DHAKA: YouTube is set to launch a subscription service offering original, exclusive videos - including feature-length films starring high-profile vloggers.

Initially only available in the US, YouTube Red will cost $9.99 (£6.50) a month and have no adverts.

PewDiePie, Rooster Teeth and Lilly Singh are among the well-known names involved.

Analysts suggested it could be difficult to turn millions of fans who expect free access to pay up.

“It’s great to see YouTube offer an alternative to an ad-only model,” said Brian Blau, an analyst with Gartner. "Consumers want choice and options."

"But pay walls haven't always done well and uptake depends on how users balance the attractiveness of the exclusive content and the pain of sitting through lots of ads."

Ian Maude from Enders Analysis was also sceptical about the size of the audience it would attract.

"You are not going to see 50% buying this," he said. "It's going to be relatively small numbers."

Source: BBC

BDST: 1131 HRS, OCT 22, 2015
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