YouTube Red subscription to mix music, digital stars and ad-free viewing

Google hopes shows from PewDiePie, Lilly Singh and The Fine Brothers will persuade YouTube viewers to pay $9.99 a month for premium access

YouTube has built its billion-viewer audience on the basis of free, ad-supported videos and a growing roster of digital stars. Now it hopes exclusive shows from some of the latter will persuade people to pay to access the service.

YouTubers including Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg, Lilly Singh, The Fine Brothers and Joey Graceffa are making new shows that will only be available on a new YouTube Red subscription tier.