Quantcast

SEND IN THE SUBS! YOUTUBE TO JOIN
THE AD-FREE FRAY

Subscription is definitely the buzzword of the moment. Google plans to launch an ad-free subscription version of YouTube, the Internet giant revealed in an e-mail obtained by Bloomberg. This is not Music Key, which launched in an invite-only preview last November; it's for the entirety of YouTube, pitting it against Netflix, Hulu and Apple’s new joint venture HBO Now. Revenue will be shared with content creators, the recipients of the email, and the service may launch by the end of the year, according to an inside source.

Google is alerting content creators because it wants them to agree to new terms that would let it include clips in the subscription tier. "We're increasingly moving into an age where consumers are learning to avoid advertising," reads a quote from BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield. "Between DVRs, Netflix and now Amazon, we're increasingly learning to lead an ad-free life."

YouTube is facing more competition for streaming videos. Netflix, which now has 57.4m subscribers, has vaulted to a big lead in marketshare, as the bar graph below illustrates. YouTube's share of streaming traffic during peak hours fell to 14% in North America in the second half of 2014, compared to 19% a year earlier, according to Sandvine data.

NEAR TRUTHS: KINGDOMS
File under: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. (3/26a)
ONE SHINING HITS LIST
She shoots, she scores! (3/26a)
YTD MARKET SHARE
Zeroing in on the elite teams (3/27a)
BEST IN THE WEST:
STEVE BERMAN
High time for another Eminem skit (3/26a)
MUSIC REVENUE TOPPED $17B IN 2023: RIAA
Streaming subscriptions lead the charge. (3/27a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)