Google Unveils New 'YouTube TV' Streaming Service for $35 per Month

[MacRumors]

YouTube today officially announced its new streaming television service, YouTube TV, reports Recode. Priced at $35 per month, YouTube TV features access to ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and approximately 30 major cable channels, with television content available alongside YouTube's own video content.

Separate from YouTube Red, the new TV service will be available as a standalone app that's launching later this year. While it will be available on laptops and TVs through Chromecast, YouTube TV is said to be focused on a "mobile first" experience, with YouTube expecting most users to watch on smartphones and tablets.

At launch, available channels will be limited to cable networks owned by companies that also own broadcast networks, but that could change in the future.

One thing that distinguishes YouTube TV from its competitors is that while it will feature cable networks owned by companies that also own broadcast networks -- so it will offer both ESPN and ABC, both owned by Disney -- it doesn't feature any networks owned by programmers that operate exclusively on pay TV, like Viacom, AMC or Time Warner.

YouTube TV features include cloud DVR options with unlimited storage space, an AI-powered recommendation system, and service that scales reliably for no launch-time outages.

At $35 per month, YouTube TV is at the price point Apple hoped to achieve when it was working on its own now-shelved television streaming service. It's also a price point that's competitive with offerings like DirecTV Now, Sling TV, and PlayStation Vue.

YouTube has been working on a streaming television service for more than two years, and while it was originally rumored to be called "Unplugged," the company appears to have gone with a simpler name. Compared to competing TV services, YouTube TV could potentially have an edge given its impressive existing user base.

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal suggested people around the world are watching more than 1 billion hours of YouTube videos every day.

Article Link: Google Unveils New 'YouTube TV' Streaming Service for $35 per Month

 

[sputnikv]

but will it still feature ads for standard youtube content?

 

[farewelwilliams]

"YouTube TV features include cloud DVR options with unlimited storage space"

why not just record all channels for me and let me watch whatever?

 

[mr.steevo]

Where is Apple in all of this? Didn't they start the digital download revolution?

Oh, wait. That was Napster...

 

[kemal]

I'd rather have SONY not know what to do with my viewing habits data than have Google know.

 

[Hieveryone]

Sounds good to me...

 

[Swift]

If history is a guide, it will be the usual disorganized nonsense, and they'll discontinue it in 2 years, and go on to the next -- bird!

 

[itsmilo]

And you would want to watch all the daily crap and not just the shows you like and whenever you like on demand because .... ?

Thats like paying 20$ to listen to radio stations instead of 10$ for every song you want at your disposal at any time through Spotify and the like

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Where are you Apple?

 

[Jnesbitt82]

Sorry, it's too much money for what they're offering. IMO

 

[TehFalcon]

I'll stick to DirecTV Now. Supports all my Apple TV's and iOS devices, and has more channels for only $10 more.

That and I'm not giving Google one cent of my money.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

Where is Apple in all of this? Didn't they start the digital download revolution?

Oh, wait. That was Napster...

Apple started the LEGAL digital download revolution.

 

[kevinkyoo]

It's so sad how limited YouTube (And ultimately Google) handles itself. Why would anyone want to pay $35 a month to Google to watch cable? If someone's paying that much, s/he will go to the cable provider, and get a bundled deal with internet. On top of that, it seems like from what I'm reading that this package is limited to the cable networks owned by the companies?

First you come out with the awful YouTube Red with TV shows no one cares about... And now you're trying to bring this?

They should've just made an app for $2-3 a month in which you can watch/download YouTube videos anywhere without connection... Instant buy from me.

Google is just a joke of how it handles its apps.

 

[twinlight]

Haha 35 dollars. Are they insane?

This could be acceptable if its without any kind of ads and also allows me to stream it wherever I am in the world.

 

[v0lume4]

Wow.

Somebody had to be first. For a long time it really seemed like it was going to be Apple.

 

[Cosmosent]

While more competition is always good, the first company with a credible / viable "high-bit-rate" Sports Offering will be the one that actually Wins the Day ... cable & satellite providers currently have a clear advantage serving-up mainstream sports venues ... and thats how they maintain their User Base ... for some UN-reason, none of the existing streaming service providers have figured that out ! ... I guess the guys at the top at Apple, and the ones that currently offer a streaming media solution, do NOT watch much sports, 'cause it isn't Rocket Science ! ... streaming absolutely sucks for popular live sporting events !!!

 

[Rogifan]

"A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. With YouTube TV, you’ll be able to record live TV and never run out of storage. Your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without using precious data or space on your phone and we’ll store each of your recordings for nine months."

So I wonder if Apple just decided not to go after this market or if Eddy Cue is just a crappy negotiator and couldn't get a deal done.

 

[east85]

Meh, I'll stick with my $35 grandfathered rate for 100+ channels on DTVN's streaming service. It's been a rocky start, but things are already starting to improve and DVR is expected to arrive this year. I think for that price point Google is going to have to bring more to the table.

This space is heating up and I welcome the competition, hopefully it will help drive down prices for us.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

Thanks, I asked my credit card if it would like to join but the card didn't wanted. I assume US only as usual due to content rights ... next ....

 

[billybobthornton]

This is not going to work. Nobody wants to pay YouTube any money.

 

[cardfan]

I'm not sure I'd watch this crap if it was free much less pay for it. Too many commercials, can't forward through them. That will always be a dealbreaker for me.

I'll probably drop directv in favor of just buying whatever season on itunes, netflix and amazon, and doing without live tv. I never watch live tv anyways.

 

[Speechless]

Well, it seems like i'm in the minority. lol.

This is a perfect cable replacement for me and I can't wait to see how this turns out. Come on, Apple! I would love to see what they would bring to the table. Soon we shall see.

I'm loving the killing of the cable boxes from all these companies.

 

[AltecX]

This is not going to work. Nobody wants to pay YouTube any money.

Speak for yourself. I currently ONLY have a subscription to an ISP, Google Play with Red included, and Netflix. I can add this service and still be paying MUCH less than what I paid for normal cable. Not to mention the video I get from Amazon Prime.

I'd definitely be interested in this as currently the main place that I get my video entertainment are YouTube and Netflix.

 

[62tele]

Don't care.
I just dumped Sling because of inconsistent performance and an awful user interface.
Plus, US internet is still too slow for optimum performance.
TV is still a wasteland.
Until channels are a la carte it will less than ideal.

 

[9081094]

And yet another area where Apple said they nailed it. The reality however... everyone is delivering and overhauling Apple. But but... I hear some people say... Apple makes the most profits from them all. My question to those is: how do you benefit as a customer from that (why does it make you proud)? And my second question: how long can those exorbitant high (shameful high) profits sustain if they keep delivering next to nothing at this pace?