YouTube is Now Asking Users to Upgrade to Premium to Watch 4K Videos

YouTube may now require users to avail Premium subscription to make 4K streaming exclusive on the platform.

The world's biggest video streaming platform is apparently looking into putting up a paywall on 4K resolution videos to increase revenue, according to Android Police.

YouTube Is Testing Out A New Strategy

For the past few months, Google has been experimenting with its approach toward YouTube and its Premium subscriptions, but this new step might just be the nudge they need.

YouTube's income and revenue have been mostly coming from ads, but this time around, Engadget reports that YouTube is trying to ask users to get Premium for $12 a month for a better quality of streaming.

WCCF Tech writes that some YouTube users noticed that the platform had resorted to locking 4K videos for Premium subscribers only on iOs and other platforms for limited accounts.

YouTube's paid subscription for Premium includes ad-free viewing, offline consumption of video and song downloads, and background plays to let them have an uninterrupted experience, Tech Crunch reports.

9 to 5 Google says that this is the first time YouTube locked higher quality video, somewhat reminiscent of the Stadia Pro subscription, which only allowed subscribers to play in 4k resolution and HDR colors.

Google's Little Experiment Makes Rounds On Reddit

Android Authority claims that over the last month, users on Reddit have been posting screenshots of YouTube's update, but only a limited number of users have access to it.

Those who are part of Google's experimental group say that a Premium option to stream at 2160p started appearing in a number of videos in certain locations.

This move by YouTube did not come as a shock to its users because YouTube already used to separate the more high definition content from 4K content by tiers for subscribers of YouTube TV, Android Authority added.

However, Android Police is saying that limiting 4K viewing into YouTube Premium will be regressive because subscribers might not appreciate its full extent.

Conversely, the streaming platform will benefit a lot from it since it limits bandwidth usage, saving 56% data, but increases the company's revenue, Android Police reports.

The Paywall Raises Apprehension

Over the past few years, YouTube has tried to implement several methods to convince and convert free users into subscription-paying ones, even trying to play unskippable ads before a long video.

This time, the platform is allegedly hoping that with a price of $12 a month, viewers will be lured into the convenient viewing experience Premium has to offer along with HD streaming, WCCF Tech writes.

However, WCCF Tech also believes that it will be to YouTube's detriment to ask users to pay for features they previously could access without a paywall.

Last year, Google accumulated a total of 50 million subscribers across YouTube Music and YouTube Premium, which garnered them $6.87 billion in revenue, Tech Crunch reports.

Last week, a new program that lets users subscribe to add-on channels like Showtime, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, and MLB.TV on YouTube TV without having to purchase a base plan for $64.99.