YouTube price and ad update

YouTube is charging more for Premium in the United States while also fixing a television ad bug that briefly showed “90+ seconds” before viewers could skip. (support.google.com) (9to5google.com) The new U.S. individual Premium plan is $15.99 a month for new members, up from $13.99, and YouTube says existing members will pay the higher rate starting with the first billing cycle at least 30 days after the increase. (support.google.com) (9to5google.com) The family plan now costs $26.99 a month, up from $22.99, and the student plan is $8.99, up from $7.99; student discounts still require annual verification through SheerID and can last up to four consecutive years. (9to5google.com) (support.google.com) Premium is YouTube’s paid version of its main video service: it removes ads from most videos and adds offline downloads and background play across YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids. (support.google.com 1) (support.google.com 2) The ad issue moved in the other direction. After users posted screenshots of 90-second unskippable ad timers on televisions in early April, YouTube said on April 10 that the company does not offer a 90-second non-skippable format and was not testing one. (9to5google.com) YouTube later told 9to5Google the problem was a bug that showed “higher, inaccurate timers” for shorter ads, and said a fix was rolling out. (9to5google.com) The two changes land as YouTube keeps expanding its paid options beyond the standard single-user subscription. The service now offers family plans for up to six people and a two-person plan for members of the same household. (support.google.com 1) (support.google.com 2) (support.google.com 3) For subscribers, the immediate change is simple: new sign-ups see the higher U.S. price now, and current members have at least 30 days before the new bill arrives. For non-subscribers watching on televisions, YouTube says the 90-second countdown was not a new ad product and should disappear as the fix reaches devices. (support.google.com) (9to5google.com)