In a move that has bewildered millions, YouTube Premium is increasing prices in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, Germany, Poland, and Turkey. This, in the wake of the company’s vicious crackdown on AdBlock users, as outlined in my recent article YouTube Ads Are Beyond A Joke!
In Australia, prices for a family plan are said to be increasing from $18 to $33, while in Argentina a family plan increases from AR$699 to AR$1569 (AR$3140 after 95% national taxes). Already in the US, prices were increased from $11.99 to 13.99 with the family plan staying at $22.99.
Pay Up Or Suffer The Ads!
Don’t you think it’s a bit rich for a corporation to bully its customers in this way? On the one hand, block you for using an adblocker and on the other, entice you to subscribe to a premium service which, by the way, has just increased its fees? And not just increased, but doubled in many cases.
In the second quarter of 2023, Google’s revenue amounted to over 74,3 billion U.S. dollars, up from the 69.1 billion U.S. dollars registered in the same quarter a year prior.
The profits that Google makes are staggering, so if the company wishes to entice viewers over to YouTube Premium, this is the wrong way to go about it. A monthly fee of at least half the amounts stated would be much more attractive and I have no doubt would bring in millions of new subscribers who are sick and tired of being bombarded with offensive ads. As it is, millions are cancelling their subscriptions in protest. But then, when you have a monopolistic stranglehold on a market, you call the shots.
Imagine for a minute if Microsoft were to pull such a stunt with Windows, where you were penalised for removing the ultra-annoying Edge browser and were not allowed to install an alternative?
YouTube’s terms of service are quite specific on what you are not allowed to do:
- circumvent, disable, fraudulently engage with, or otherwise interfere with any part of the Service (or attempt to do any of these things), including security-related features or features that (a) prevent or restrict the copying or other use of Content or (b) limit the use of the Service or Content;
Fortunately, operating system developers don’t use a three strikes and you’re out policy, but Google clearly thinks it can get away with it because the company knows that YouTube is the go-to video service for squillions of viewers.
However, if you’re considering alternative video platforms, here are a few you may want to take a look at:
… and a few others which I have yet to investigate:
Bitchute, DTube, PeerTube, Veoh, Twitch, TED, 9GAG TV and The Internet Archive. I have taken a peek at these purely for editorial purposes, so let’s just say that they cover a variety of different tastes.
In the meantime, I will continue to view YouTube with uBlock Origin blocking those nauseating ads and actively seeking a viable alternative to YouTube. What will you be doing?
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It’s all about corporate greed. What’s the old saying about there being enough to satisfy the world but not enough to satisfy one man’s greed?
Hey Mark, even with the outrageous increase in the price of Youtube Premium in Argentina, the cost in Argentina is still one of the cheapest in the world. The new family plan in Argentina is about $4.60/mo US Dollars before taxes. In the US, the same thing is $22.99/mo before taxes! And there are a few countries that are even more expensive than the US! There are actually ads here advising to use a VPN to Argentina and get the cheap Argentinian Youtube rates!
John
Yes, you’re right, it is relatively cheap in comparison, depending on which exchange rate you use. It’s also taxed at nearly 100% if a local card is used, which, for perspective equates to around ten litres of fuel/petrol or nearly four cappuccinos in a decent café.
One also has to justify the cost with annual 140% inflation, when more essential purchases are necessary.
As for VPNs, yes, people do that for Steam as well, but I don’t know how successful they are.
But I have to agree with Terry, Google is very greedy.
Cheers
Marc
There is no denying Google’s greed! Not content to just feeding at the trough like ravenous swine, they are determined to lick it clean!
If I could speak directly to the YouTube execs , I would teach them an important lesson my Dad taught me when I was young and would ask for something he did not want to pay for …..
I would tell them to close their eyes and hold out their hands ….. now tell me what you see ?
THAT is what you will be getting
Gen X, Z and millennial’s are generations that have gotten all to spoiled with receiving big fat pay checks for doing minimal work, that is where all this drips down from, it needs to change, sad part is everyone has become complacent and just pays it.
When I was younger , minimum wage was $3.50 an hour , I worked harder in one day and did more for that wage than most younger people probably do in a week now.