YouTube rolls out unskippable ads - they're so annoying I'm mulling drastic measures

2 hours ago 7
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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • YouTube present has 30-second unskippable ads.
  • The ads lone amusement connected televisions for now. 
  • You tin region the ads for conscionable $8 a month. 

Have you noticed that the "skip ad" fastener sometimes disappears connected YouTube? You're not alone.

Over the past fewer weeks, users person been reporting that long, unskippable ads are appearing connected YouTube videos erstwhile they're watching connected a TV. I noticed it myself a fewer days ago, did immoderate research, and saw that yes, YouTube has a caller advertisement option that it calls "VRC Non-Skip." 

The ads, which tin beryllium 6, 15, oregon 30 seconds agelong (Google AI volition determine which magnitude is due successful which instance), are designed to "ensure your connection is delivered successful its entirety," Google says. However, viewers connected the receiving extremity of these ads are utilizing words similar unsufferable, miserable, annoying, the last straw, and the breaking point.

Also: YouTube TV is offering 12 cheaper transmission packages (including unrecorded sports) close now

After spending a fewer days with them, I'm inclined to hold that the caller ads stink.

I grew up with accepted cablegram TV, packed with minutes-long advertisement breaks, and I endured conscionable fine. A forced 30-second interruption successful the mediate of a video shouldn't beryllium that large a deal, but it's decidedly frustrating to support waiting for a "skip ad" fastener that ne'er shows up. 

Is YouTube Premium Lite yet worthy it?

It's astir apt nary coincidence that the caller ads debuted close astir the clip that a much affordable mentation of YouTube's paid subscription debuted -- 1 that cuts immoderate features of afloat Premium but inactive includes ad-free viewing. 

I've ne'er erstwhile considered paying for a YouTube subscription, but I'm connected the obstruction now. I don't privation to beryllium bullied into a subscription, but I ticker rather a spot of YouTube connected TV (so bash different people, arsenic YouTube present accounts for 12.7% of each US TV viewing time), truthful the terms mightiness beryllium worthy it. 

Also: YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Premium Lite: Are the upgrades worthy the $6 difference?

At $8 a month, YouTube Premium Lite is reasonably enticing present since it gets you ad-free viewing, inheritance play, and downloads connected astir videos. (The afloat $14-a-month Premium gets you those aforesaid features connected all videos positive a subscription to YouTube Music.)

I haven't decided yet if I've reached the constituent that I'll wage for YouTube oregon conscionable ticker little YouTube (who americium I kidding, though, I'll ne'er quit), but I person decided I'm not chopped retired for watching ads. 

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