YouTube has announced that it plans to make all of its original programming free to view, including programming such as the Karate Kid sequel Cobra Kai, sci-fi shows Origin and Impulse, and Step Up: High Water. The shows were previously only accessible through YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) for a monthly subscription.
“As we look to 2019, we will continue to invest in scripted programming and shift to make our YouTube Originals ad supported to meet the growing demand of a more global fanbase,” a YouTube rep said in a statement. “This next phase of our originals strategy will expand the audience of our YouTube Original creators, and provide advertisers with incredible content that reaches the YouTube generation.”
According to YouTube, all of its original shows and movies will be available to watch ad-supported from 2020, although some original productions – such as the upcoming season two of Cobra Kai – will remain behind the paywall until that time.
