YouTube Red "exclusive content", just another name for shell game [View all]

[Shankapotomus]

With the announcement of YouTube Red Google is taking YouTube further in the direction of the cable companies.

Cleverly packaged in with the promise of an ad-free YouTube (which, incidentally, is horrible for content providers), is this "exclusive content" YouTube claims it is working on for RedTube. What many people don't realize is where this "exclusive content" is going to come from. It will be coming from your favorite most popular channels you already watch for free. In other words, non-subscribers to the $9.99 ad-free YouTube Red will lose the ability to watch these channels…or a tiered internet.

Let me repeat, this is a cynical step toward putting the popular video content you know and love behind a wall you will have to pay a monthly subscription to access.

This is classic bait & switch. This is Google saying "Hey, everybody look at this pretty shiny thing we're giving you over here!" Meanwhile, all your favorite and popular channels are slowly disappearing from the free YouTube because Google is coaxing them all, one-by-one, to go exclusive or otherwise lose access to revenue. Then the free YouTube viewers are left watching crap just like basic cable subscribers. The only bright spot is this may finally cause an exodus from the advertiser driven YouTube to alternative video blogging providers. Hopefully, Vimeo will take advantage of this.

We cannot fall for this cynical grab for money as we have already done with the cable companies. If you think this new subscription-based access to "exclusive" content is a great idea, you have no idea what is happening.

Alternative video content platforms need to be launched to challenge YouTube's (Google's) business model once and for all.

Channels need to know as long as they set up shop on YouTube this kind of cynical control and manipulation of viewers and content providers will only continue.

Beyond, certain websites, like YouTube, the internet is still basically free of cynical landlords hell-bent on squeezing as much money as they can out of people by playing shell games with popular content. If you're a popular channel on YouTube, consider leaving, maybe getting your own hosting if you can afford it, and making your viewers come to you.

If that is not an option for you, consider not uploading your content to YouTube at all but at a video platform provider that has a little more integrity.

YouTube should not be rewarded for playing a shell game with content. They should be punished with a massive exodus.