Pay-to-view subscription packages could well be the future of YouTube, with the online video service considering charging users to access movies, TV shows and news, according to a senior Google executive.
Channels 4 and Five in the UK have already cut deals with Google-owned YouTube to show full-length shows online for free.
Yet now it seems that the ad-funded model that YouTube has been based on to date could well soon be married with a more traditional subscription-fee model for access to exclusive content.
PayTube
Google executive David Eun looks after such partnerships with broadcasters and movie studios – and has confirmed with Reuters that paid subscription was a viable option for the future of YouTube.
"We're making some interesting bets on long-form content; not all content is accessible to us with the advertising model," said the Google exec.
Despite its massive popularity, YouTube is estimated by analysts to lose as much as $470m (£288m) in 2009
Via Guardian.co.uk
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
tech89
December 16th 2009
4. Pay movies = good idea, sounds fair enough.
Pay for TV shows = will not be hugely successful. Most people will go directly to the broadcasters for on demand video as its usually free. And if not, they will turn to p2p downloads.
The rest of youtube isn;t really worthy of being charged for.
I usually go to youtube to watch an emerging artist's music video/song, only to find that the copyright holder has blocked it.
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mohai
December 16th 2009
3. Bad article heading...
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optimaximal
December 16th 2009
2. Bad article heading - Premium Content != All
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sgtheadhole
December 16th 2009
1. 5$ unlimited viewing fee wouldnt be to bad
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