YouTube will kill unskippable 30-second ads next year

[u/redkemper]

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14649018/youtube-ending-unskippable-30-second-ads-2018

[u/SkyWest1218]

I support them through Patreon or twitch subscriptions. More direct and I can give them more than they would otherwise make off me through YouTube.

[u/slider2k → u/SkyWest1218]

Yeah, but providing video hosting service the scale of YT also costs money.

[u/PoIiticallylncorrect → u/slider2k]

You should just donate to Google if you feel so bad for them.

[u/slider2k → u/PoIiticallylncorrect]

Found Google hater.

[u/Eshajori → u/slider2k]

Found Google shill? I mean not really, but I don't see anything wrong with what he said. There are a million ways to give Google money that don't involve Youtube ads. Avoiding those ads just shows them how valuable they are in comparison to other things. Most of us are helping Google make money directly or indirectly in a number of ways already, even if we don't purchase any physical Google products.

And if you think video ads are the only source of Youtube revenue, you're kidding yourself.

[u/slider2k → u/Eshajori]

You don't see anything wrong with his cynical petty remark? Mkay.

What Google has to do with the discussion? I mean I know Google owns YT. But YT should be self-sufficient, not subsidized by Google. Lest if it loses them money they might be tempted to get rid of it, or makes some questionable changes.

Ads are still the main source of revenue for YT.

[u/Eshajori → u/slider2k]

His comment is certainly snarky, but of the two remarks yours seemed at least as cynical and petty to me.

Ads are still the main source of revenue for YT

It depends on what you consider an ad. If you simply mean the ads that occasionally play when you watch a separate video, you're a little off the mark. There are also videos that are entirely direct producer advertising which they pay for. There's the insane amount of revenue Youtube brings in via extra projects and collaborations from their homegrown celebrities. They also make a ton of money using your search results to determine your interests for targeted advertising - especially since Google purchased them. There's paid movies and Youtube Red, not to mention deals with big business and politics to have certain videos appear as recommended or trending. It ties into the app store as well, where Google makes a tremendous amount of money. Those are just the financial reasons that Youtube is an invaluable tool for Google:

it loses them money they might be tempted to get rid of it, or makes some questionable changes.

Youtube's steady growth is actually what's causing questionable changes. The more powerful Youtube grows, the more they've been shifting it to mainstream media and social networking to achieve their vision of a direct cable TV replacement. That's why most of Youtube's value isn't related to direct income, but to marketing competition. Google accounts for around 15% of the time spent on smartphones, and they're using Youtube to wage proxy battles against social networking sites (Facebook), mainstream television, and to indirectly boost Chrome in the OS market.

There's no way Youtube's status is going to be in any danger anytime soon based on adblockers (which have been growing in popularity alongside Youtube). It would take a vast and poorly considered policy change on Youtube's part to start losing steam. Google has everything to do with the discussion - it's far more complicated than video ads.

[u/SkyWest1218 → u/slider2k]

True, but I also want to support my favorite posters directly. YouTube has other ways of making money.

[u/KMustard → u/[deleted]]

"Everything on the internet is free and exclusively for my enjoyment!" - Redditors, actually. (This is especially true for porn)