Google’s YouTube video service has launched a platform of up to 50 paid for a subscription services with content creators, which includes children’s programmers Sesame Street and Muppet creator The Jim Henson Co, PGA Digital Golf, Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, Cars.TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The service will be available initially in 10 countries and monthly subscription prices will start at 99 cents and channels will be able to set their own rates, many with annual discounts. It is thought Google will keep about 45% of all revenues as its share. One pilot channel will be Acorn TV, offering up a 'Best of British' menu with programmes such as 'Midsomer Murders' and 'Pie in the Sky' at $4.99 a month.
Google owned YouTube is preparing to launch several premium video channels, charging subscribers up to $5 a month to access content. AdAge reports that the company is also considering charging for pay-per-view events, advice shows and content libraries. “We have long maintained that different content requires different types of payment models,” and a Google spokesman told AdAge. “The important thing is that, regardless of the model, our creators succeed on the platform. There are a lot of our content creators that think they would benefit from subscriptions, so we’re looking at that.”
