Over the next few weeks, YouTube will roll the option out to other "qualifying partners," allowing them to decide how much to charge, in which countries to launch, and whether or not to include ads. It is expected that the majority of the launch partners will not offer ads. (Click here to see a full list of the paid channels.)
Subscriptions start at 99 cents per month, though the average for the pilot channels is $2.99.
Users will pay via Google Wallet, and will be able to access their subscriptions via computers, smartphones, apps, and on Internet-enabled TVs. Google wouldn't disclose the revenue split, just saying that content creators will bring home the "majority" of the revenue. YouTube stressed that it will be a self-service product for its content partners, which means they will be able to control the process.
Will this threaten Netflix or even paid cable or satellite TV? Some of the content featured isn't so different—partners include NatGeo Kids, HDNet, and DHX Media, which has 8,500 hours of kids programming, including Inspector Gadget.
"YouTube is not television," said Malik Ducard, YouTube's Director of Content Partnerships, stressing that it's all on-demand, a la carte, and designed to foster interaction between creators and viewers.
But perhaps most importantly, there's the capability to stream live events, though none of the channel creators are taking advantage of this feature at launch.
In other words, YouTube is competing directly with Netflix and Amazon for on-demand subscriptions, and with the option for live streaming—and the fact that users only pay for exactly what they want—it could be a game-changer.
