YouTube Red

[Zeus 7997]

@yakihiko brought this to my attention! I think it's really interesting and deserves more of my attention.

 

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2015/10/red.html

 

For years, YouTube’s fans have been telling us they want more—more choice when watching their favorite content, more ways to support their favorite creators and, above all, the option to watch their favorite videos uninterrupted.

On October 28, we’re giving fans exactly what they want. Introducing YouTube Red -- a new membership designed to provide you with the ultimate YouTube experience.

YouTube Red lets you enjoy videos across all of YouTube without ads, while also letting you save videos to watch offline on your phone or tablet and play videos in the background, all for $9.99 a month. 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.

YouTube Music is designed to make discovering, watching and listening to music easier than ever. Any song or artist you choose on YouTube Music will start you on a personal journey through one of the richest music catalogs; just sign in, tap a track you love, and see where your music takes you. And as a special bonus - YouTube Red works with Google Play Music, so subscribe to one and automatically get access to the other.

And starting early next year, YouTube Red will get even better with member-only access to new, original shows and movies from some of YouTube’s biggest creators. You can read all about Originals coming to YouTube Red here.

This reads to me like YouTube is working their way into that area of the arena alongside services like Netflix and Hulu. But wait there's more...

 

http://gizmodo.com/youtubers-are-up-in-arms-about-youtube-red-1738022087

For months, YouTube has been talking to video creators about its new subscription plans and is prioritizing user experience above all else. That means if creators don’t sign a YouTube Red contract, their videos will be marked “private,” meaning nobody can see them. Otherwise, YouTube Red subscribers would be unable to access videos that non-subscribers have access to, which means subscribers would be getting less content than they would on free YouTube, not more.

“Both creators and users have been asking for a YouTube subscription service and that’s why we built YouTube Red,” a YouTube spokesperson told Gizmodo. “Today, the overwhelming majority of our partners, representing nearly 99-percent of the content watched on YouTube, have signed up. Videos of partners who don’t update their terms will be made private, but we remain committed to working closely with these partners with the goal of bringing them on board.”

 

That curious “1 percent” is pretty tricky, though, especially for the people who make a living through their YouTube channels. Based on initial reactions, some in the YouTube community are outraged. One YouTuber even created a petition called “Stop YouTube Red” that’s garnered close to 6,000 signatures so far. People aren’t just upset about the YouTube creator contract, either. People seem generally scared about a world where you have to pay to watch some YouTube videos.

Of course no large-scale change is without its hiccups but the allegations leveraged by the 1% seem serious enough to rethink the whole initiative (although the allegations about less content can be solved by logging out, but still...).

Do you think YouTube Red is a good idea? Are you a YouTube content creator? Did you sign up already?

[The Reverend 3566]

As for the actual service... I'm in 'wait and see' mode. Gotta read/see what other people see before I take the plunge.

 

I would definitely like the 'play videos in the background' feature on my phone as I constantly forget I can't do that and the music stops when I try to surf the 'net.

 

If it's true they're charging $13 to buy it through the App store because Apple charges 30% commission I think that's pretty hilarious...

[yakihiko 1480]

Thank you for this @Zeus

I think YouTube Red isn't a good idea, I remember years ago You Tube don't had this ads they do nowadays, and they are wanting people to pay for this ends? It's so clear that they are desperate for money.

They are even doing a music app, I'm afraid they will ending up transferring all music related to this and charging people to see it, same for Games with You Tube Gaming.

And we can't forget the amount of people that will google You Tube Red and get redirect to Red Tube.

[beni 2149]

It was only a matter of time that something like this were to happen I guess. I'd rather they try not to expand it and keep it as is, completely free with no catches unlike most sites that have 'subscription' choices. It just won't be YouTube anymore. ;; That's probably just my problem, lol. Guess I'll just have to wait and see to check out how it'll come into play.

 

Thanks to @yakihiko and @Zeus for this!

[kyoselflove 2680]

This is for the new generation who didn't have to sit through 15 minute commercial breaks and can't handle 30 second ads.

 

Bleh.

 

honestly don't care about the 'original' content either.

[Furik 832]

I'm all for it. Especially since I'm a Google Play Music subscriber so it's like two products for the price of one. I can't wait to watch adless videos.

[Nyasagi 259]

I can get this for free with adblock+keepvid. No, thanks.

[Nagisa 131]

Doesn't look that appealing. Then again, I barely use Youtube. In terms of music, a lot of songs on Youtube are only covers since they don't allow the actual song to be uploaded, so I don't think it is the ideal medium for listening to music. And unless you want to watch a PV you can just download most songs off of other sites. I don't really watch movies or TV shows so I don't care for "original content," and I think there are better places to watch those like Netflix.

[JukaForever 758]

RedTube should sue them for the name, it will confuse a lot people just wanting to get their porno fix.

[Biopanda 2675]

I, for one, am waiting on the edge of my seat for the feature-length Jenna Marbles movie.

[Lestat 2167]

Listening to music in the background. I already have an MP3-player option for that on my phone. I also have the Spotify app. I only go on Youtube if I actually want to watch something, hence the video-option.

This is completely useless to me and I think it will cause people to move over to a free zone such as Vimeo instead. Youtube makes millions because millions of people watch videos on it every day, and therefore watch millions of ads. I won't support hounds like this.

[Champ213 1858]

Actually, Youtube isn't "making millions" and never has. They barely broke even last year, and until then they pretty much only produced losses. So I guess it's no surprise they look for other income.

 

 

That being said, at the moment Youtube Red doesn't really seem that interesting to me, not for that price. I don't mind watching a 30-second ad if it helps to support my favourite Youtubers. And if I don't want to watch ads, you can usually skip them after a few seconda (or use an adblocker for that matter).

The one thing I like is being able to only have the audio play (good for mobile internet), but again, not worth the price.

[Zeus 7997]

Listening to music in the background. I already have an MP3-player option for that on my phone. I also have the Spotify app. I only go on Youtube if I actually want to watch something, hence the video-option.

This is completely useless to me and I think it will cause people to move over to a free zone such as Vimeo instead. Youtube makes millions because millions of people watch videos on it every day, and therefore watch millions of ads. I won't support hounds like this.

I wouldn't downplay Google's acquisition of YouTube either. A lot of my fondest memories of YouTube came before the copyright censorship, forced Google+ integration, and ads everywhere. I wonder how much of a hand Google had in shaping YouTube Red.

I think this is useless as well. I have apps to get videos I want to download and keep. I'm no caveman so I have an MP3 player for all my music listening needs. And it's not like there are many "content creators" I follow, certainly not enough and not often enough to spend $10 a month. What really stood out to me was the following line which I quoted above:

YouTube Music is designed to make discovering, watching and listening to music easier than ever. Any song or artist you choose on YouTube Music will start you on a personal journey through one of the richest music catalogs; just sign in, tap a track you love, and see where your music takes you. And as a special bonus - YouTube Red works with Google Play Music, so subscribe to one and automatically get access to the other.

The first thing I thought of is that they're coming for Last.fm's throne.

[doombox 4421]

 

That means if creators don’t sign a YouTube Red contract, their videos will be marked “private,” meaning nobody can see them. Otherwise, YouTube Red subscribers would be unable to access videos that non-subscribers have access to, which means subscribers would be getting less content than they would on free YouTube, not more.

I can't tell if this will mark everyone's videos who are not a partner and haven't subscribed to the new YT red private, or only the partners (the ones who get payed by youtube)... either way. Bullshit. Fuck this. Charging money and alienating your userbase is a horrible idea, how about adding NEW features that cost money. Just add the music and movie features with a "premium" subscription that costs money, but leave the free userbase as they are. 

[YuyoDrift 1540]

Oh I can see the online news articles

 

"RedTube sues YouTube"

"Children find porn site RedTube"

 

As far as this new service goes, It's going to be the beginning of the end for YouTube. Why even need to compete with online video streaming services?

 

What they should have done is take off the region block with this "extra service", and do away with ads.

Sucks for the YouTube Stars, I guess?

[colorful人生 2777]

As of late yesterday and today, it seems like anything under Sony Music Entertainment, Victor Entertainment, columbia, anything protected under "eLicense", etc. have been region blocked in the U.S.

Hence, channels like Pony Canyon, Danger Crue, Resistar Records, and nobigdealrecordsCH have had the entirety of their videos region blocked in the process (as of now in the U.S). 
 

The general consensus on varying forums is that this is due to Youtube Red coming out in a few days, considering it's abruptness. (Videos not complying to ToS or corporations blocking in response to new ToS)

 

Additionally suggested by yakihiko, it would be great if we could make a list of the channels affected somewhere on the forum since this affects fans of J-pop, J-rock, Visual Kei, J-Indie rock, etc. 

While region blocking isn't anything new (-SMEJ channels/idol groups), this is probably one of the largest and most abrupt instances of region blocking I have witnessed on YT.

I'm hope this can be resolved in the coming days, but I'm a bit pessimistic at the moment.

 

*Edit: It looks like this has also taken down an innumerable amount of videos with idol groups and promotional anime material (Gundam, etc.). 

[Lestat 2167]

I've checked out those channels and they are still working in the EU, it doesn't seem like anything else has changed here either. This makes me wonder whether or not YouTube Red will be effective in the US earlier than in the EU.

[Zeus 7997]

I've checked out those channels and they are still working in the EU, it doesn't seem like anything else has changed here either. This makes me wonder whether or not YouTube Red will be effective in the US earlier than in the EU.

 

I forgot to mention in my post that YouTube Red starts in the US for now. No announced date for when it begins elsewhere.

@MaikoMizu brought this to my attention in the status updates. It fits very well with the direction of this topic so I will include it below. Personally, I do not think this move is a good business move to make at this time. Not because I think that YouTube Red is a gamble but because I think that the moves they are making below will bring some bad press and will reflect badly on YouTube Red.

 

As we upgrade the YouTube Data API to bring more features, we’ll begin shutting down the old version on April 20, 2015. This will result in the current YouTube app not working on certain device models from 2012 and older.

We will continue to focus our efforts on improving our official YouTube app for TV which is available on most 2013 and newer Smart TVs and Blu-ray players, game consoles, streaming devices, and set-top boxes (e.g. Virgin Media, BSkyB Now TV Box, TiVo). You can find a list of our device partners here.

 

Devices affected

Select devices manufactured in 2012 and earlier, including:

• Sony TVs & Blu-ray Discs
• Panasonic TVs & Blu-ray Discs
• Sony Playstation Vita
• Older iOS (iOS 5 and earlier) devices
• Older AppleTV (1st and 2nd gen)
• Older set-top boxes (ex, DirectTV)

Devices not affected

• Android (Download the YouTube app from the Google Play Store)
• Apple iPhone/iPad running iOS 7 or later (Download the YouTube app from the App Store)
• Apple TV (3rd gen model w/ 1080p, or newer)
• Google TV (v3 and v4)
• Android TV
• Most 2013 and newer Smart TVs and Blu-ray players
• Streaming devices including Roku, Western Digital, Chromecast
• Set-top boxes including Virgin Media, BSkyB Now TV Box, TiVo, J:Com
• Game consoles: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, Wii U, 3DS
• Desktop, laptop, or other device (Mac, PC, etc) with a web browser supported by www.youtube.com
• Phone, tablet, or other device (Kindle, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Nokia, Android, iOS, etc) with a web browser supported by m.youtube.com

Few points:

• Dropping PS Vita support means even Sony is abandoning the system...why not simply push out an update? Or is the PS Vita not that advanced? (I don't have one)
• Just noting that the PS3 still has support but the Vita doesn't....and the Vita came out after the PS3...
• How many people actually stream YouTube at their TV? I know on the XB1 when we were over at a friend's house we would play music all of the time but that's it. If we lost YT we could bump music from another channel. This feels like an inconsequential loss to me.
• Older model iPhones? Ouch...
• What older set top boxes could stream YouTube?????
• Who uses AppleTV?
• This really won't affect too many people and I don't think it prohibits anyone from accessing the service in a reasonable way.

[MaikoMizu 167]

I've never used any Google music or even my own Android for music, it's all on my iPod. As for the YouTube Red, I'm not supporting it as selfish as this may sound but I've been using Adblock plus since late 2014 and it does wonders. Clearing up those ads that we have to sit through and it's completely irrelevant to the video; although I know that a-lot of famous or decent 100K YT channels, that always have advertisements. 

In the meantime, I'll be awaiting to see what Sony does with their videos and the US fans in the future, if they'll ever allow us access to them again.

Also, I feel that YouTube went downhill when Google took control.  I'd rather donate to a paypal account versus having to sit through an ad.

 

With paying for the removal of ads, that's indeed what  @yakihiko said and I agree, it is a desperate call for money. 

[enyx 903]

There's absolutely no way they came up with that name without realising how similar it is to RedTube.

 

Anyway, I'm kind of sick of subscription services cropping up everywhere. It feels like everyone is trying to convince you to set up a monthly subscription these days. I guess it was only a matter of time before YouTube jumped on the bandwagon, but I probably wont use it personally.

[BrenGun 2261]

just please no.

But if they will do this, well then let's move to other platforms.  there is still dailymotion and other streaming websites.

[Tetora 625]

It is obvious that Youtube is fully ready to take advantage of their monopoly to start disregarding 'have-not's', squeezing as much revenue as possible and selling customers both the disease and the cure in an endless cycle until the next big change in entertainment mediums.

Disease: Commercials

Cure: Pay for no ad's (only really useful on console or mobile since no adblock).

Disease: Can't minimize Youtube on mobile.

Cure: Now you can pay to minimize it (useful when you want to do something else on your phone while listening to music or speech not in your library, or have phone in your pocket and don't want random vids pocket played).

Disease: Can no longer watch most of the content you previously could.

Cure: Exciting news guys, that stuff that used to be free is now 9.99

Etc...

Also saving vids is so easily done, I even had the option to do it via the app when I first got my phone? Seems like they really wanted some additions to throw into the Youtube Red pitch to make it seem like people are actually receiving some kind of added value or improvement in their experience by paying 9.99 for the same old crap.

I can almost taste how bad the new music recommendation system will be. It steadily gets worse and worse by trying to force certain artists on you, but it'll now be all about pushing their big artists and Youtube stars more than ever, so I'll be watching Mejibray or Dir en grey or something and Youtube will act like they really think the next video I really want to see is the latest booty song or Taylor Swift Behind the Scenes, or the Smosh Movie.

So yeah, they definitely changed the game in entertainment and did big things for changing how we access content and how people live, but let that get to their heads, losing the plot of providingan amazing amount.of content for free to anyone with web access. Now it's time to make some more cash grabs as they have no new vision or direction to take themselves that will actually serve the people.

[freesia 714]

I just hope things wouldn't go that way. All that resource and library suddenly vanishing.. Personally I don't really mind ads, so I'd like it the old way because I'm just a small and free youtube user.

[Ikna 1225]

If youtube wants me to pay for shit that was entirely free (and ad free) years ago, then I guess we will have even more reasons not to spend a single cent on their shitty service and continue to pirate. I fucking won't pay a monthly fee just to watch official MVs/PVs if it ever comes to that point. Seriously, turning everything into a subscription service will not be the right tactic to go against copyright infriction, in fact people like me see even more reasons to try to break their stupid restrictions or will go elsewhere, where you don't have to pay.

 

Also Youtube has always primarily been a video hosting service and not a multifunctional music/video streaming site. Google try way too hard to turn Youtube into something it isn't.

[Champ213 1858]

I don't think this has anything to do with stopping people from comitting copyright infringements. Copyright holders can already use the current content ID system to get their share of the ad revenue. 

 

But like I said: Youtube so far hasn't been making any profit whatsoever. How long do you think Google will continue to operate a site that is only causing them losses, or at best a break-even.

 

Whether Youtube Red is the best way to go about it remains to be seen, but I think it should be obvious to anyone: Youtube is not a charity. They offer a service, they have expenses, they need to make money. So far they don't.

 

I know these days many people expect to get everything free in the internet. But when it's free but ad-supported, they complain about the ads. When it's ad-free, but costs money, they complain it costs money. But servers and technicians/programmers don't run on magical unicorn poo, you know. They cost money.