TL;DR
- YouTube is currently testing the requirement for a Premium subscription for 4K and higher resolutions.
- People in the Google Experimental Group who are not subscribers see Premium appear next to the 2160p option.
- This would add a new benefit to YouTube Premium while removing something that’s currently free for all users.
Google has worked hard to entice YouTube viewers to subscribe to its Premium subscription. While this has mostly resulted in more ads showing, both skippable and non-skippable, the company appears to be testing a new strategy. This new strategy could see 4K and higher resolutions locked behind its paywall.
Over the past month, footage has started popping up on Reddit showing off a new feature for YouTube Premium – 4K video. It looks like Google is currently testing the idea of making its 4K resolution option exclusive to subscribers. Those in Google’s experimental group report seeing the word Premium next to the 2160p option when trying to select a new resolution.
YouTube introduced 4K videos to its platform over a decade ago and then provided an 8K option later on as resolution standards became more ubiquitous. However, until now, 4K and higher resolutions were free for all users. If YouTube considers this test a success and decides to implement the change in the future, it would simultaneously add a new benefit for subscribers while taking something away from non-subscribers.
It wouldn’t be exactly unheard of for YouTube, though. In fact, the company separates HD and 4K content into different tiers for YouTube TV subscribers. The move would make YouTube more closely aligned with the company’s YouTube television model. Google has also locked 4K resolution behind its Pro subscription for Stadia, which will be shutting down soon.
Would you be more likely to subscribe to YouTube Premium if Google made this change? Let us know in the poll below.
Want to sign up for YouTube Premium just for 4K streams?
326 votes