LOS ANGELES — YouTube on Wednesday unveiled a new $10-a-month subscription plan in the U.S. called Red that combines ad-free videos, new original series, movies from top YouTubers, and on-demand unlimited streaming music.

Red builds on Google’s existing music streaming service by providing ad-free access to YouTube programming, along with features such as the ability to download videos to mobile devices and have music playing in the background while using other mobile apps.

Current subscribers to the Google Play Music service, which also costs $10 a month, will also get access to Red.

“It’s a major, major evolution of our platform,” YouTube’s chief business officer, Robert Kyncl, told journalists at an event at its studio space in Los Angeles.

Red targets YouTube fans who want to skip ads, while giving them a chance to pass along some cash to their favorite video creators, who’ll share in the new revenues. It comes as streaming services like Hulu, Pandora, Spotify and TuneIn offer ad-free as a paid option.

The plan, which launches Oct. 28, includes exclusive access to new videos launching next year as well as the YouTube Music Key service – to be called YouTube Music after it launches later this year – for music videos and songs.

The original videos will range in length from a few minutes to feature-length movies and come from established YouTube stars such as the Fine Brothers, who are creating a scripted 10-episode series about a singing competition show called “Sing It” and a reality series co-created by the makers of “The Walking Dead” called “Scare PewDiePie.”

A subscription will eliminate ads from all YouTube services across devices and platforms except for the YouTube Kids app, which is operated separately.

Copy the Story Link