YouTube has put an additional stamp on digital media consumption. YouTube Red, as well as YouTube’s own music app were recently announced. While the traditional, ad-supported website will remain alive and well, these new platforms hope to offer content in equally effective ways.
YouTube Red is slated to be a paid subscription service featuring all-in-one-ad-free viewing and listening. This platform will allow users to save videos to watch offline or continue playing videos while other apps are in use or when the screen is turned off. All subscribers will receive access to Google Play Music as well.
Original programming is also to be featured from outlets such as CollegeHumor, PewDiePie and Lilly Singh, to name a few.
This service will cost subscribers $9.99 per month for Android and desktop devices. For iOS devices however, the price is increased to $12.99 per month.
The music app will be offered independently, although subscription to YouTube Red will be required to access features like the offline and ad-free viewing. No launch date has yet been announced for the app.
YouTube gave reason for these recent developments in their expansion.
“A key learning was they didn’t want to use these features on just music — they wanted to use them across all of YouTube,” the company said. “To make this subscription most compelling to them, as well as the broadcast audience on YouTube, we decided to create a site-wide membership called YouTube Red.”
YouTube Red launches Oct. 28, and users will be able to use it for a free trial month.