Get ready for YouTube pay-per-view: the online video service is planning to launch paid subscriptions for individual channels on its video platform, reports AdAge. "The first paid channels will cost somewhere between $1 and $5 a month," and YouTube is also considering charging for "content libraries and access to live events, a la pay-per-view, as well as self-help or financial advice shows."

  • SoItBegins

    5 billion channels, and nothing on.

    (except cat videos)

    • cfuse

       Premium cat videos, thank you very much.

    • SomeDude

      5 billion channels, and only 3 million of them have anything good on.

  • http://twitter.com/zhasu Zhasu

    this is just one of the things google can monetize on. they’ve got the audience, and if it will cost you 1-2$/month to watch quality programming whenever you want then why not. basically, tv on demand (which exists but you have to have cable) without paying for cable. pick your own 2-3 channels, pay 5$/month and it’s done. you want to cancel, then you just click on the cancel subscription button and done. no need to make a phone call or go through some process. easy.

    • vonbobo

      I’m not looking forward to a future of hundreds of content providers, each wanting my $5 a month.

      • Bill McGonigle

        mmm, competition ($1 seems too high a minimum, 50 cents seems more reasonable for the most basic of content.  Payable in Google Credits to avoid the credit card fees, I’d imagine).

        • vonbobo

          It’s not just youtube pay channels (but this doesn’t help at all), but also include netflix, hulu, hbo, spotify, nfl, showtime, the movie channel, starz, encore, epix, playboy, nyt, magazines, comics, etc

          I celebrated the day I got rid of cable TV, but I sure am going to miss their one price convenience.

          • http://daruiburns.tumblr.com/ Dlo Burns

             Just think of it as picking up a bunch of magazines you’ll probably never look at.

  • vonbobo

    “self-help or financial advice shows.”

    Seriously? Lol!

    • Antinous / Moderator

      It would be too embarrassing to admit up front that they’ll be monetizing the Faceplant Channel and the Pec Bounce Network.

      • cfuse

        I think you’ll find the Pec Bounce Network is already monetised in *other* ways.

  • http://twitter.com/missshenna Lithi

    I’m a bit confused about the “content library.” It kind of sounds as if anyone who has videos uploaded could charge subscription fees if it pans out.

    • elix

      I imagine it’s more meaning, TV series X gets its whole run uploaded to YouTube. $1/episode or $whatever for a whole season or $$whatever for the whole package.

  • oasisob1

    Hulu and Roku boxes already provide access to this sort of programming, don’t they? Why not youtube?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36922842 Andrew Kay

    I hope that the option to sell subscriptions will be available to everyone, and not just “real” tv channels.

  • http://twitter.com/incarnedine_v Dan Hibiki

    I thought they already had pay channels…

  • http://twitter.com/MrAaronSwainEsq Aaron Swain

    Perhaps once YouTube starts asking users for money, they’ll be inclined to release a Roku app that isn’t utter shit.

    • http://daruiburns.tumblr.com/ Dlo Burns

       I think they’re not releasing a roku app because they want to push googleTV.

  • fenrox

    One, no porn or nudity allowed. Thats all, that is reason enough. Also it will be funny when a premium page of videos is all copyright locked by some goober.