Signing up for streaming subscriptions directly through YouTube is now a thing, and likely to become even more of a thing in the future. Primetime Channels, as YouTube calls it, is the service’s take on a streaming subscription store. YouTube users simply sign up for their favorite service through YouTube, and watch the various movies and shows available through their subscriptions on YouTube as well.
Signing up for a streaming service through a third-party is nothing new. Many services are already available on Roku devices as premium subscriptions, likewise, Amazon’s Prime Video Channels service also makes it possible to sign up to standalone streaming subscriptions. Of course, YouTube is already a huge video destination, which makes the launch of Primetime Channels all the more interesting.
Starting today, consumers will begin to have the option to sign up to services like Showtime, AMC+, ViX+, and Paramount Plus directly through YouTube. To begin with, Primetime Channels is only available to those based in the United States and is limited to around 30 streaming services. Eligible YouTube users can head over to the Movies & TV hub on YouTube to see which streaming services are now available to them as Primetime Channels. As a reminder, once signed up through YouTube, it is possible to start watching directly on YouTube as well.
For reference, YouTube appears to also be attempting to make Primetime Channels homepages a hub location for each service. For example, and in addition to the standard selection of shows and movies, homepages for each streaming service will also house additional content, including trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and cast interviews. Not to mention, subscribers should expect to see that their general YouTube experience begin to change to reflect their subscriptions, with shows and movies surfacing in search results and as personalized recommendations.
With around 30 streaming services to choose from, Primetime Channels won’t be a solution for everyone and every streaming subscription. However, YouTube does explain that the list of channels will increase over time, specifically noting NBA League Pass as an example of one of the streaming services that will become available through Primetime Channels in the future.
According to YouTube, the following subscription services are available at launch:
- Acorn TV
- ALLBLK
- AMC+
- ATRESplayer
- Comedy Dynamics
- CONtv
- CuriosityStream
- Dekkoo
- Docurama
- Dove Channel
- Epix
- Fandor
- Gaia
- Hallmark Movies Now
- Here TV
- IFC
- Law & Crime
- Magnolia Selects
- MovieSphere
- Outside TV+
- Paramount+
- Screambox
- ScreenPix
- Showtime
- Shudder
- Starz
- Sundance Now
- Tastemade+
- The Great Courses
- Topic
- UP Faith & Family
- ViX+
- VSiN
Overall, the launch of Primetime Channels is designed to make it easier for consumers to have access to all their favorite streaming services within the one app. From YouTube’s perspective, it is also a good way to keep users on YouTube and streaming. Whether helpful or not, Primetime Channels is yet another way for consumers to sign up to the likes of AMC Plus, Paramount Plus, Showtime and Starz.
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