Introduction & Brief Description.
YouTube Premium (formerly known as YouTube Red) is a subscription service offered by the video platform YouTube. It provides advertising-free streaming of all videos hosted by YouTube, offline play and background playback of videos on mobile devices, access to advertising-free music streaming through Google Play Music, and access to “YouTube Original” series and films.
YouTube Premium was introduced in November 2014 as YouTube Music Key, offering only ad-free streaming of music and music videos from participating labels on YouTube and Google Play Music. The service was then rebranded as YouTube Red on October 31, 2015, expanding its scope to offer ad-free streaming of all videos, as well as access to exclusive original content.
In November 2018, YouTube Premium was split into two separate memberships: “YouTube Premium”, which includes access to all YouTube Originals, and “YouTube Music Premium”, a music streaming service featuring official albums and playlists, exclusive releases and live performances. Users who had already subscribed to the previous YouTube Red service were given the option to remain subscribed to the service at the same price, or to receive a discount on a YouTube Music Premium subscription.
One of the main benefits of YouTube Premium is the ability to watch videos on the platform without any advertisements. This means that users can watch their favorite content without being interrupted by commercial breaks. In addition, YouTube Premium subscribers have the ability to play videos in the background on their mobile devices, allowing them to continue listening to music or a podcast while using other apps.
Another benefit of YouTube Premium is the access it provides to exclusive original content. These are series and films produced by YouTube specifically for the service, and are only available to YouTube Premium subscribers. Some popular examples of YouTube Originals include “Cobra Kai”, “The Sidemen Show”, and “Impulse”.
In addition to ad-free streaming and access to original content, YouTube Premium also includes a subscription to Google Play Music. This service allows users to stream millions of songs and create custom playlists, as well as download songs for offline listening.
One potential downside to YouTube Premium is the cost. The service costs $11.99 per month in the United States, which may be considered expensive by some users. However, it is important to note that this price includes not only ad-free streaming on YouTube, but also a subscription to Google Play Music and access to exclusive original content.
Overall, YouTube Premium is a subscription service that offers a range of benefits for users of the video platform. It provides ad-free streaming of all videos, the ability to play videos in the background on mobile devices, access to a music streaming service, and exclusive original content. While it may be considered expensive by some, the range of features it offers may make it worth the cost for those who use YouTube frequently and want a more seamless, ad-free experience.