YouTube Rolls Out Paid-Subscription Channels

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SAN BRUNO: YouTube has launched a pilot program for a group of partners that offers paid channels on the website, with subscription fees starting at $0.99 per month.

Each subscription service offers a 14-day free trial. Among the paid channels being launched are National Geographic Kids, aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 12, delivering programming from the Nat Geo Kids video library as well as original content. The Jim Henson Company is launching Jim Henson Family TV, featuring commercial-free episodes of such shows as Sid the Science Kid and Fraggle Rock. The company also announced the Spanish-language Jim Henson TV para la familia en español for YouTube. Baby First Plus, DHX Junior TV and DHX Kids TV are among the other kid-focused subscription offerings.

UFC has a new channel that will offer full versions of fights for UFC fans. RLJ Entertainment is launching two paid channels on YouTube, under the Acorn TV and OnCue brands. The Acorn TV digital channel will provide the best of British TV, while OnCueNetwork features urban-themed programming.

YouTube said of the subscription launch: "This is just the beginning. We’ll be rolling paid channels out more broadly in the coming weeks as a self-service feature for qualifying partners. And as new channels appear, we’ll be making sure you can discover them, just as we’ve been helping you find and subscribe to all the channels you love across YouTube. Just as the partner program empowered creators to take their channels to the next level, we look forward to seeing how this great community of creators moves ahead with a new way to reach the fan communities that made their channels a hit. You’ll be hearing more from us, and them, as we get creator and user feedback and build out this exciting offering."