Weekly Subscription News: Tests, Teams and Times

Featuring YouTube, Walmart, Twitter, Washington Post and The Guardian

In addition to all the second quarter 2021 financials, there were some big subscription headlines this past week. YouTube is testing a ‘Premium Lite’ subscription to make ad-free viewing available for less, News Corp is buying an oil price information service for $1.15 billion, and Dallas Morning News’ parent sees its first year-over-year increase in subscription revenue in six years. Also, Walmart is offering subscription services through its partnership with Adobe, in a sign of the times, the Washington Post hires its first Chief Subscription Officer, and the New York Times postpones a return to the office indefinitely, thanks to the COVID-19 Delta variant.

YouTube ‘Premium Lite’ Subscription Offers Ad-Free Viewing for Less
The Verge

Walmart Offers Subscription Services Through Adobe Partnership
Multichannel Merchant

News Corp to Acquire Oil Price Information Service for $1.15 Billion
Media Post

Twitter ‘Aqui-Hires’ Team from Subscription News App ‘Brief’
TechCrunch

Dallas Morning News Parent Sees First Year-Over-Year Rise in Subscription Revenue in 6 Years
The Dallas Morning News

In a Sign of the Times, Washington Post Hires First Chief Subscription Officer
Adweek

Thanks to the Delta Variant, NY Times Indefinitely Postpones Return to Office
The Wrap

How the Guardian Plans to Hit 2 Million Paying Supporters by 2022
WAN-IFRA

Filed in Business Operations, Business Services, Consumer Media and Publishing, Entertainment and Streaming, Growing, Industry Announcements, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, Scaling, Subscriber Acquisition

Dana E. Neuts

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Editorial Director, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, premium content, and reports. Dana is also a writer, editor, marketer and communications professional. Her work has appeared in AARP Bulletin, The Seattle Times, Seattle Business, 425 Business, 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel and more. Her specialties include business writing, community news, senior issues, travel and, of course, subscriptions!