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

[Star Wars Man]

I pay £5.99 for Netflix
£5.99 Disney life
I get Prome tv free
And BT sports free.

That’s enough tv for me and it only costs me 12 Queen Quids

 

[Ortiz83]

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?

Nobody said cord cutting was going to be cheaper. It was just cheap to get people on since streaming is the way of the future. Then they would bump up the price later on and eventually be at the same price as cable. Simple business is all it is.

 

[capvideo]

This makes me a lot happier to be streaming over-the-air broadcasts with Tablo TV and an antenna upstairs. I’d been using Tablo without the subscription throughout 2018, but decided to spring for a lifetime subscription using part of the tax overcharge I got back.

It seemed like a lot of money, but it’s less than three months of YouTube TV.

Now get off my lawn while I go watch Burns & Allen.

 

[Jdshewman]

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.

It is not even close to cable prices when you add all the expenses for cable such as leased equipment, DVR and taxes. These streaming plans, as of now have no taxes, no leases. So look at your cable bill, add all those fees and see how much more you are paying per month just in that stuff. My Directv (dish) I use to pay $105 with no premium channels. I have DTVN and I pay $55 per month for 105+ channels + HBO + Starz.

 

[npmacuser5]

How it works for us. We watch 12 different streaming services a year. Costs, $10 a month. Includes HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Stars, Showtime, and six others. All the popular shows that we like. Did I mention, no more then one a month. Start and stop a streaming service monthly. Then on to the next one.

Busy watching shows all year long for a yearly average of $120. That apposed to the costs of $1,440. A clear definition of cord cutting.

 

[macduke]

I refuse to add subs unless they come with something more substantial. I subbed to Google Play Music family and got YT for everyone as well. I got Amazon Prime Video just cuz I use Prime (too much actually). The cable companies in my area have to compete so I don't have an exorbitant bill.

edit: I do have one singular subscription: XBox Game Pass. Considering a single game + season pass can run $100 or more... Game Pass easily pays it's weight.

Hah, I probably use Prime too much as well. I tried to have an Amazon-free April but had to order a new fire extinguisher for my wife's business. That probably doesn't count though. But then I had to get my grandpa something for his birthday and he wanted an Apple TV for some reason. Long story short—I bought myself a new 4K Apple TV even though I don't have a 4K TV in my living room—though I'm planning on upgrading when I see a good sale on OLED. But on the upside it's super snappy.

I tried Xbox Game Pass when they had that deal to get like 3 months for $1 or something. I liked it and was beta testing the app, but ultimately I don't think I have enough free time on the evenings and weekends to play more than a few games and I tend to stick with online games that I play with a friend over years like Halo, Minecraft, PUBG, etc. Too bad Fallout 76 sucked because I was hoping for that to be my next main online game. Anyway, I'm looking forward to my kids getting older so I can play more games with them because otherwise I'm not spending time with them if I'm playing games in the evening since they're too young for most of them. I hadn't played Minecraft in a few years and started playing with my daughter but, uhhh, she needs some more practice with basic things like moving around in a 3D space, lol.

 

[aneftp]

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

We signed up for trial of philo. Unfortunately some of their commercial ads are even longer than the regular cable/satellite ads.

We timed it. Same movie my wife watched on direct tv satellite at same time.

One sequence directv satellite had 3 min commercial for live lifetime Channel. Philo had 4 min.

Next segment. Philo increased to 4.5 minutes. Than they did sneaky thing. After 4.5 minutes was up (they have the timer like Hulu commercials). After 4.5 min up. They decided to show 2 more ads. That added up to 5 min commercials even though it was suppose to be 4.5 mini. . Directv satellite same channel was 3.5 minutes.

These added commercials on philo were annoying.

 

[solace]

Are these companies trying to help launch Apple TV+?

I think you might have misunderstood what AppleTV+ is going to be...

it won't have any live TV channels like this or other streaming TV services.

 

[riptidewahoo]

like good old kenny powers once said... "you're ****in' out!"

 

[iReality85]

Wow, lots of negative comments here.

YTTV is IMO the best selection out there for the best price. I say this having just switched from DTVN last month.

Compared to what I got with other packages, $50 YTTV gives me:

- Unlimited DVR
- All my local channels
- All the sports channels
- All the national news channels + BBC + Cheddar + some others
- Lots of channels that you usually only find on other providers’ 3rd tier packages, like Nat Geo Wild which go for $80+ per month.

There’s really nothing more I can want with YTTV. The app is great too, and has a very nice UI on both iOS and tvOS.

 

[Kurite]

These added commercials on philo were annoying.

Interesting. Never noticed since we DVR and fast forward through all commercials. That would be annoying to watch live and have longer breaks but at $16 maybe it’s worth it if it fulfills your channel needs?

 

[redneckitengineer]

Here's my two cents for the complainers, whiners, and people who don't like the price increases. Ready.....

Read a book, ride a bike, kayak a river, fish a lake, run a mile, lose a few pounds, learn something new, build Legos, complete a puzzle, invent something, cook better food, make crafts, knit, visit a friend, join a club, do whatever you like. We humans have only had TV for the last 100yrs and we surely did just fine beforehand without it for all of our existence. If your so upset, cut the cord, find a better alternative to improve your life, and JUST DO IT! Most of TV is trash anyways.

 

[burgman]

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

I just switched internet providers to Xfinity, very happey with the promo rate and service. I was going to sign up for TV+Internet then I read the fin print. $18 in fees on top of a $35 promo increase. That's used car dealer level of of scummy fine print addon's. I cancelled YouTube TV today. before I saw this increase. Only thing I watch that I can't find for free or close is Formula One racing in USA. ESPN is the only provider.
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I’m spending less and less time watching tv and more time learning and being a better person.

Sure you are...
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It is not even close to cable prices when you add all the expenses for cable such as leased equipment, DVR and taxes. These streaming plans, as of now have no taxes, no leases. So look at your cable bill, add all those fees and see how much more you are paying per month just in that stuff. My Directv (dish) I use to pay $105 with no premium channels. I have DTVN and I pay $55 per month for 105+ channels + HBO + Starz.

+ internet, right?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Glad I never took the antenna off my roof.

I was happy at $35/mo as sort of a thing to "have".
Up to $50 for all users, even those on grandfathered pricing?

Way too much - no interest anymore.
The ironic part is that they'll now get half of what they use to get from me.

$35/mo x 12 was $420/year
Now I'll just subscribe for 4 months in the Fall and they'll only get $200 out of me.

A "win"?
I guess?

meh

I hate the TV/media business

 

[aneftp]

Interesting. Never noticed since we DVR and fast forward through all commercials. That would be annoying to watch live and have longer breaks but at $16 maybe it’s worth it if it fulfills your channel needs?

Dvr is a solution if u intend to watch the shows within one week. But sometimes people wait 2-3-4 weeks to watch recorded shows especially series.

Networks have figured this out and made those same shows available “on demand”

Once the shows are “on demand” regardless If you dvr it. U are force to watch the on demand version and cannot skip commercial.

But philo is a good alternative and it integrates not the fire tv recast TV guide seamless with the over the air channel guide

 

[macizcool]

I'm finding that these streaming services are not suiting my needs.


There are only a handful of shows that I genuinely follow and need to watch. My other TV viewing is mindless background noise.

I signed up for DirecTV Now for the $35/month because I felt that was a good price, and suited my needs. With the increase to $50, that's $600/year. I can purchase my shows on iTunes for $20 or $25, and get Hulu for $5.99 for the mindless TV viewing.

 

[DoctorTech]

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.

Excellent summary. I was disappointed (but not surprised) about the new price hike. I will not go back to cable because of the advantages you listed (mobile apps & unlimited dvr). However, after the 25% price increase, I will have to seriously evaluate whether to keep YouTube TV or save $600 per year by going back to just watching Netflix, Amazon Prime and occasionally buying a TV season of some show I like (i.e. TWD) from Apple and watching the day after it airs on TV.

 

[Stoutman11]

So if i signed up through apple i pay $55/month even after the first year? Or just if i am in the first year?

 

[Smith288]

This is how Napster happened. They learned nothing.

 

[341328]

Users will wake up and Apple will look bad when they figure out its always cheaper to not buy through Apple.

 

[the_color_orange]

I’ll stick with my cable box DVR plan. Even if it’s promotional, I’ll call back again when it expires.

 

[aaronhead14]

Man, I was thinking about signing up but was hesitant about the $40 price tag. Now I’m for sure not signing up.

The streaming TV industry is turning into cable, and that is NOT a good thing.

 

[richpjr]

I have tried all of the streaming services except Philo (because I watch a ton of sports) and YTTV is by far the best choice for me. Even with the increase in price from my grandfather $35 to $50, it is still less than half of the $130 I was paying for DirecTV satellite so I am way ahead. The other services either had buffering problems, didn't have the local channels, had horrible UIs (looking at you Hulu) or were more expensive. I'm a little annoyed that my early adopter discount went away and really don't watch any of the new channels so I'd just assume do without them and the price increase they brought. But sticking with YTTV is a no brainer for me.

 

[cjake]

So if i signed up through apple i pay $55/month even after the first year? Or just if i am in the first year?

I would expect it stays at $55. It will take over three years of $55 payments for YouTube to make up the 30% cut that Apple takes in the first year. You don't need to sign up from an Apple device to use YouTube.tv on the device. Save your money and purchase the subscription directly from Google.

 

[aneftp]

Users will wake up and Apple will look bad when they figure out its always cheaper to not buy through Apple.

One of the advantages of buying iTunes gift cards (often times 20% discounts during holidays) was to load up on gift cards and get equivalent of 20% off Netflix starz etc when purchased through iTunes (since I got $100 worth of iTunes gift cards for $80)

Now it seems Netflix doesn’t want to pay the iTunes Store “tax” so won’t allow in app purchase/subscription anymore

Google has gone the other way and “added $5 more to the base price” if u buy it through the iTunes App Store.

I think these subscription models/companies are tired of paying the iTunes tax and will continue to encourage uses to just sign up directly with them.
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I have tried all of the streaming services except Philo (because I watch a ton of sports) and YTTV is by far the best choice for me. Even with the increase in price from my grandfather $35 to $50, it is still less than half of the $130 I was paying for DirecTV satellite so I am way ahead. The other services either had buffering problems, didn't have the local channels, had horrible UIs (looking at you Hulu) or were more expensive. I'm a little annoyed that my early adopter discount went away and really don't watch any of the new channels so I'd just assume do without them and the price increase they brought. But sticking with YTTV is a no brainer for me.

It depends if u have competition in ur area.

We have directv satellite (att fiber for internet) competing directly with spectrum cable tv and spectrum internet.

If it’s a price war. U will
Have leverage. I pay the equivalent of $62 (all taxes included) for 3 receivers and whole house dvr with direct tv through their retentions department. No contract either. Grandfather directv choice package with more channels. They throw in hbo for free since I have att wireless also

I also get att fiber (highest speed 1gbs (960 mpbs up and down) for $50.

So I get a really good deal. It’s very hard to convince me to use the streaming services now at $50.

Honestly I don’t even need 3 receivers. I only need one receiver. So I could in theory cut my direct tv satellite bill to $48 after taxes. Cause I have a fire tv recast with fire tv devices and apps that basically gets all the local and direct tv channels I get with the receivers as well.

If att/directv satellite pisses me off. I jump to spectrum where they have guarantee 2 year pricing $120 for their “silver” tv package plus 400 mpbs cable internet bundle that includes hbo showtime and Cinemax and I don’t even need extra receivers since the spectrum Apple TV app and my Samsung tv has spectrum app as well. They can stream all the channels without a receiver.

So I got options.