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YouTube May Go Ad-Free for Subscription Fee

An ad-free version of YouTube may become available by the end of the year for those willing to pay up for it.

According to sources including business news site Bloomberg, Google Inc. seeks to introduce a subscription format for YouTube whereby its millions of viewers have the option to enjoy uninterrupted viewing of not only user uploads, music videos and random bizarreness (recent faves include ‘Woman Flees Bunny Stampede’ and ‘Sheep Born With Human Face’) but also original channels and content from the likes of top-ranking comedy duo Smosh.

Often we’re confronted by a 30 second ad for something completely irrelevant to our video’s subject matter when the video itself may only last a few minutes, or almost as annoying are those pop-up ads that appear mid video and need to be shut down with a click. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

An email obtained by Bloomberg suggests that revenue gathered from paying YouTubers will be used in attempt to bring the video streaming service up to eye-level with Netflix, Hulu and new contender HBO Go and a cut of the money will also be shared with video creators to supplement the “fast growing advertising service”.

In 2013 Google announced it would put millions into developing original content and would start charging for some channels and movie rentals so it could raise YouTube’s esteem as a legitimate entertainment platform rather than being viewed as just a library of cat videos and epic fails.

Also See: YouTube Talk Music Streaming, Ad Removal

It’s too early to put a price on the luxury of an ad-free YouTube and none of the details have officially gone public, but Google was mulling over the idea late last year when they also revealed plans for a $10-a-month streaming music service called YouTube Music Key with which songs and video promos can be played without the bothersome commercials in between.

Also See: YouTube Music Key Coming Out of Beta

Cashing in for going ad-less on videos seems to be the next step in the monetization of the beloved streaming service which has been in operation since 2005 (Google taking ownership in 2006). Records taken earlier this year suggest YouTube welcomes 800 million or more active users per month – that’s a lot of potential subscription revenue.

Source: Bloomberg