YOUTUBE SUBSCRIPTIONS? A new report posits the idea that YouTube is priming some channels to become subscription-based. Screen shot from YouTube.

MANILA, Philippines - YouTube is set to monetize its videos with a new subscription scheme, according to a report from Ad Age.

The report, which came from "multiple people familiar with the plans," says YouTube has asked some people to apply to become some of the first paid channels.

Pricing for the subscription service appears to be set for anywhere between US$1 to $5, according to two of the people sourced by Ad Age.

YouTube is most likely hoping to get video makers with large followings on board to jump-start the service's subscriptions.

At this point, the starting number of subscription-based channels is likely to be small. If everything holds true for the subscription service and it pans out in the long run, it should prove to be a new paradigm for popular viewing of video content online. - Rappler.com