YouTube TV is usually not the place you go to if you want cheap, pick-and-choose streaming. When pitted against more flexible on-demand platforms like Netflix, it has always felt closer to cable.
There's only one big bundle worth $83, and a lot of channels you may never touch. That's about to change. Starting this week, the service is rolling out multiple lower-priced plans that let you subscribe based on what you actually watch.
A generous plan expansion is long overdue
In a recently published blog post, YouTube TV announced that they'll be launching over 10 cheaper plans this week. They'll span sports, news, entertainment, and family content.
All of them are priced below the main $83 plan, which will remain available as Google's “most comprehensive offering”. It typically includes more than 100 channels across various genres. Below are some examples of the new plans
Sports
It costs $65 per month, or $55 per month for new users. You'll save $18-$28 monthly. It includes major broadcasters and sports networks such as FS1, NBC Sports Network, and all ESPN networks, plus ESPN Unlimited, which launches between September and November.
Sports + News
It costs $72 per month, or $57 per month for new users. You'll save $11-$26 monthly. It contains everything in the Sports Plan, plus national news channels like CNBC, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg, CSPAN, and Fox Business.
Entertainment
It costs $55 per month, or $45 per month for new users. You'll save $28-$38 monthly. It focuses on general entertainment, including FX dramas, Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, HGTV, and Hallmark.
News + Entertainment + Family
It costs $70 per month, or $60 per month for new users. You'll save $13-$23 monthly. It combines news and entertainment with family/kids content, including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, National Geographic, and PBS Kids.
Note: YouTube TV is currently available only in the USA. There may be a $60 discount on the main plan for your first two months, and a 10-day free trial. Check the official website for eligibility.
You won't lose any YouTube TV features
If you switch to any of the new YouTube TV plans, you'll still get the same features as before, including unlimited DVR, up to six profiles, multiview, key plays, and optional add-ons. You can record your favourite shows and personalized content without mixing with family member profiles.
Multiview lets you watch different live streams on one screen at the same time, which is great if you're frequently watching sports. Key Plays are short, highlight-style clips from sports games that'll help you jump right to important moments.
You can buy extra content or features on top of your plan, like the NFL Sunday Ticket with more NFL games than are normally available, NFL RedZone / Sports Plus with nonstop scoring-focused football coverage, HBO Max with premium movies and shows, and 4K Plus with higher video quality and expanded device limits.
The savings on the plans are worth it if your viewing habits are narrow, and since they don’t change any existing offerings. Use the promos to make the most out of the platform in the short term.
