Git‑What‑Now? YouTube’s Move to Free Originals
Picture this: YouTube’s big boss is swapping the paid pay‑wall for a free, ad‑backed video library. Yep, that’s the new plan starting next year. The original content that once lived behind the Premium subscription is now going to be available to all, if just for a few bucks that cash in your subscription.
Why the Switch? The Real (and Real Cheap) Reason
- More global viewers want the show?
- Advertisers want to stick their logos next to the best content.
- Flexibility: YouTube can hawk its programs just how it wants.
In short, get more eyeballs, keep the ad stream running, and give the brand folks a chance to shine.
What You’ll Miss (And What You’ll Still Get)
- Premium will lose its exclusive stamp – anyone can stream the originals, the ads will still bite but you won’t pay the price of a subscription.
- Your paid plan still removes ads from everything – originals and non‑originals alike.
- YouTube Music privileges stay in the Premium bundle: keep streaming your audio library ad‑free.
- Some fan‑faves might stay exclusive for a while – “just for a short stint” as the company says.
The Price Tag & the Show Status
For an adult subscriber in the US, Premium is still going to cost about $12 a month. This keeps the old show catalogue (think Cobra Kai Season 1 and other “try‑our‑big‑league” hits) locked behind the paywall.
Will the “Paid-Only” Shows Go Free?
No for now: the already‑released videos in Premium will stay premium for the next few years. Those shakers might shift to free in the future, but there’s no set schedule.
