Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Google unveiled YouTube Red, a new $10 per month ad-free, site-wide subscription plan. The new membership of YouTube Red will allow members to watch videos across all of YouTube without the ads.
Google said for just $9.99 a month, users will enjoy videos on YouTube site-wide ads free and will be able to save videos for offline watching on their phones or tablets. The membership covers all devices and anywhere you sign into YouTube. That includes the recently launched Gaming app as well as a new YouTube Music app Google will be making available soon.
Taking on Netflix?
YouTube Red as a premium ads-free video service is introduced with a slightly cheaper price than Netflix HD. A dollar cheaper actually, but whether it will be a service that can go head on with Netflix’s HD service remains to be seen although Google seems to have put a lot of effort in shaping this new service:
“It’s a major, major evolution of our platform,” said Robert Kyncl, chief business officer of YouTube in a press conference.,
For iOS users however, the charge will be $12.99 apparently to cover the In-App Purchase tax by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). YouTube says Apple charges 30 percent premium and that’s where the extra $3 came from.
YouTube Red will launch on October 28 in U.S. viewers will be able to try a free one month trial. YouTube Red and YouTube Music, Gaming and Kids apps will be available in other countries soon per Google in its YouTube blog.
Google said the usual free but with ads version of YouTube will still be there along with Gaming, Music apps and YouTube Kids for users of YouTube for free.
Google also said that as early as next year, YouTube Red member will have exclusive access to new and original movies from the biggest stars on YouTube.
