YouTube is counting on your hatred of ads (and love of downloading ‘Gandalf Sax Guy 10 Hours HD‘) to carry through its most recent price hike. The hike affects South Africans on both the Premium individual plans and the more expensive Family plan, which allows up to five friends or family members to join the ad-free ride.
South Africa has long since dodged the numerous price increases Google has thrown in the direction of Europe and America, so it seemed only likely that South Africa would eventually be in the firing line. Well, that day has finally come. Fortunately, YouTube has kept these increases on the low side.
It could be worse, right?
According to an email sent out to Premium subscribers early this morning, the company plans to raise the price of YouTube Premium individual to R82/m to “continue delivering great service and features,” it said. While the minor R10/m increase will likely be shrugged off by many, we can’t say the same for the sole provider of the Family plan you’re currently piggybacking.
Where the Family plan once cost R110/m for up to six members, it will now cost R150/m, equating to less than a R10/m increase for each individual member currently on the Family subscription. While that sounds like a good deal on paper, it will only affect the ‘head’ of the Family plan who is paying the fee.
“We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube,” it said.
Read More: YouTube experiments with Premium links, letting users share ad-free videos
According to TechCentral, the price of the standalone YouTube Music service will also see an increase, shooting from R60/m up to R65/m, and still falling short of the price of Spotify in SA, which demands R85/m for ad-free service. The YouTube Music Family Plan will also be hiked, rising from R90/m up to R100/m.
It should be noted that members of YouTube Premium’s plans automatically unlock access to the Music service.
The hike, it seems, will only come into effect for current subscribers in June, when their bill is due, leaving subscribers the entirety of May to decide whether to stick with the service or not. As for newcomers to YouTube Premium, the increased prices are already in play.
