YouTube Premium broadens subscriber payment options

YouTube Premium has expanded the range of payment options available to subscribers, partnering with Paysafe to facilitate new members wishing to join with cash rather than by card.

The pairing will see subscribers in the UK, France, Germany and Spain given the option to use the digital prepaid solution to access ad-free video, music and gaming services, opening up the platform to consumers who do not have access to a credit card or digital banking.

Would-be subscribers can purchase a Paysafecard from 650,000 global outlets including petrol stations and supermarkets.

Udo Müller, chief executive of Paysafecard, said: “We’re delighted to be extending our relationship with Google to support additional services in its portfolio. By giving customers the option to pay for its service using cash online, YouTube Premium is opening up its membership to millions of additional customers.”

An estimated 130 million Europeans are believed to avoid digital banking, many over security concerns, prompting Google to embrace Paysafecard as a means to reach out to these consumers. The move follows on from an earlier partnership with the Google Play Store, first announced in June 2018, which is also when YouTube Premium launched in the UK.

Source: The Drum