YouTube Premium prices rise

The price hikes, which take effect from the next billing cycle in June, reflect a broader trend of 'streamflation' across the digital entertainment industry.

YouTube has defended the move as necessary to continue delivering high-quality content and supporting creators, though the timing has drawn criticism from users already facing rising costs for other services.

The platform also addressed reports of 90-second unskippable ads on its free tier, describing them as a technical bug rather than a new policy.

Existing subscribers will be notified of the changes via email as the company seeks to maintain its dominant position in the streaming market.