YouTube Raises Price of YouTube Premium
I received an email this week from YouTube about a price hike to YouTube Premium. It’ll cost $15.99 per month, and for me, the change will be reflected on next month’s bill.
“To continue delivering great service and features, we’re increasing your price to $15.99/month,” YouTube wrote in its announcement sent on Friday. “We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.”
My initial reaction? Google, YouTube’s parent company, must really need the money.
Snarky reaction notwithstanding, I can wholeheartedly say paying for YouTube Premium is one of the best, dare I say life-changing, decisions I’ve ever made for my digital life. Along with YouTube TV, YouTube Premium is one of those “untouchable” subscriptions—along with Apple TV, et al—akin to, say, a superstar, cornerstone player being deemed untouchable in trade inquiries. The return on investment on these subscriptions is extremely high, especially the ad-free experience on YouTube Premium. I don’t download videos for offline viewing, nor do I use YouTube Music, but the picture-in-picture functionality is great, especially on iPadOS. Over 125 million other subscribers seemingly agree with me. If only YouTube TV would get MLB Network and NHL Network back in the lineup. (Fun fact: my close friend Lauren Gardner is a host on both leagues’ respective channels, as well as on Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball.)
An accessibility argument for YouTube Premium, not to mention ad-free tiers generally, is the “no commercials” paradigm can make it a smoother viewing experience when it comes to cognition. Even for me, I find it resoundingly jarring to be immersed in something, taking copious mental notes, only to have the video “go to break” for a stupid 30-second ad hawking erection-enhancing pills for men. I’m all for sexual wellness, but not when I’m invested in watching something and don’t want to break my concentration. Show me an ad, and I’ll show you someone who’s gotta try harder to reset my attention after the ad ends. As I said, the experience can be inaccessible if only because the ads ask a lot from my brain in terms of attention span and focus.
Anyway, heed my advice: YouTube Premium is worth its weight in gold. Get it!
