YouTube TV is an American streaming television service operated by YouTube, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Google. Announced on February 28, 2017, the virtual multichannel video programming distributor offers a selection of live linear channel feeds and on-demand content from more than 100 television networks (including affiliates of the Big Three broadcast networks (such as ABC, NBC, and CBS), Fox, The CW and PBS in most markets) and over 30 OTT-originated services, as well as a cloud-based DVR. The service, which is aimed at cord-cutters, is available only in the continental United States and can be streamed through its dedicated website and mobile app, smart TVs, and digital media players. Since 2017, YouTube TV has served as the presenting partner of the World Series and the NBA Finals. As of July 2022, YouTube TV has over five million subscribers. YouTube TV launched on April 24, 2017, in five major U.S. markets New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. In addition to carrying national broadcast networks, YouTube TV offers cable-originated channels owned by the corporate parents of the four major networks and other media companies. Other channels initially available on the service included CNBC, MSNBC, BBC World News, Smithsonian Channel (a venture of Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution), Sundance TV (owned by AMC Networks), numerous sports channels, Disney Channel (owned by The Walt Disney Company), and BBC America (jointly owned by AMC Networks and BBC Studios). YouTube TV members also received access to YouTube Premium’s original movies and series, though an additional subscription to Premium was required for customers to access ad-free content and additional app features; Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus were also purchasable as optional premium add-ons for an extra fee. Also in 2017, YouTube added MLB Network and entered into regional streaming rights deals with two Major League Soccer clubs, Seattle Sounders FC and Los Angeles FC. On February 14, 2018, YouTube TV began carrying the Time Warner-owned Turner Broadcasting System’s cable networks (including, among others, TBS, TNT, CNN, and Cartoon Network). In addition, YouTube TV also announced a deal to add NBA TV and MLB Network. With these additional channels, the service increased its monthly price for the first time in March 2018, with no grandfathering or opt-out available. On June 19, 2018, under an agreement with Lionsgate, YouTube TV began offering Starz as a premium add-on, containing linear feeds of the six Starz and eight Starz Encore channels. In September 2022, YouTube TV began allowing subscribers the option of purchasing its premium add-ons without requiring signing up for the 85-channel base plan (a concept similar to the streaming channel stores operated by Apple, Prime Video, and Roku), with around 20 add-ons initially being made available for purchase à la carte, including HBO Max; Cinemax; Showtime; Starz; Epix; Hallmark Movies Now; CuriosityStream; MLB.tv and NBA League Pass. (YouTube launched a standalone channel store, Primetime Channels, within the platform’s Movies & TV hub on November 1 of that year.)
YouTube TV offers 2 plans. They are a Base Plan and a Spanish Plan. The Base Plan is $54.99 per month for the first 3 months, and then $64.99 per month thereafter. The Base Plan allows you to stream more than 100 channels of your favorite live and local TV with the option to add extra networks. The features of the Base Plan are top entertainment, news, live sports, and more in English and Spanish, unlimited DVR space, 6 accounts to share with your household, plus options to get more Spanish content for an additional $14.99 per month. The Spanish Plan is $24.99 per month for the first 6 months, and then $34.99 per month thereafter. The Spanish Plan allows you to get the best of YouTube TV with a lineup of only Spanish networks. YouTube TV also offers a 4K Plus add-on. The 4K Plus add-on lets you add extra viewing options to your YouTube TV Base Plan. With 4K Plus, you can unlock 4K Ultra High Definition playback for certain live and on-demand programs on YouTube TV. You can also enjoy unlimited simultaneous streams at home, and use our mobile app to view your recordings offline using your phone or tablet. Pricing for the 4K Plus add-on will vary, depending on which add-ons you select. When you purchase 4K Plus, you get these features added to the channels in your Base Plan – 4K viewing on available content, unlimited concurrent streams at home, and the ability to view DVR recordings offline for available content (mobile devices only). Some of these options are also available on select add-on networks. If you already subscribe to add-on networks with these features, then you will have access to 4K Plus viewing options when watching those networks on YouTube TV.
