YouTube plans to launch its streaming video marketplace soon

Alphabet-owned YouTube is getting ready to launch a streaming video marketplace to allow its users to subscribe to premium streaming services through its own platform.

Sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that the company has renewed discussions with entertainment companies to lure them to its new marketplace, internally dubbed ‘’channel store’’.

They said that YouTube has been working on the marketplace for at least 18 months now and is expected to launch it as early as this autumn. 

The Information first reported YouTube’s plans back in 2020, to join Amazon, Apple, Roku and other companies which let users access premium services through their own platforms and take a cut for each subscription. 

While YouTube is also discussing sharing subscription revenue with streaming partners, the terms could change significantly for each partner, the sources added. 

In fact, YouTube TV, which allows users to stream over 100 TV channels for $64.99 a month, also allows them to access premium services including HBO Max, Starz and Showtime through its Entertainment Plus add-on bundle that costs an additional $29.99. 

However, the new streaming video marketplace will enable users to access such services through its main app, which has been downloaded over 10 billion times so far, and is already a common spot for movie and show fans to follow the latest updates like trailers.