YouTube is running an experiment asking some users to disable their ad blockers or pay for a premium subscription, or they will not be allowed to watch videos.
I pay for Prenium. But that’s only because I also use YouTube Music. Otherwise, I wouldn’t pay for it and I would do everything that I can to get rid of the ads. YouTube with ads is just hell now. There are so many of them now, it’s ridiculous.
Don’t get me wrong, I recognise the value that YouTube provides. Most things I watch and listen to are on YouTube. It’s the website I use the most and I’ll be glad to pay for it. I understand that it costs money to run and I want to support the creators that I watch.
HOWEVER.
I refuse to be strong armed into paying for it. Music brings me the value that I want and comparing with other prices, such as Spotify and so on, the actual “YouTube” part of the package just cost me 1€ per month which is one hell of a deal if you ask me.
But if you don’t care for YouTube Music, 11€ a month (worst in the US apparently), just to get rid of ads is… ridiculous. I’d happily pay 5€ a month. It’s not much and for the thing that I use the most? Yeah, I’m willing to! And I know that there is YouTube Prenium Lite. However, it’s not available everywhere and it comes with a giant “fuck you” to the costumer.
You see, YouTube Prenium Lite is YouTube without ads. And that’s it. So, no Background Play (which I use ALL THE TIME), no downloading of videos, none of that. You want that, well, you have to pay full price. Even though these are basic features.
Paying for getting rid of ads is one thing, and maybe accessing special features is one thing. But paying for artificial limitations that are put into place? Absolutely not. And I know the line between what’s a prenium feature and what’s an artifical limit is blurry. But for me it’s basically this: If I can do something for free on desktop, but can’t on mobile without paying. Such as background play.
I am convinced YouTube Prenium would be way more appealing if YouTube weren’t being such dicks about it.
It’s simple:
Get your prices back to normal (I hear that in the US, prices have been going up for… no reason).
Roll out YouTube Prenium Lite to everyone and rename it YouTube Prenium. So it has all the features of current Prenium except YouTube Music (put ads and disable background play only on music videos?).
Make it at like 5 bucks a month.
Make a variety of plans based around that. So a Prenium Family and also, a Prenium Duo, just like Spotify, for just two people. Reasonably priced.
And you make a YouTube Prenium Music plan, which includes YouTube Music as well. So on top of all of that, for 11 bucks a month, you now have a really compelling offer because you can go, Hey, for just 5 more bucks a month, you get all of the features of YouTube Prenium AND you get a complete music streaming services.
Bam. All of the sudden you have compelling options. Some people will say: “Uuuh, jUsT uSe an AdbLocKeR!” and whatever. Those people are not the majority, so many people watch YouTube from their phones and their TVs now, they will be much more inclined to buy it…
…I think.
That last part is important. I recognise I’m just playing armchair business developper here and that I don’t know shit, but still. I’m convinced this could work. The real issue comes down to YouTube being a monopoly and thinking that they can do whatever the hell they want, which… they likely can, due to the position they’re in. It’s an issue but this comment is already long enough and that is another discussion entirely, but basically: Monopolies sucks.
Lack of ads. Background play. Offline viewing. Prenium members are also much more valuable for creators in terms of revenue.
I’m aware of NewPipe. But I don’t like it’s design and I use my YouTube account on multiple devices. I depends on my playlist, like videos, history and recommendations far too much to use NewPipe.
Also, YouTube Music is a proper streaming service with proper algorithm and so on, it’s not just the music videos of YouTube. :)
I am aware. But like I said. Supporting creators is important to me and I watch YouTube in a lot of places. Including on my TV. A lot. Which Vanced is not a thing on there.
I use an app called 'smart tube next" on my FireTV stick. Im now using re-vanced patched YouTube on my Android.
I would use rif to browse /r/listentothis and open YouTube links of what I wanted to listen to into ~Vanced to cast to my TV. Once a video was cast onto the TV the next link would give me an option to play or put in queue.
Then I could scroll, select, queue, scroll, select, queue, etc.
On Android you can split two apps on your screen, one on top and one on bottom, so I don’t get pulled out of rif when selecting a song.
I know this all sounds complicated, but it’s pretty easy once you understand it.
Anyway, I do this when I’m working around the house. It takes the TV away from me as an option so I don’t get distracted while I’m cleaning.
I wish the queue was available without casting, I know YouTube was experimenting with it as a premium feature. It would probably canalize from YouTube music though.
I pay for Prenium. But that’s only because I also use YouTube Music. Otherwise, I wouldn’t pay for it and I would do everything that I can to get rid of the ads. YouTube with ads is just hell now. There are so many of them now, it’s ridiculous.
Don’t get me wrong, I recognise the value that YouTube provides. Most things I watch and listen to are on YouTube. It’s the website I use the most and I’ll be glad to pay for it. I understand that it costs money to run and I want to support the creators that I watch.
HOWEVER.
I refuse to be strong armed into paying for it. Music brings me the value that I want and comparing with other prices, such as Spotify and so on, the actual “YouTube” part of the package just cost me 1€ per month which is one hell of a deal if you ask me.
But if you don’t care for YouTube Music, 11€ a month (worst in the US apparently), just to get rid of ads is… ridiculous. I’d happily pay 5€ a month. It’s not much and for the thing that I use the most? Yeah, I’m willing to! And I know that there is YouTube Prenium Lite. However, it’s not available everywhere and it comes with a giant “fuck you” to the costumer.
You see, YouTube Prenium Lite is YouTube without ads. And that’s it. So, no Background Play (which I use ALL THE TIME), no downloading of videos, none of that. You want that, well, you have to pay full price. Even though these are basic features.
Paying for getting rid of ads is one thing, and maybe accessing special features is one thing. But paying for artificial limitations that are put into place? Absolutely not. And I know the line between what’s a prenium feature and what’s an artifical limit is blurry. But for me it’s basically this: If I can do something for free on desktop, but can’t on mobile without paying. Such as background play.
I am convinced YouTube Prenium would be way more appealing if YouTube weren’t being such dicks about it.
It’s simple:
Bam. All of the sudden you have compelling options. Some people will say: “Uuuh, jUsT uSe an AdbLocKeR!” and whatever. Those people are not the majority, so many people watch YouTube from their phones and their TVs now, they will be much more inclined to buy it…
…I think.
That last part is important. I recognise I’m just playing armchair business developper here and that I don’t know shit, but still. I’m convinced this could work. The real issue comes down to YouTube being a monopoly and thinking that they can do whatever the hell they want, which… they likely can, due to the position they’re in. It’s an issue but this comment is already long enough and that is another discussion entirely, but basically: Monopolies sucks.
I’m using NewPipe, which gives me music in background and no Ads
that’s enough for me
out of interest, what other advantages does a premium account have?
Lack of ads. Background play. Offline viewing. Prenium members are also much more valuable for creators in terms of revenue.
I’m aware of NewPipe. But I don’t like it’s design and I use my YouTube account on multiple devices. I depends on my playlist, like videos, history and recommendations far too much to use NewPipe.
Also, YouTube Music is a proper streaming service with proper algorithm and so on, it’s not just the music videos of YouTube. :)
You should consider Youtube Revanced Extended (Or even just Revanced in general)
I am aware. But like I said. Supporting creators is important to me and I watch YouTube in a lot of places. Including on my TV. A lot. Which Vanced is not a thing on there.
Plus: I use YT Music.
I use an app called 'smart tube next" on my FireTV stick. Im now using re-vanced patched YouTube on my Android.
I would use rif to browse /r/listentothis and open YouTube links of what I wanted to listen to into ~Vanced to cast to my TV. Once a video was cast onto the TV the next link would give me an option to play or put in queue.
Then I could scroll, select, queue, scroll, select, queue, etc.
On Android you can split two apps on your screen, one on top and one on bottom, so I don’t get pulled out of rif when selecting a song.
I know this all sounds complicated, but it’s pretty easy once you understand it.
Anyway, I do this when I’m working around the house. It takes the TV away from me as an option so I don’t get distracted while I’m cleaning.
I wish the queue was available without casting, I know YouTube was experimenting with it as a premium feature. It would probably canalize from YouTube music though.
I’m sorry, I know this isn’t a constructive comment, but I had a real good chuckle seeing your autocorrect (?) writing Prenium every single time 😂
I never saw that Rossman video before, but it sums up my thoughts on the ‘popular’ media landscapes so well. I’m so proud to be a pirate.