Google is testing a new version of YouTube Premium Lite in Australia, Germany, and Thailand. This revived service offers a middle-ground option between free YouTube and full Premium subscriptions.

The new Premium Lite differs from its 2021 predecessor in several ways:

• Shows "limited ads" instead of removing them completely
• Excludes YouTube Music access
• No offline downloads
• No background play capability

Pricing varies by region, with Australian users reporting costs between AUD 8.99 to 11.99 per month (compared to AUD 22.99 for full Premium). Google appears to be testing different price points to determine optimal user adoption.

This testing phase mirrors broader streaming industry trends, where services increasingly offer tiered subscriptions. Current data shows most users prefer ad-supported tiers:

• Peacock: 84% of subscribers
• Hulu: 65% of subscribers
• Disney+: 40% of subscribers

While currently limited to three test markets, global expansion plans remain unclear, including potential U.S. availability. Google continues to evaluate user response to various price points and ad experiences before considering wider deployment.

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