YouTube has launched a new subscription service called “Premium Lite” in the United States, priced at $7.99 per month. This tier offers an ad-free experience for most videos, excluding music content. The move aims to provide a more affordable alternative to the existing $13.99 Premium plan, targeting users who primarily consume non-music content on the platform.
The “Premium Lite” subscription removes ads from a wide range of videos, including categories like gaming, fashion, beauty, and news. However, music videos and related content will still feature advertisements under this plan. Unlike the standard Premium subscription, “Premium Lite” does not include offline downloads or background playback features.
YouTube began testing “Premium Lite” in select markets, including Australia, Germany, and Thailand, in 2021. Positive feedback from these regions has led to its expansion into the U.S. market. The company plans to roll out this subscription tier to additional countries later this year.
This new offering comes as YouTube surpasses 125 million paying subscribers globally, reflecting a growing trend toward subscription-based revenue models. While advertisements continue to be a significant source of income, subscriptions are playing an increasingly vital role in the company’s financial strategy.
Source Links:
- YouTube Brings Cheaper Subscription Tier to U.S. With No Ads Except Music
- YouTube Premium Lite Announced for U.S. Market
