of this year. The proposed VOD subscription appears to be the video version of Music Key.

Reaction to the news has been mixed, with music industry insiders – already sceptical over Music Key – saying “this feels very much [like] too little too late.”

YouTube has declined to comment on the news.

Thank you The Verge for providing us with this information.