On March 13, American video-sharing service YouTube unveiled its Premium subscription service in Kazakhstan, QazMonitor reports citing the Ministry of Digital and Space.
Features of YouTube Premium: The subscription allows users ad-free access to content across the service, including YouTube Music and YouTube Kids. Additionally, subscribers can download videos for offline viewing, enjoy background audio playback, and utilize picture-in-picture mode. The subscription also includes access to original content produced by the platform's creators.
Price comparison: The service provides three subscription options with varying prices – an individual plan priced at ₸2,700 ($6.01), a family plan at ₸5,000 ($11.13), and a student plan at ₸1,580 ($3.52). According to the Android Authority, as of February 3, 2024, the cost of YouTube Premium in Kazakhstan is comparable to that of Poland and Norway (both $6.50), and somewhat more costly than in Romania ($5.64), and Brazil ($5.01). The most expensive subscription price is in Switzerland ($18.35).
Background: In March last year, the Kazakh delegation led by the Minister of Digital and Space Bagdat Mussin met with Adam Smith, YouTube's Vice President of Product Management, to discuss introducing the subscription service.
This is an indicator that our market is becoming more and more attractive for major tech companies. The opportunity to purchase a premium account opens access to a large number of YouTube services that were previously unavailable in our country.