Building up a new revenue stream for content developers, YouTube announced paid channels as a pilot program for a small group of partners with a subscription fees starting at $0.99 per month.
YouTube paid subscription based service empowers creators to take their channels to the next level, opening up a bigger revenue stream other than usual video ads. Channel partners can create high quality video contents specifically for its paid customers making a more flexible monetizing and distributing platform.
Every paid channel has a 14-day free trial, and many offer discounted yearly rates making it a first try to use method. Once subscribed, users will able to watch paid channels on their computer, phone, tablet and TV, taking it anywhere anytime. Sesame Street one of the pilot partners who will be offering full episodes on their paid channel when it launches. Similarly UFC will be offering a full version of their first event from UFC’s new channel. Here’s a full list of the current paid channels.
Currently the paid channels are limited to some countries like US and UK. YouTube is expected to roll out more paid channels to more location in the coming weeks and also as a self-service feature for qualifying partners. If you are interested in opening up a paid channel, then you can directly apply here.