When you think of streaming video, you probably think of YouTube. As a result, YouTube TV — Google’s live TV streaming service — makes perfect sense. YouTube TV competes in the same arena as other streaming television services such as DirecTV Stream (formerly known as AT&T TV Now and DirecTV Now), Sling TV, Fubo TV, and Hulu With Live TV. It is designed for those who want to cut the cord and ditch their cable or satellite subscriptions (and is known in the industry as a multichannel video programming distributor, or MPVD).
And YouTube TV provides a unique set of features that make it very appealing — so much so that it is now the No. 1 service in the United States in terms of paid subscribers, with approximately 5 million subscribers as of June 2022 — an increase of approximately 2 million from the last time the service provided an update in October 2022. A variety of variables contribute to the popularity. YouTube TV is simple to use. It has a channel lineup that is competitive with all of the others. YouTube TV is also reasonably priced. You can watch YouTube TV on almost any current gadget. And the fact that parent firm Alphabet (aka Google) has been heavily pushing it in recent years hasn’t helped either.
What is YouTube TV?
YouTube TV, in a nutshell, is a live TV streaming service accessible in the United States. It’s a substitute for cable or satellite service that’s streamed over the Internet, and it’s accessible on phones, tablets, TVs, and web browsers, allowing you to watch TV very much the same way you always have, from wherever you have an internet connection, at home or on the road.
When it first started in 2017, YouTube TV was limited to a small number of areas in the United States. That changed in 2019, when a significant expansion included support for all 210 markets. It has also substantially grown its channel collection throughout the years. YouTube TV currently has more than 85 channels, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, the four main national broadcasters. (As with any streaming services, what’s accessible where you reside may vary somewhat.)
YouTube TV, despite its name, is not a part of YouTube; Google maintains both as different businesses. However, there are certain instances where the two overlap, such as with YouTube Originals, which essentially means you’ll watch a few series on both platforms. Nonetheless, YouTube TV is not the same as YouTube, and you’ll need two applications on your streaming device to access both.
YouTube TV Pricing and Plans
The current monthly fee for YouTube TV is $65 USD. (Plus tax, which brings the total to about $72 each month.)
That’s not to suggest you’ll ever spend that much for YouTube TV. It features a variety of optional add-ons that allow you access to additional programmes, movies, and sports — but you’ll have to pay for them. The option to view select programmes and sports in 4K on YouTube TV is a new major one.
There’s also a special Spanish-only plan (conveniently dubbed the “Spanish Plan”) that costs $25 per month for the first six months and $35 per month after that. It includes the following channels: beIN, beIN Extra en Español, Antena 3, NTN24, Nuestra Tele, TyC Sports, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Familia, Babytv Español, ESPN Deportes, Nat Geo Mundo, Estrella TV, Fox Deportes, Cine Latino, Pasiones, WAPA América, Cine Mexicano, Sony Cine, Tastemade, CNN Espanol, Bandamax,
The following are the optional YouTube TV add-ons:
- 4K Plus ($20/month after a one-month trial; $9.99/year for early adopters): 4K Plus, which will be available in June 2021, enables you to view select YouTube TV programmes in 4K quality. That mostly implies on-demand programmes and series like What We Do In The Shadows, Struggle Meals, American Titans, Snowfall, and others. But it truly shines when it comes to live sports from networks like ESPN and NBC. 4K Plus also includes the opportunity to watch recorded episodes offline and on as many devices as you like on your home network.
- Spanish Plus ($10 for the first six months; $15 after): Additional Spanish-language channels, including Antena 3, Baby TV Espanol, Bandamax, beIN Sports Espanol, beIN XTRA en Espanol, Cine Latino, Cine Mexicano, CNNe, De Película, De Película Clásico, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Familia, ESPN Deportes, EstrellaTV, FOROtv, Fox Deportes, Nat
- HBO Max ($15 per month): New HBO Max Originals and included networks, plus all of your favourite heritage HBO programming.
- Basketball League Pass ($15 per month): It includes a seven-day free trial.
- NFL RedZone, BeIN Sports, Fox Soccer Plus, Stadium College Sports, VSiN, Outside TV+, PokerGO+, MAVTV, TVG, Stadium, Billiard TV, Sports Grid, Fight Network, IMPACT Wrestling, and PlayersTV are all included in Sports Plus ($11 a month or $80 annually). It includes a seven-day free trial.
- HBO Max, Showtime, and STARZ are all included with Entertainment Plus ($30 a month).
- MLB.TV ($65 per year, or $25 per month): All out-of-market games are included.
- Showtime ($11 per month): Premium movies and television shows. It has a 14-day free trial.
- Starz ($9/month): Premium movies and TV shows.
- Hallmark Movies Now ($6 per month): All of your favorite Hallmark movies and videos. It includes a 7-day free trial.
- Cinemax ($10/month): Premium movies and TV shows. It includes a seven-day free trial.
- EPIX ($6 per month): Premium movies and TV shows. It includes a seven-day free trial.
- Starz+Epix ($12 per month): Both add-ons will save you $3 per month.
- CuriosityStream ($3 per month): Science-related programming. It has a 14-day free trial.
- ViX+ ($7 per month): TelevisaUnivision’s Spanish-language programming.
- Pantaya ($6 per month): Spanish-language movies and television shows.
- Fox Nation ($6 per month): Fox News’ streaming service.
- ScreenPix ($3 per month): EPIX classic movies.
- AMC+ ($8 per month): AMC’s additional streaming-only programming.
- Shudder ($6 per month): A mix of new and vintage horror.
- Sundance Now ($7 per month): Sundance Channel’s streaming service.
- British hits on Acorn TV ($7 per month).
- IFC Films Unlimited ($6 per month): The greatest in independent cinema.
- ALLBLK ($6 per month): Content that is inclusive yet unabashedly Black.
- Docurama ($5 per month): Every documentary you could desire.
- Movies, programmes, and Comic-Con panels are available on CONtv ($5 per month).
- Dove ($5 per month): Christian movies and television series.
- Law & Crime ($2 per month): Live courtroom coverage.
- UP Beliefs & Family ($6/month): TV series and movies that are appropriate for your family while still affirming your faith.
- Fandor ($4 per month): The home for film buffs.
- Screambox ($5 per month): Completely terrifying.
- Comedy Dynamics ($5 per month): Nachelle’s independent comedy channel.
- Sports betting network VSiN ($4 per month).
- Full-length adventure sports films are available for $5 per month on Outside TV Features.
- The Great Courses ($8 per month): Learn all there is to know about everything.
- MyOutDoorTV ($10 per month): Exclusive hunting and fishing programmes, live events, and more.
- Tastemade ($3 per month) includes even more award-winning culinary, travel, home design, and other content.
Channels for watching television on YouTube
If you’re looking for an alternative to standard cable TV, YouTube TV offers a competitive channel lineup, both in terms of linear and nonlinear (nontraditional) programming. This mostly refers to Hulu With Live TV, the only other streaming service with about the same number of users as YouTube TV.
As is so often the case, the devil is in the details. Is the channel you wish to watch available on YouTube TV? If it doesn’t, then you’ll need to keep looking. That’s OK; it’s a natural part of the competitive process.
As of August 2022, the following channels will be included in the standard YouTube TV package:
Networks: ABC (broadcast), ABC News Live; ACC Network; AMC; Animal Planet; BBC America; BBC World News; Bet; Bet Her; Big 10 Network; Bravo; Cartoon Network; CBS (broadcast); CBS Sports Network; Cheddar News; CMT; CNBC; CNN; Comedy Central; Comedy.TV; Comet; Court TV; Cozi; DABL; Discovery; Disney Channel; Disney Junior; Disney XD; E!; ESPN; ESPN2; ESPNews; Broadcasting networks such as Home & Garden Network, Health & Lifestyle Network, Investigation Discovery, and Justice Central. NBC (broadcast), NBC News Now, NBCLX, NBCSN, NewsNation, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, PBS, POP, QVC, Recipe.TV, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, Sundance TV, SYFY, Tastemade, TBS, TeenNick, Telemundo, The Weather Channel, The Young Turks Network
YouTube TV will broadcast the World Cup in 2022
When the Qatar International Cup 2022 takes over the world athletic scene in the final couple of months of the year, you’ll be able to watch it on YouTube TV. Every game will be broadcast on Fox or FS1 in the United States, with the first match planned for Sunday, November 20, between Qatar and Ecuador.
The United States will play Wales the next day.
In addition to all games being broadcast on Fox and FS1, there will be some on-demand coverage accessible on Tubi, Fox’s ad-supported on-demand network. (There will also be 29 live games.) In addition, there will be a unique Tubi World Cup channel separate from the wider Tubi service.
Our opinion
YouTube TV is a fantastic deal for those looking for a whole cable alternative, costing $65 per month for about 100 live TV channels. YouTube TV makes a solid argument for becoming your go-to cord-cutting option. Highlights include access to YouTube Originals and being the only live streaming service that includes PBS networks. The addition of unlimited DVR storage is just the frosting on the cake. Another reason we suggest giving this solution a go is because Google is behind it. You may be certain that Google will continue to make updates if any issues arise, and additional features have already been put out since the service’s launch. Furthermore, most mobile users are already acquainted with YouTube as a separate video app, so there is no learning curve.
Because the watching experience is so similar across platforms and devices, YouTube TV is one of the most mobile-friendly solutions. However, it needs Wi-Fi or 4G to function, which means it lacks the offline capabilities of other alternatives.
YouTube is popular among cord cutters because of its extensive channel options. You’ll have to go over the whole list of supported channels in your region to see whether it offers what you’re searching for. If so, YouTube TV may be all you need. If your favourite network isn’t on the list or isn’t available as an add-on, you may want to look into FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, or DirecTV Stream.
A YouTube TV trial will help you determine if it is the best match for your requirements. And, with Google’s one-week free trial, you may test it fully risk-free without having to pay a month’s membership fee. Simply use a web browser to register on your desktop computer. If you sign up on an Apple or Android smartphone, you may miss out on the trial option due to a mobile problem. We’re not sure whether Google did that on purpose, but web browsers are a dependable method to begin your free trial.
