YouTube TV Increases Price to $49.99/Month, $54.99/Month When Billed Through Apple

[MacRumors]

YouTube TV today announced a price hike for all users, first hitting new subscribers immediately and then arriving for existing subscribers beginning with billing cycles after May 13. The price hike will be a $10 increase on the monthly cost of the live TV streaming service, boosting the price of the platform to $49.99/month.

The cost of YouTube TV will be even more if you subscribe to the service through one of Apple's devices, as those members will be billed at $54.99/month due to the 30 percent cut that Apple takes during the first year of an annual subscription. Apple's policy has resulted in divergent prices for numerous apps and services on the App Store, leading to legal battles with companies like Spotify.

For YouTube TV, the company says that the price increase is so that it can keep bringing its customers "the best possible service," today including the addition of Discovery network branded channels. Eight total channels are being added to YouTube TV as of this week: Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, and MotorTrend. EPIX is also available for an additional charge.

That means YouTube TV has now grown to over 70 channels. The base price of the service also includes 6 accounts per household, a cloud DVR with no storage space limits, 3 concurrent streams, and local affiliate coverage in over 90 percent of the markets where YouTube TV is available (which is now all U.S. markets).

With today's news of a price hike, YouTube TV is now the third major over-the-top streaming service to announce a price hike in the past month. DirecTV Now started the trend in early March with a $10/month price hike, then FuboTV followed later in the month with a $10/month price hike, and now YouTube TV customers are facing their own $10/month subscription increase.

With the changes, Hulu With Live TV and PlayStation Vue are now the cheapest options among the major platforms, and YouTube TV sits in the middle in terms of cost for entry-level subscriptions.
[*]SlingTV - $25/month for "Orange and Blue" with limited-time discount
[*]Hulu With Live TV - $44.99/month
[*]PS Vue - $44.99/month for "Access" tier
[*]YouTube TV - $49.99/month
[*]DirecTV Now - $50/month for "Plus" and "Live a Little"
[*]FuboTV - $54.99/month for "Standard" This is the third price hike in YouTube TV's history. The service originally cost $35/month and then increased its price to $40/month in the spring of 2018.

Article Link: YouTube TV Increases Price to $49.99/Month, $54.99/Month When Billed Through Apple

 

[dominiongamma]

I thought these services were suppose to compete with cable no longer the case with these prices

 

[Blackstick]

Been a cord cutter for 7 years with no regrets, watch less TV than ever although I do enjoy Netflix and Prime... learned a bit of Python and some more Spanish - better use of the time.

 

[derek]

Bait.
Switch.
Gouge.
Same Old Story in the media biz. I cut the cable for a reason: Exorbitant price gouging.
No Google. No.

 

[1144557]

Im confused, at $45-55/month what are you "saving" for the channels you get? That is basically cable prices, and then you have to increase your data on some ISPs (like Comcast) or risk hitting the caps.

Where I am Comast is roughly $100-110/month for cable and internet before taxes etc; what are you saving paying $50 for one of these and then $50 for the base 25mb down internet?

I just dont see how this is a cost saving thing anymore; they all want more and more price increases.

 

[Kurite]

There’s also Philo, no sports (!), for $16. Has Food Network.

 

[Silver Idaten]

Oh boy, can't wait to not use YouTube TV. What a joke.

Then again, after they emailed me offering a free trial, but then charged me a few days later and said because I signed up for it on an iPad I not only won't get a free trial, but I have to pay a higher rate, and they also can't refund me, I immediately got my money refunded from Apple. YouTube TV can **** off, what a terrible first impression.

 

[now i see it]

Boredom is getting more & more expensive

 

[justiny]

Oh boy, can't wait to not use YouTube TV. What a joke.

Then again, after they emailed me offering a free trial, but then charged me a few days later and said because I signed up for it on an iPad I not only won't get a free trial, but I have to pay a higher rate, and they also can't refund me, I immediately got my money refunded from Apple. YouTube TV can **** off, what a terrible first impression.

You just described every phone conversation I’ve ever experienced with Comcast.

 

[mrr]

Streaming services are the new cable.

 

[vidjahgamz]

I'd honestly love to see a detailed explanation that actually justifies this $10/month price hike.

Unbelievable. What is the point of being a cord cutting service if you're just going to end up costing as much as Cable?

 

[dumastudetto]

Apple TV is the best in-home entertainment experience. I can't wait to get Apple TV+.

 

[NoNothing]

So much for not being Yet Another Cable Company.

 

[2010mini]

Buy a discount iTunes gift card and you will still get YouTube tv cheaper.

 

[kildraik]

Streaming services are the new cable.

Yep. I remember when everybody was so excited for the launch of Netflix. Then HBO. Then Hulu. Then this. Then that. Next thing you know, you’re spending $80+/month on multiple services, not including your internet bill.

Now, just like cable, these are in neat little packages for that, “low monthly price.”

All I need is Netflix for the oldies. TNG. Frasier. You know, grandpa stuff.

 

[macduke]

The best thing about becoming a cord cutter in 2008 was that I watched TV less because there wasn't regular streaming TV available. After using DirecTV Now for about a year or so after launch, I realized I didn't miss it, especially after the price increase. Switched to AT&T Watch TV so my wife can watch a few shows she enjoys and it's only $15/mo. If that starts to go up as well by a lot then I'm out. Cancelled Hulu a while back. For me Netflix and free YouTube is about enough. Might get ad-free YouTube if they unbundle it from their stupid music service for cheaper. I'll probably sign up for the Disney/Fox service and be done unless Apple's TV service doesn't cost much to add to a family Apple Music plan (like $5/mo extra).

 

[nutmac]

I thought these services were suppose to compete with cable no longer the case with these prices

Considering cable companies own most of the networks, price increase was widely anticipated and inevitable. Heck, T-Mobile launched their own TV offering today at whopping $90/month!

I want to think that this is a desperate attempt by networks to resist the eventuality.

The next phase will probably be consolidation of various channels into fewer on-demand streaming services.

If Disney+ is successful, I think it will have to consolidate and bring all contents from Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD.

Time Warner will probably consolidate all Warner Entertainment channels into HBO Now, such as TBS and TNT. And maybe offer a separate news subscription for CNN and sports channels.

And so on.

 

[MasterControlOp]

Just keep cable at this point. At least you know the service works well.

 

[Max E Verde]

Honestly I expected this. I just wish they added NHL Network, MSG Networks, VICELAND and Viacom. Having ESPN alone already costs $6 a month per sub, from what I heard, so $40 for the channels they had in addition to the best DVR of all the streaming services by far made them a good deal at $40 a month. Would be better if they had tiers though, but the ones that do end up having $40 or $50 as the base. Those expecting to pick your own channels should hold your breath. It may be what customers want, but the networks really want to sell their second-tier channels, and that kinda sucks.

 

[cardfan]

Youtube tv still has some advantages over cable. Cheaper. Unlimited dvr. No per room fees or wires. Mobile apps that are superior. 6 accounts per user. No downtime when its a storm outside. And no having to call a cable company every other month to negotiate for credits.

The real disadvantages are a lack of surround sound or 5.1. Harder to rewind or forward past commercials. Taped shows can turn into on demand shows with commercials baked in. And of course consuming data.

 

[boshii]

Buy a discount iTunes gift card and you will still get YouTube tv cheaper.

It's still a $12 increase if you were using iTunes gift cards previously.

 

[Scott6666]

I’m very happy with Xfinity and it doesn’t cost much more than these. Comcast wins.

 

[rjohnstone]

I'd honestly love to see a detailed explanation that actually justifies this $10/month price hike.

Unbelievable. What is the point of being a cord cutting service if you're just going to end up costing as much as Cable?

It's in the article... they cut a deal to add 8 new channels from Discovery network. Those didn't come cheap.
And I agree... there's no point to cord cutting anymore.

 

[zubikov]

You know you screwed up when your streaming customers are saying things like "May as well go back to Comcast at this price". Youtube TV's biggest win with customers was the price. Now, it's just another streaming service.

 

[MysteriousStain]

And yesterday everyone was whining about Netflix being $12