YouTube unveiled its first subscription channels as the Google-owned video service made a long-anticipated move to include pay channels to encourage professional content.
The move puts Google into direct competition with online services such as Netflix and Hulu, which offer subscription-based services and have been luring viewers away from cable and broadcast TV.
"Starting today, we're launching a pilot program for a small group of partners that will offer paid channels on YouTube with subscription fees starting at $0.99 per month," a YouTube blog statement said.
The statement said this is part of an effort begun in 2007 "that enables content creators to earn revenue for their creativity."
YouTube released a list of some 50 channels which will be part of the program starting Thursday.
"Every channel has a 14-day free trial, and many offer discounted yearly rates," a YouTube blog post said.
"This is just the beginning. We'll be rolling paid channels out more broadly in the coming weeks as a self-service feature for qualifying partners. And as new channels appear, we'll be making sure you can discover them, just as we've been helping you find and subscribe to all the channels you love across YouTube."
Subscribers will be able to access the channels from a computer, phone, tablet or TV, "and soon you'll be able to subscribe to them from more devices," the statement said."
Google bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion. The service is believed to generate a small amount of revenue from advertising, but the content has been free up to now.
YouTube has gradually added professional content, such as full-length television shows and movies to its vast trove of amateur video offerings in a bid to attract advertisers.
The new paid channels include Acorn TV, which offers ad-free British TV programs at $4.99 per month; National Geographic Kids, at $2.99 a month or $30 a year; and PrimeZone Sports, at $2.99 per month.
Other channels offer programming from UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), Comedy.tv, and iAmplify Fitness.
Earlier this year Google said more than a billion people use YouTube each month, with viewing on smartphones helping drive growth.
"If YouTube were a country, we'd be the third largest in the world after China and India," the team said in March.
YouTube confirmed early this year that its evolution as an Internet stage for video may include subscriptions to content that creators expect people would pay to watch.
The video service has been gaining prominence in other areas, such as a launchpad for new musicians, and a forum for political discussion.
Youtube launches paid channels, promises more
YouTube unveiled its first subscription channels as the Google-owned video service made a long-anticipated move to include pay channels to encourage professional content.
The move puts Google into direct competition with online services such as Netflix and Hulu, which offer subscription-based services and have been luring viewers away from cable and broadcast TV.
"Starting today, we're launching a pilot program for a small group of partners that will offer paid channels on YouTube with subscription fees starting at $0.99 per month," a YouTube blog statement said.
The statement said this is part of an effort begun in 2007 "that enables content creators to earn revenue for their creativity."
YouTube released a list of some 50 channels which will be part of the program starting Thursday.
"Every channel has a 14-day free trial, and many offer discounted yearly rates," a YouTube blog post said.
"This is just the beginning. We'll be rolling paid channels out more broadly in the coming weeks as a self-service feature for qualifying partners. And as new channels appear, we'll be making sure you can discover them, just as we've been helping you find and subscribe to all the channels you love across YouTube."
Subscribers will be able to access the channels from a computer, phone, tablet or TV, "and soon you'll be able to subscribe to them from more devices," the statement said."
Google bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion. The service is believed to generate a small amount of revenue from advertising, but the content has been free up to now.
YouTube has gradually added professional content, such as full-length television shows and movies to its vast trove of amateur video offerings in a bid to attract advertisers.
The new paid channels include Acorn TV, which offers ad-free British TV programs at $4.99 per month; National Geographic Kids, at $2.99 a month or $30 a year; and PrimeZone Sports, at $2.99 per month.
Other channels offer programming from UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), Comedy.tv, and iAmplify Fitness.
Earlier this year Google said more than a billion people use YouTube each month, with viewing on smartphones helping drive growth.
"If YouTube were a country, we'd be the third largest in the world after China and India," the team said in March.
YouTube confirmed early this year that its evolution as an Internet stage for video may include subscriptions to content that creators expect people would pay to watch.
The video service has been gaining prominence in other areas, such as a launchpad for new musicians, and a forum for political discussion.
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