Some YouTube Premium subscribers complain of seeing ads

YouTube has been doing its bit for users by regularly pushing new features and updates. Despite its efforts, YouTube has been in the limelight for the wrong reasons recently, courtesy of different issues and bugs reported by users. Now, a new report suggests that some YouTube Premium users are seeing ads.

Some YouTube Premium users are reportedly seeing ads and it’s annoying

Folks over at 9to5Google have spotted multiple Reddit posts over the past few weeks where users have complained about seeing ads on YouTube despite being a Premium subscriber. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that offers several perks, including ad-free video streaming. YouTube simply removes pre-roll and mid-roll ads that support platform creators and websites to offer an ad-free experience.

However, that’s not really happening for some users. A Reddit user (@Turbulent_Coconut_28) has posted about seeing pre/mid-roll ads despite being a Premium subscriber. Another Reddit user (@the_last_lemurian) also indicates seeing ads in the YouTube app’s Home feed. You can check the screenshots below.

Besides the above example, a YouTube Premium subscriber from Germany has also reported seeing ads. Remember, Google has been testing an affordable “Premium Lite” plan in Germany in which users could still see some ads. However, the user doesn’t talk about whether they are on the Premium Lite or the full Premium.

The platform says such users shouldn’t be shown any ads

The publication also spotted a Reddit post where a Premium subscriber attached a response from the YouTube Support team. A part of the email reads, “Promotional ads can sometimes appear for specific partnerships or limited-time offers.”

The user apparently received the email after reporting about viewing an ad for YouTube TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket package. The email further reads, “This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as your location, your viewing history, or a specific marketing campaign.” We’ve attached the screenshot of the email at the end.

When 9to5Google reached out to YouTube, a representative added that they don’t know exactly what’s happening. However, the publication received a confirmation that the “YouTube Premium subscribers should not be shown any pre- or mid-roll ads and should contact support if this does happen.”