YouTube Testing Discounted Premium Tier for Two

YouTube Introduces Two-Person Premium Subscription Trial

YouTube is currently evaluating a new Premium subscription option designed for two users, as confirmed by the company to TechCrunch on Monday.

This new tier is being tested in a limited number of regions, specifically India, France, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Initial Reports and YouTube’s Statement

The initial report regarding this trial surfaced through Money Control.

According to a statement provided to TechCrunch by a YouTube spokesperson, the company is “experimenting with new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers.”

This includes the introduction of a two-person Premium plan, enabling two individuals to share a single subscription at a lower overall cost.

Functionality and Target Audience

The functionality of this plan mirrors that of Spotify’s Duo subscription. It allows two people residing at the same address to enjoy YouTube Premium benefits.

These benefits include uninterrupted, ad-free viewing and the ability to continue playback in the background.

The plan is specifically targeted towards users who desire the advantages of YouTube Premium without the financial commitment of a full family subscription.

Potential Benefits for YouTube

This new offering is anticipated to contribute to an increase in YouTube’s subscriber base.

It also presents the potential for increased revenue generation.

For example, individuals who previously canceled their Premium subscriptions due to recent price increases may be inclined to re-subscribe through this more affordable two-person plan.

Expansion of Subscription Options

The launch of this test coincides with Google’s efforts to diversify its YouTube subscription services.

In March, YouTube introduced Premium Lite, a new tier allowing ad-free viewing of “most” videos for $7.99 monthly.

Currently, Premium Lite is available in the United States, Australia, Germany, and Thailand.

Current Subscriber Numbers

The company reported that combined subscriptions for YouTube Music and YouTube Premium have surpassed 125 million users globally, including those utilizing trial periods.

Future Availability

As is typical with trial launches, the broader rollout or expansion to additional countries for the two-person Premium plan remains uncertain at this time.