YouTube is poised to launch a paid for subscription model that will allow subscribers to bypass advertising.
Reports this morning suggest the roll out of the ad-free package could be as early as June.
The plan was revealed in an email sent by YouTube to its advertising partners.
“By creating a new paid offering, we’ll generate a new source of revenue that will supplement your fast growing advertising service,” the letter said.
YouTube is understood to have offered to pay advertising partner 55 per cent of the total net revenues from subscription fees, the same percentage associated with advertising revenues.
Bloomberg quoted a statement from YouTube as saying: “While we can’t comment on ongoing discussions, giving fans more choice to enjoy the content they love and creators more opportunity to earn revenue are always amongst our top priorities.”
The statement did not comment on the timing of the launch or mention prices.
Google, the owners of YouTube, has not responded for comment.