YouTube Raises Premium Subscription Price by 25% in Israel Starting September
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
YouTube is increasing its Premium subscription price in Israel by 25 percent starting next month, raising the monthly fee from 23.90 to 29.90 shekels. The company cites the need to maintain service quality and support creators. This follows global trends of digital platforms raising prices after establishing user bases. Meanwhile, YouTube also changed its view-counting method, and Chinese platform Bilibili is expanding internationally without identity verification requirements.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- YouTube Premium price in Israel rises 25% to 29.90 shekels per month starting next month.
- Price hike justified to maintain service quality and support platform creators.
- US and European YouTube Premium prices remain significantly higher than in Israel.
- YouTube changed view-counting method to count views as soon as videos start playing.
- Content creator Nas Daily criticized the new view-counting method as misleading.
- Chinese platform Bilibili expands internationally, removing identity verification on its app.
YouTube has announced a 25 percent price increase for its Premium subscription in Israel, effective next month. Subscribers will see their monthly fee rise from 23.90 to 29.90 shekels, an increase of 6 shekels. The company justified the hike as necessary to maintain high-quality service, valuable features, and to support creators on the platform without reducing subscriber benefits. This move follows a similar pattern seen with other digital services like Spotify and Netflix, which gradually raise prices after building a loyal user base.
In comparison, YouTube Premium costs significantly more in the US and Europe. In the US, the price increased in April from $13.99 to $15.99 (over 46 shekels), while in Italy it jumped to 20.99 euros (about 74 shekels). The Israeli price remains relatively lower but is expected to rise further in the future.
Separately, YouTube recently changed its view-counting method starting August 24, now counting views as soon as a video begins playing, similar to Instagram and TikTok. This change has drawn criticism from content creators, including Nas Daily, who argued that most videos have a completion rate of 5% or less, meaning view counts may not reflect genuine engagement.
Additionally, the Chinese video platform Bilibili, often called the Chinese YouTube alternative, is expanding internationally by relaunching its Android app without requiring identity verification. The company aims to attract Western creators and viewers, planning to launch an English version of its site and recruit staff globally. However, this expansion could subject Bilibili to scrutiny similar to what TikTok faced in the US over national security concerns.
Mentioned
