Is YouTube overmonetized?

[pandaa]

All I ever hear from people who use YouTube is how much they hate the ads. I tend to agree; there is nothing more annoying than going to watch a three minute music video, only to be faced with a 15 seconds ad every time beforehand.

While these ads mostly are placed by the uploaders themselves, rather than YouTube, do you think YouTube should change how it works? For example, limiting ads to being shown once every 50 views, or something. What are your thoughts?

 

[Sam]

The costs of hosting such a huge video library are huge. Also they are trying to make YouTube a place where content providers can actually make some money comparable to television (which is difficult). I agree that the ads are super annoying though.

 

[froggyboy604]

I think many of YouTube views are from people embeding links, and videos on blogs, websites, and forums, so most of the people who view YouTube videos may not watch many videos a day, so if YT have fewer ads many of the viewers will not see ads, so casual video watchers are not paying for the content they are watching through ads.

Most of the 3 minute ads are skippable, so I don't have a huge problem with annoying ads, and many of the ads are under 1 minute. Also, it is nice for YouTubers like Shay Carl, Smosh, and Nigahiga to be paid for providing hours of entertainment a year. Otherwise, they may need to find corporate sponsors like Netflix, Audible, Full Sail University, and Amazon to continue making videos where they occassionally talk about their sponsor like Amazon which can be more annoying than the occassional ad on YouTube.

Also, views from different countries cost less since people in developing countries who view ads don't buy many things listed in ads because of a lack of money, and unreliable mail service when ordering online. Ad views and clicks on websites are lower when countries like India, Mexico, and Chile visit your page compared to US, Europe, and Canada, so I think it is usually up to the richer countries to keep YT profitable by also buying the products advertised to them.

 

[CM30]

Yes. The unskippable ads are just plain unbearable, and it seems almost every account has them now. I mean, when did everyone with more than 50 subscribers decide it was best to monetise their account?

 

[froggyboy604]

^Some smaller video makers with fewer subscribers are part of a YouTube Network like Full Screen, and Machinama where the Network help promote your videos, but in exchange, you have to put ads, so both can benefit from the Network relationship where the video creator makes 70% of the profit, and the Network makes 30% from ads on YouTube.

It is harder to get an audience on YouTube thesedays if you are not part of a Network because the Network has a lot of followers on Twitter, Facebook Likes, and subscribers on YouTube which can find your channel by browsing through the Networks posts, websites, and friend lists.

 

[CM30]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've had about three different networks contact me about my Youtube channel, and said no all three times.

Minor tip to these people; I don't work as part of someone else's network and help them line their pockets. I work for myself, and when I get a decent capture card, will apply for partnership on my own merits to keep 100% of the profit.

 

[Cryckit]

I cannot stand those ads on YouTube whatsoever while attempting to watch videos on there. That and other junk (Constant changes with the site) going on there is very annoying to me.

 

[KMRock]

Ads serve a purpose as people have said, but they are damn annoying. Its an interesting balance. If there were no ads, the video content wouldn't be a good.

 

[Gamer Outpost]

Ads serve a purpose as people have said, but they are damn annoying. Its an interesting balance. If there were no ads, the video content wouldn't be a good.

Yep. YouTube needs every bit of the ad revenue to host all of the millions and millions of gigabytes of videos, not to mention the pages they are on.

And it's not just the hosting, they have to stream the videos to everyone who is watching YouTube. That takes a ton of bandwidth. The ads are annoying, most ads are, but it's totally worth watching an average of 5-10 seconds of ads for every 3-10 minute video.

 

[Beverly]

For sure, the ads on preroll of video annoy me, but they don't last too long. Also, some people say there is a browser mod or plug in you can use to block those anyway. So who knows, that might work.

 

[coolframe]

doesn't matter if you can skip them or not, I am using youtube as music listening device and to be honest, it's very annoying, lately i got myself a paid sub at deezer, though not all musics can be found, at least, no ads.

 

[Beverly]

doesn't matter if you can skip them or not, I am using youtube as music listening device and to be honest, it's very annoying, lately i got myself a paid sub at deezer, though not all musics can be found, at least, no ads.

Other than a paid service such as Spotify Premium, there are not many ways to get free music online that doesn't have ads. You could try downloading music from Amazon mp3 site (but that's not free). At least there would be no ads.

 

[McConnaughay]

I think it's necessary. I don't necessarily enjoy it, but I want to reap the benefits down the line as well.

 

[Venom]

I don't block / skip most ads on youtube, youtubers are providing free entertainment so I see no problem in watching an advert for a minute every few videos.

 

[Nebulous]

I think the old saying "you get what you pay for" applies here.

Maybe they should have a paid version of YouTube with no ads whatsoever. It could be like $20 per year (or even cheaper). I doubt they're making more than that in ad revenue per year from a single viewer.

 

[Alexander7]

I also find it very annoying that I have to watch either a 5s or a 15s ad before I can watch my "free" Youtube video.

It didn't use to be like this, but I think people are trying to make as much as possible from their Youtube videos.

I believe that Youtube is also earning a commission from all these ads, so that's why is keeping quiet.

 

[Gamer Outpost]

I also find it very annoying that I have to watch either a 5s or a 15s ad before I can watch my "free" Youtube video.

It didn't use to be like this, but I think people are trying to make as much as possible from their Youtube videos.

I believe that Youtube is also earning a commission from all these ads, so that's why is keeping quiet.

Duh... of course they're getting a commission from the ads lol.

YouTube has made it easier for people to monetize their videos, which is part of the reason why there seems to be more ads now.

 

[Venom]

I also find it very annoying that I have to watch either a 5s or a 15s ad before I can watch my "free" Youtube video.

It didn't use to be like this, but I think people are trying to make as much as possible from their Youtube videos.

I believe that Youtube is also earning a commission from all these ads, so that's why is keeping quiet.

lol everyone knows that youtube makes a commission. Most youtubers upload videos 365 days of a year without asking you anything in return except watching a 15 second ad every 5 or so 20 minute videos. If you don't have 15 seconds spare then you should think about your priorities before watching a youtube video.

 

[Gamer Outpost]

I also find it very annoying that I have to watch either a 5s or a 15s ad before I can watch my "free" Youtube video.

It didn't use to be like this, but I think people are trying to make as much as possible from their Youtube videos.

I believe that Youtube is also earning a commission from all these ads, so that's why is keeping quiet.

lol everyone knows that youtube makes a commission. Most youtubers upload videos 365 days of a year without asking you anything in return except watching a 15 second ad every 5 or so 20 minute videos. If you don't have 15 seconds spare then you should think about your priorities before watching a youtube video.

I wouldn't say most YouTubers upload daily videos, and most videos are 5-10 minutes long, but yeah, it certainly beats 7-8 minutes of commericals for every 30 minute TV show.

 

[Venom]

I also find it very annoying that I have to watch either a 5s or a 15s ad before I can watch my "free" Youtube video.

It didn't use to be like this, but I think people are trying to make as much as possible from their Youtube videos.

I believe that Youtube is also earning a commission from all these ads, so that's why is keeping quiet.

lol everyone knows that youtube makes a commission. Most youtubers upload videos 365 days of a year without asking you anything in return except watching a 15 second ad every 5 or so 20 minute videos. If you don't have 15 seconds spare then you should think about your priorities before watching a youtube video.

I wouldn't say most YouTubers upload daily videos, and most videos are 5-10 minutes long, but yeah, it certainly beats 7-8 minutes of commericals for every 30 minute TV show.

Most popular youtubers (that have around 500k - 1M or more subs and some smaller ones) that I'm subscribed to upload daily. Regardless how often then upload, Hosting youtube and all the videos costs Google alot and their service is free so it's only right that they get something in return.