It looks like Google is following in Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video's footsteps. The company is reportedly working on adding a "channel store." According to the Wall Street Journal, YouTube plans to "launch an online store for streaming video services and has renewed talks with entertainment companies about participating in the platform."
This channel store—as it's referred to internally—could launch "as early as this fall" in the US. YouTube has reportedly started working on this for "at least 18 months," which 9to5Google has pointed out is a surprisingly lengthy development period given that YouTube has this capability for networks like HBO, Showtime, and more. It's believed this channel will be made available on a larger scale, given YouTube's pitch includes mentioning its large scale globally.
YouTube is still reportedly negotiating contracts with the entertainment companies regarding the subscription revenue split. For users, the benefit of subscribing through YouTube is the stability and simplicity of its infrastructure. The platform is known to have the most consistent online video player.