YouTube has expanded its Premium Lite subscription tier pilot to India, aiming to attract more subscribers. The pilot, announced on September 29, offers a cheaper alternative to the full Premium subscription. For Rs 89 per month, users can enjoy ad-free viewing on a variety of content, including gaming, comedy, and educational videos. Despite the reduced price, some features are excluded: ads will still be shown on music content and Shorts, and background playback and offline downloads are unavailable. The rollout of this new subscription is planned across India in the coming weeks. YouTube initially launched Premium Lite in March and has been piloting the service in markets like the United States. The introduction of this Lite version aligns with YouTube’s broader strategy of growing its subscriber base through diversified subscription options. A two-person Premium subscription tier at a monthly price of Rs 219 may launch soon, with YouTube Music Premium offered at Rs 149 during the pilot phase. Existing plans include Student, Individual, and Family options for both YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium. A price increase ranging from 12% to 58% across all subscription tiers will occur in August 2024. YouTube has reported over 125 million subscribers across its Music and Premium services globally, contributing to Alphabet’s over 270 million paid subscriptions. The launch of Premium Lite is designed to make premium features more accessible across India’s varied economic landscape.
YouTube Expands Premium Lite Subscription to India, Offering Budget-Friendly Ad-Free Viewing
