YouTube is launching Premium Lite in the US for $7.99 per month, allowing ad-free viewing of most videos. It will expand to Thailand, Germany, and Australia. This follows YouTube Music and Premium reaching over 125 million subscribers. Premium Lite offers an affordable option for viewers and revenue for creators. Users wanting ad-free music and more features should choose the Premium plan. YouTube will continue to enhance subscription benefits.
YouTube has reached over 1 billion monthly active podcast viewers, establishing itself as the top platform for podcast listening in the U.S. This growth reflects its investments in enhancing the podcast experience. Video podcasts are trending, with popular shows like Keke Palmer's check-ins. YouTube is improving content discovery and access while expanding diverse offerings and revenue sharing for creators.
YouTube is enhancing Shorts by integrating Google DeepMind's Veo 2 into Dream Screen. This upgrade allows users to create AI backgrounds and standalone video clips using text prompts. Veo 2 generates high-quality, realistic videos and improves speed. Users can create video backgrounds or clips via the Shorts camera. These features are currently available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with plans for wider rollout.
YouTube marks its 20th anniversary, evolving from amateur videos to a major platform for professional content. TV has surpassed mobile as the primary viewing device in the U.S., with YouTube leading in streaming watch time. For 2025, YouTube aims to be a cultural hub, expand the creator economy, enhance its TV presence, and integrate AI for safety and content creation. Innovations include new advertising formats and tools to support emerging creators.
Markifact is a no-code marketing automation platform that lets users create AI-driven workflows for automating marketing tasks. Users can trigger workflows, connect apps, and track performance through a visual interface. The platform offers pre-built templates, integrates with various marketing tools, and supports team collaboration.
YouTube is introducing new features for Premium subscribers to enhance their viewing experience. Premium members can access multiple experimental features, such as high-quality audio, Picture-in-Picture for Shorts on iOS, Smart Downloads for Shorts, a “Jump ahead” feature on web, and faster playback speeds on mobile. A new offer allows savings on YouTube Premium when purchased with a Google One plan, and Ask Music will expand to more devices.
YouTube's new auto dubbing feature allows users to access content in various languages, enhancing global connectivity. Available to many channels in the YouTube Partner Program, it automatically creates dubbed versions of videos. While still improving, the technology aims for better accessibility. Viewers can recognize auto-dubbed videos and choose their preferred language for a more personalized experience.
YouTube's 2024 report highlights top trends, creators, and songs, showing cultural shifts and fan-driven movements. Fans now create content, driving success. The report covers 12 countries, revealing common trending topics often propelled by fans. Two major trends include an animated series turned franchise and a sports moment driven by creators. YouTube fosters participatory pop culture, serving as a launch pad for new entertainment.
YouTube's 2024 Music Recap lets users explore personalized music stats on YouTube and YouTube Music apps. It includes top artists, songs, genres, albums, playlists, and new features like dynamic animations, higher-quality photos, and podcast insights. Users can see a listening timeline, a music movie character, and share their recap with friends, celebrating the music and podcasts that defined the year.
YouTube introduces Jewels and gifts, a new earning method for creators during vertical live streams. Jewels are digital items viewers buy in bundles to send gifts, which are engaging animations. Creators earn Rubies from gifts, with 1 Ruby equaling 1 cent. Initially for U.S. creators in the YouTube Partner Program, gifts can be enabled in the Earn hub in YouTube Studio. For the first three months, eligible creators can earn a 50% bonus.
