Ad blockers blocked on YouTube to choose between ads and YouTube Premium? Learn how to provide ad-free videos and gain better audience insights and generosity at the same time

• It looks like you may be using an ad blocker
• Ads allow You Tube to stay free for billions of users worldwide
• You can go ad-free with YouTube Premium, and creators can still get paid from your subscription

Here is the message some people using ad blockers on YouTube are starting to see, to make them choose between ads and YouTube Premium

Why do people block YouTube ads on my YouTube channel?

People block YouTube ads with ad blockers for various reasons. Some users find ads to be intrusive or annoying and prefer not to see them while watching videos. Others may want to save data or improve their browsing experience by avoiding interruptions. Additionally, some users may have privacy concerns and worry that ads could track their online behavior.

It's important to note that while ad blockers can provide benefits to users, they can also have negative consequences for content creators and businesses that rely on advertising revenue. By blocking ads, users may inadvertently harm the revenue stream of the content creators they enjoy, which can ultimately lead to less high-quality content being produced.

Who owns a YouTube channel audience?

While YouTube channel owners have a certain level of control over their content, they do not own their audience. In other words, the audience that watches and engages with a channel on YouTube belongs to YouTube, not the channel owner.

YouTube owns the platform and has the power to make changes to its algorithms, policies, and features that can affect the audience and reach of a channel. For example, if YouTube changes its algorithm to favor certain types of content, channels that don't fit that mold may see a decline in views and engagement, regardless of the quality of their content. Similarly, if YouTube changes its policies around monetization or content guidelines, it can impact a channel's ability to generate revenue or even continue producing content on the platform.

Furthermore, YouTube has the ability to recommend channels and videos to users based on their viewing history, search queries, and other factors. This means that even if a viewer subscribes to a channel, they may not necessarily see all of that channel's content or be notified about new uploads. YouTube also has the ability to promote channels and videos to users who may not be familiar with them, which can help to expand a channel's audience but is ultimately under YouTube's control.

Therefore, while channel owners on YouTube have a degree of creative control over their content, they must also navigate the platform's policies, algorithms, and features to maintain and grow their audience.

The Dailymotion precedent

Dailymotion was once a popular video-sharing platform and was considered a competitor to YouTube. However, over time, Dailymotion began to lose traction and fell behind YouTube in terms of popularity and user engagement. One of the reasons for this decline was due to the platform's decision to add too many advertisements.

Like YouTube, Dailymotion generates revenue through advertising. However, the platform began to increase the number of ads that were displayed within videos, which negatively impacted the user experience. Users found the ads to be intrusive and disruptive, leading to a decline in user engagement and traffic. As a result, Dailymotion struggled to attract advertisers, further decreasing its revenue stream.

The same fate could happen to YouTube if it adds too many ads within its videos. While YouTube is currently the most popular video-sharing platform, with a massive user base and a significant advertising revenue stream, users could become frustrated with too many ads and turn to ad blockers or other platforms that offer a more seamless viewing experience.

To avoid this, YouTube needs to strike a balance between generating revenue through ads and providing a positive user experience. This could involve limiting the number of ads displayed within a video, ensuring that the ads are relevant and non-intrusive, and exploring other revenue streams beyond advertising. By doing so, YouTube can maintain its position as the leading video-sharing platform and continue to grow its user base and revenue stream.

Is it recommended for YouTube content creators to explore methods of collecting email addresses to establish ownership of their audience?

Yes, it's a good idea for creators to find ways to collect email addresses to own their audience. While YouTube owns the platform and the audience, creators can use email marketing to build a direct relationship with their audience outside of the platform.

By collecting email addresses, creators can send updates, newsletters, and promotional messages directly to their audience's inbox. This allows creators to stay in touch with their audience even if YouTube's algorithms or policies change, or if the platform experiences technical issues.

Email marketing also provides a more personalized and direct way to communicate with an audience, which can help to build stronger relationships and foster a sense of community. Additionally, email marketing can be a more effective way to promote products or services, as email subscribers are often more engaged and receptive to marketing messages.

To collect email addresses, creators can use various methods, such as offering incentives like exclusive content or early access to videos in exchange for email sign-ups, including a sign-up form on their YouTube channel page or website, or promoting their email list in their videos.

Is it advisable for a YouTube content creator to offer their audience the choice of watching ads or paying a small fee to access their content, maybe earlier than on Youtube?

Yes, it can be a good idea for YouTube content creators to offer their audience the option of watching ads or paying a small fee to access their content, perhaps even earlier than it is available on YouTube. This allows creators to diversify their revenue streams and offer their audience a choice in how they consume their content.

Offering ad-free or early access content for a fee can be a way for creators to monetize their content beyond YouTube's ad revenue share program. This can be particularly beneficial for creators with a loyal following or niche audience who are willing to pay for exclusive content.

However, it's important to consider the potential impact on the audience's viewing experience. Offering content behind a paywall or with ads can potentially alienate some viewers, particularly those who are used to accessing content for free on YouTube. Creators should consider offering a mix of free and paid content to provide options for their audience.

It's also important to ensure that any paid content or subscription service complies with YouTube's terms of service and policies. Creators should review YouTube's guidelines on paid content and ensure that they are not violating any terms or conditions.

Will viewers be more generous through a direct-to-creator model?

Some viewers may be less reluctant to make direct payments to creators rather than paying YouTube with a 40% commission for a few reasons.

Firstly, viewers may want to support their favorite creators more directly and feel that paying the creator directly is a more meaningful way to do so. By paying the creator directly, viewers know that their contribution is going directly to the person who created the content they enjoy.

Secondly, viewers may be more willing to pay a smaller fee directly to the creator instead of paying a higher fee to YouTube, which takes a 40% commission from ad revenue. By paying the creator directly, viewers know that more of their money is going towards supporting the creator's work rather than being lost to YouTube's commission.

Finally, some viewers may be hesitant to support a platform like YouTube that they may feel has too much power and control over the content creators and the content itself. By paying creators directly, viewers can feel that they are supporting the creators in a more independent and grassroots way.

Article written by
Sylvain Corvaisier

Independent streaming and iOS engineer

Last modified: February 3rd, 2025