Six months after reports began to swirl that YouTube would offer users an option to watch videos sans ads, the company officially unveiled its $9.99/month subscription service.
YouTube Red, as it’s been dubbed, will offer consumers an opportunity to pay for the ability to watch videos without the pesky interruptions of ads starting on Oct. 28.
According to YouTube, the new service allows users to save videos to watch offline on their phone, tablet or other device.
Robert Kyncl, the company’s chief business officer, called the new service the “ultimate YouTube experience,” noting it wouldn’t mean user lose access to the existing free version of YouTube.
“Your membership extends across devices and anywhere you sign into YouTube, including our recently launched Gaming app and a brand new YouTube Music app we’re announcing today that will be available soon,” the company says in a blog post about Red.
News that YouTube would offer an ad-free subscription service was first revealed back in April, when the company was noted to be prepping such an option.
At the time, the company said it was “giving fans more choice to enjoy the content they love and creators more opportunity to earn revenue are always amongst our top priorities.” However, no specifics were given.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist