The subscription works across devices, anywhere the user signs into YouTube, including on the recently launched Gaming app for YouTube and a new YouTube Music app that will be available soon. YouTube Music is designed to help discover music on the video portal, offering suggestions based on previous listens. YouTube Red also works with Google Play Music, so subscribe to one and automatically get access to the other, Google said.
The company also promised enhancements to YouTube Red, including from early next year subscriber access to original shows and movies made by YouTube’s most popular creators. The subscription service, as well as the new YouTube apps, will be expanded to other countries soon, Google said.
Separately TechCrunch reports that partner creators who earn a share of ad revenues must sign up to the YouTube Red ad-free service or their videos will be hidden in both the ad-supported and ad-free versions. According to Google the aim is to offer consistency, so people subscribing to Red can be sure their favourite content will be available. Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl said at the launch event that the vast majority of content creators had signed the agreement and that 99 percent of content consumed on YouTube will still be available.
