YouTube TV has come a long way since its 2017 launch. What if it had been called YouTube Air? Would it still be as popular as it is today?
Category: YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service in the United States and offers a similar experience to DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV and Sling TV. YouTube TV first launched in 2017 but it was not until 2019 when the service became available nationwide. Since then, YouTube TV has gone on to become an extremely popular way to stream live TV with the unlimited cloud DVR one of its major selling points. However, the unlimited recording experience is only one of the benefits on offer, with YouTube TV considered a premium service overall and a popular option for sports fans.
Recommended reading: YouTube TV review
Table of contents
- How much is YouTube TV monthly?
- What channels do you get with YouTube TV?
- Which devices work with YouTube TV?
- What is the downside of YouTube TV?
- Is YouTube TV worth getting?
How much is YouTube TV monthly?
A YouTube TV subscription currently costs $72.99 per month. This is just the base cost with the overall subscription price dependent on the premium networks or add-ons bundled with the main plan. While there are cheaper live TV services available, a base YouTube TV subscription is comparable on price to the cheapest DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, and Hulu Live TV plans. YouTube TV typically offers a 7-day free trial to all new subscribers.
While a subscription currently costs a minimum of $72.99 per month, it is worth being aware that the base price may increase in the future. YouTube TV has encountered multiple price increases since launch with the most recent arriving in March 2023 and increasing the cost by $8 per month. YouTube TV does not lock prices in, so even though a consumer signs up today at the current price, there are no guarantees the monthly cost will be the same next month or in six months from now.
What channels do you get with YouTube TV?
YouTube TV currently provides access to more than 100 live TV channels covering news, entertainment, sports and more. Some of the popular channels on offer with the base subscription include:
- ABC
- Discovery
- ESPN
- Fox
- Nat Geo
- NBC
- Paramount
- SEC Network
In addition to the channels bundled with a standard subscription, YouTube TV also offers the option to add premium networks. There is also the option to bundle channel packs that add a number of similar channels to the base plan, such as the Sports Plus add-on.
YouTube TV does provide access to some local channels. However, all local channels might not be available everywhere as this will largely depend on carriage agreements and the channels available in the subscriber’s individual location.
Whether it is local or national channels, the YouTube TV channel lineup is subject to change at any time. Therefore while a subscriber may sign up today with the expectation of a specific selection of channels, it is possible the channels could change in the future.
Which devices work with YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is available to stream on a variety of different platforms and devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, smartphones and more. While the service can be watched through a browser, the YouTube TV app is available to download on many newer devices running on a number of popular operating systems including:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV/Google TV
- Apple TV
- HiSense TVs
- LG TVs
- Microsoft Xbox
- Samsung TVs
- Sony PlayStation
- Vizio TVs
Once downloaded, the subscriber will be required to sign in using their YouTube TV subscription credentials before being able to watch any of the live TV channels or on demand content.
For consumers without a supported device, YouTube TV’s supported device list is not final and it is possible additional devices will be added at a later time.
What is the downside of YouTube TV?
The main downside of YouTube TV is the cost. At $72.99 per month, it is one of the more expensive live TV services around and the price will be even higher if adding additional features, such as 4K support, or expanding the selection of channels. YouTube TV is a premium service and the monthly cost reflects its premium benefits. For those specifically wanting an affordable live TV service, there are other options available which will likely be more suitable.
Recommended reading: Live TV price comparison
Price aside, YouTube TV is not a perfect live TV option and some subscribers may encounter other downsides as well. For example, the inability to manually delete recordings from the DVR library, limitations when watching away from home, having to pay extra each month for 4K streams, and the number of devices that can be used at the same time.
Is YouTube TV worth getting?
Yes, YouTube TV is worth a subscription but the service does come with a number of caveats. The first is the price. So long as an individual or household is willing to pay the higher monthly cost then YouTube TV offers a premium and rich live TV streaming experience. If the price is a little too high then there are other services with considering, including Sling TV.
Other caveats that might affect whether YouTube TV is the right service for an individual home include the selection of channels, the number of simultaneous streams, and the list of supported devices.
This is just an overview of what YouTube TV is, offers, and its main limitations. There are a number of more granular aspects that may also affect whether YouTube TV is worth getting and many of these are covered in the individual guides below.
YouTube TV is a good live TV option for any homes that are looking for streaming access to USA Network, but it’s not the cheapest service.
The 4K Plus add-on is designed to improve the base YouTube TV experience, but it might not be a worthwhile upgrade for all subscribers.
YouTube TV subscribers have the option of adding premium networks and add-ons, but many of these are available without a base live TV plan.
There are a few reasons why YouTube TV’s local live TV channels might not be working properly, and there are a few possible fixes as well.
YouTube TV provides access to a number of premium network add-ons, many of which can be subscribed to without signing up to the base plan.
YouTube TV is unlikely to carry Bally Sports. If it was, Fox Sports RSNs wouldn’t have been dropped in the first place.
HBO Max can be bundled with a YouTube TV live TV plan, but it might make more sense for some homes to subscribe to the services separately.
YouTube TV includes a variety of on-demand shows and movies for subscribers to watch, but finding the videos is not as easy as it could be.
YouTube TV is a good option for any homes looking for a live TV service with access to FX. Here’s what you need to know before signing up.
YouTube TV does offer one of the better DVR experiences around, but it can get problematic without the option to delete or hide recordings.
YouTube TV subscribers can fast-forward and skip ads on recordings, but the way the service works can prove unnecessarily confusing at times.
YouTube TV provides access to a varied selection of live TV channels, but the exact number a subscriber gets can depend on various factors.
The History channel is a popular network and it is available to watch though a number of live TV streaming services, but is it on YouTube TV?
There can be a number of reasons why YouTube TV subscribers might be encountering buffering, but some reasons are more likely than others.
It is possible to cancel a YouTube TV subscription on an iPhone, but the cancelation process is not quite as easy as it is on other devices.
YouTube TV is a great option for live TV streaming, but it’s important to know exactly which channels are included before signing up.
If a YouTube TV subscriber encounters a ‘No Internet Connection’ error message, there are some potential fixes that are worth trying.
YouTube TV subscribers can easily change their payment method through the account section, but it does depend on the device they are using.
YouTube TV works similar to traditional live TV services, but there are some differences to be aware of before signing up to stream live TV.
