YouTube will pay video creators for clips watched during a free trial of its new subscription service, the BBC understands.
On Wednesday, the site launched a premium offering in the US, removing advertisements for a monthly fee.
Prominent YouTube stars had expressed concerns that they would not be paid if their videos were watched during the month-long free trial on offer.
But Google is expected to confirm that is not the case later.
YouTube stars earn money from the ads displayed around the videos they upload but the site’s new subscription service allows viewers in the US to remove the ads for a monthly fee.
In return, video creators get a slice of the subscription money instead, divided up by how many minutes people watch their content for.
Many creators expressed anger after content network Fullscreen tweeted: “YouTube has confirmed to us that creators will not receive revenue when a #YouTubeRed user watches your videos during the free trial.”
YouTube’s updated terms and conditions, which it asked content creators to agree to, do not refer to a free trial period.
But the BBC understands that YouTube does intend to pay creators if their videos are watched during the free trial.
In June, Apple faced criticism from musicians over its decision not to pay record labels for music streamed during the free trial of its new music service.
The company changed its mind after singer Taylor Swift wrote an open letter.
“Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation,” she said.
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Source: BBC