Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
YouTube has launched its premium YouTube Red subscription service — which removes ads and allows users to save any video for offline playback — in Australia, alongside a dedicated app for listening to music.
Australia is only the second region to get the new services, following the US, and YouTube is aiming squarely at its most voracious consumers.
By paying $11.99 per month, users will get ad-free access to all videos on YouTube, and will also have the ability to keep videos playing in the background on their mobile devices while they multi-task (currently, switching apps or interacting with notifications on mobile devices pauses YouTube videos).
More importantly, subscribers can save any YouTube video to their device for playback when they have no mobile internet reception, or want to save their data allowance. Red subscribers also get access to YouTube's original video series, including content from Rooster Teeth and PewdiePie.
Of course the main ad-supported service will continue as usual, given most of the billion people who consume YouTube videos every month will be happier not to pay the fee, but it could be well worth it for those who consume a lot of content on the go.
Between now and June 6 YouTube Red will cost $9.99, as an introductory offer. All users can sign up for a free month-long trial to test out the new features.
Also launching today is YouTube Music, a dedicated app — following the success of YouTube Kids and YouTube Gaming — that utilises the huge amount of music content on YouTube to power an audio-focused experience.
YouTube is owned by Google, which already offers a premium music service in Google Play Music. While the two services are significantly different, you won't have to choose between them. YouTube Red members will get automatic premium access to Google Play Music, and existing Play subscribers will get YouTube Red at no extra cost.
In addition to the large catalogue of official content from the artists themselves, YouTube houses live versions, alternate recordings, remixes, covers and tributes for virtually every song, and the Music app is organised in such a way that you can find the song you want and then have options as to the version you want to see.
The app is split into three screens. The Home screen houses a personal music station based on your preferences as well as personalised genre stations. The Today screen is a curated selection of popular, or rising content, as well themed "spotlight" lists, and a third tab keeps track of videos you've "liked" by clicking the thumbs up icon.
Videos will continue playing after you've selected a song, as the app is designed to continuously craft a playlist on its own. While the choices will be made based on the original song you chose, you can use a slider to determine how close the selections should stick to the theme.
Red subscribers can switch off the video component of the app to save some battery and data, and they also get the same benefits as with the regular YouTube app: no ads, and the ability to keep content going in the background.
The most interesting few feature is the offline mix tape, which caches a selection of music it thinks you'll like on your device automatically. This way if you find yourself having to go offline you'll still have something to listen to. The mix tape refreshes at least once per day, and you have control over how much space it should take up on your phone.
While YouTube claims its new app is a totally different idea from streaming music services like Apple Music and Spotify, its unique library will make it a viable competitor, especially given the video component.
YouTube did not confirm how musical artists and YouTube video makers would be compensated under the new services, however it claims the "majority" of the money it makes from subscription fees will go to its content creation partners, in the same way the majority of its ad revenue goes to them currently.
