YouTube’s 4K video support will remain free after user feedback
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(Pocket-lint) – After initially testing the idea of putting 4K video streaming behind its Premium paywall, YouTube has definitely scrapped the experiment, it says.
The original plan was for YouTube to limit 4K videos to those who pay for its YouTube Premium subscription service, a service people typically pay to get rid of ads. These people would have been entitled to 4K videos, but everyone else would have settled for 1080p HD. At least that was the plan, and YouTube went so far as to run a test that implemented the new rules for some people.
But this is no longer the case since YouTube announced on Twitter that the initial experience is now over and that Internet users will be able to continue to “access 4K quality resolutions without a premium subscription”.
The
Internet users should now be able to access 4K quality resolutions without a Premium subscription. We are at your disposal if you have any further questions –
TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) October 17, 2022
The news comes after YouTube found itself at the end of user revolt over the plan, although the company did not give a public reason for changing its mind. It’s possible that things have always been like this, but why conduct the experiment if that was the case?
YouTube’s desire to charge viewers for high-speed streams is obvious: data doesn’t come cheap and getting some of that money back is never a bad idea. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if this experience resurfaces in the future.
Written by Oliver Haslam.
