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YouTube TV adds a new high-bitrate streaming quality tier
Fine print reads that you need a 4K device and 720p channels are still left in the dust
When flipping through the channels on YouTube TV, you are likely to find that the picture quality varies widely from channel to channel, and even between different programs shown on the same channel. Some channels and shows can be streamed at 4K at an extra charge, while others offer 1080p in the form of de-interlaced 1080i, or the even lower-quality 720p.
YouTube TV is adding a previous channel shortcut
Switching between two channels just got a whole lot easier
If you're still sticking with cable, chances are you've had someone pitch you the advantages of streaming services like YouTube TV. Cutting cable has given millions the option to pay for targeted content they want without contractual agreements. Despite rising subscription prices, the platform continues to grow and finds new ways to tailor content to specific users. As with most of its apps, Google keeps rolling out design enhancements, and it recently introduced 5.1 surround sound to complement YouTube TV's 4K content streaming. The streaming giant just added another feature former cable subscribers have been wanting for a long time.
YouTube cuts down ad interruptions on TV — by bringing back the commercial break
Expect less frequent ads for longer on the big screen
No one likes getting interrupted, especially if that interruption has you physically counting down the seconds until you can resume your regularly scheduled programming. We're all familiar with the dreaded long or un-skippable YouTube ad, and let's face it, whether it's pre, mid, or post video, it can disrupt the flow of your content binging. Some have turned to ad-blockers, which YouTube subsequently began cracking down on, some to YouTube Premium to rid the ads all together, and some just grit their teeth and tough out those 15–30 unbearable seconds.
Disney-owned YouTube TV channels just picked up 5.1 surround sound
Most Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku devices will support it
If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you’re likely aware of some of the caveats of the service. For example, the provider is able to stream content in 4K, but you need to pay more each month for the option to view it in this format. Now, it seems that one benefit is being added to the service that will come for free — 5.1 surround sound.
YouTube TV takes a page out of Google TV's live tab design
YouTube TV's live guide makeover gives it a cleaner look
YouTube TV's refreshed live guide tab, which debuted earlier this year, was a breath of fresh air for cord-cutters who were tired of scrolling through endless channels to find something to watch. It's now easier than ever to find the content you're actually interested in thanks to its condensed grid, curated recommendations, and episode descriptions at the top. It's also a way to help you avoid decision fatigue, which can happen when you have too many streaming services to choose from. But Google isn't done tweaking the streaming TV service's channel guide interface, with a new minor redesign now making its way to users.
YouTube TV’s latest offer gets new subscribers a three-week trial and $8 discount
The promo runs through August 10th and is only for new users
YouTube TV started as a cheaper alternative to cable TV. But with regular price hikes over the years, the service has become as expensive as regular TV. After the last price increase in March 2023, YouTube TV's subscription cost jumped to $73 a month, making it more than twice as expensive as it did at launch in 2017. Now, to attract new users ahead of the college NFL football season, the live TV streaming service has introduced three-week trials for new subscribers. Plus, they get $8 off their monthly bill for the first three months, bringing the price down to $64/month — the same as before the last price hike.
YouTube TV is finally expanding multiview beyond sports
Testing starts this summer for multiview news and weather streams
Whether it's working with multiple monitors on our PCs, or using your phone while watching a movie, paying attention to many screens at once has become second nature to many of us. That's why it was so cool when earlier this year, YouTube TV launched a multiview feature that let sports fans stream up to four channels simultaneously, with all processing done on YouTube TV's end. Expanding on this foundation, YouTube TV is starting to test five brand new multiview streams that grow beyond sports to span a diverse range of categories.
It's prime time for bug fixes as YouTube TV shares its latest tweaks
Cleaning up the experience one bug at a time
Over the years, YouTube TV has been a solid alternative to cable for those looking to watch live TV without spending too much. Between its respectable lineup of over 100 channels and unlimited cloud-based DVR storage, the streaming platform gave people compelling reasons to cut the cord. Despite its neat features and relatively inexpensive pricing, YouTube TV still has some bugs to it. Luckily, it's noted all the feedback and has begun issuing fixes for several recurring problems.
YouTube TV is among the fastest-growing streaming services out there: top brass at the Google property confirmed in July that it has surpassed 5 million subscribers overall. This is a combined figure that includes customers on the paid tiers and the limited-period free trial, though. Now, in a bid to take another chunk out of its traditional cable and satellite competitors, Google has just inked a major deal with the National Football League to broadcast NFL Sunday Ticket games on YouTube and YouTube TV starting with the 2023 season.
What is a carriage dispute and why does YouTube TV keep getting embroiled in them?
The streaming war continues
In 2021, we witnessed a number of carriage disputes between YouTube TV and several broadcasters. In September, the Google-owned streaming platform brawled withNBCUniversal, and it found itself in a spat with Disney a few month later.
YouTube is adding thousands of free ad-supported TV episodes for you to binge
That just sounds like regular TV, but okay
For many, YouTube was already the de facto destination for ad-supported free video content, and now, it's getting even more. In addition to its original, user-generated content and its selection of movies you can watch for free with ads, YouTube now has thousands of TV episodes you can watch without paying a dime.
Disney and Google reach new YouTube TV deal, one day after pulling channels
That $15 price cut will be honored for current subscribers next month
Yesterday, YouTube TV users got some bitter news as negotiations between Google and Disney fell apart. As a result, Disney-owned channels like ESPN and FX — as well as local ABC affiliates — were removed from the platform. Though Google had telegraphed this news over the last few weeks, it didn't make the loss any less frustrating. If you had considered jumping to Hulu's live television offerings, you might want to hold off, as a deal has already been struck between the two companies.
Disney-owned channels have left YouTube TV. Disney's prior content distribution agreement with YouTube TV ended last night, and to nobody's great surprise, the two have been unable to come to a new arrangement. Disney's departure means the loss of not only Disney content, but also channels like FX, National Geographic, and, crucially to many subscribers, all ESPN channels.
YouTube TV could lose Disney-owned channels by the end of this week
At least you'll pay less if it does happen
Google and Roku had a public showdown earlier this year that led to the latter removing YouTube TV from its platform due to Google's "unfair and anticompetitive requirements." After months of back and forth and public mudslinging, both companies finally kissed and made up paving the way for the TV streaming service to return to Roku. Now, if you thought all YouTube TV-related drama was over, prepare to be disappointed. In a blog post, YouTube TV says that its deal to distribute Disney's content on its platform will expire later this week on December 17, 2021. While both companies have been in negotiations for a while now, they have not been able to reach agreeable terms.
Roku and Google kiss and make up, bringing YouTube TV back to smart TVs and dongles
Brinksmanship bites again
Carriage disputes from the bad old days of cable TV are still alive and well in the age of streaming, but at least the one that's been brewing between Roku and Google's YouTube TV has been quashed. The two sides have agreed on a multi-year contract.
Roku and Google are still fighting over your TV, and somehow it's getting even uglier
New Roku devices will ship without YouTube after December 9th
Most content disputes between streaming services and hardware companies usually find themselves settled before things go too far. However, an all-out war breaks out every once in a while, affecting users of both platforms as negotiations halt and interruptions take months to end. It’s looking like the fight between Roku and Google is one of those struggles, and it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
Crisis averted: NBCUniversal channels are staying on YouTube TV
The two companies announced a new deal this morning
It’s never good when a cable company and a network are disputing over contract terms — in the end, only the consumer gets hurt. Thankfully, YouTube TV and NBCUniversal have managed to avoid channel blackouts, as negotiations have ended with a new agreement made.
Your YouTube TV subscription isn't losing its NBCUniversal channels — not yet, anyway
A temporary 'short extension' while negotiations continue
YouTube TV might not be a traditional cable service, but it’s still falling victim to some old-school broadcast disputes. Earlier this week, word leaked out that Google and NBC were battling over contracts — this time with a streaming twist. While channels were supposed to disappear from the service late last night, it seems a short-term agreement is keeping the status quo for now.
At the moment Google and NBCUniversal are in the middle of an old-fashioned carrier dispute, arguing over who should pay who and how much for access to NBC channels on YouTube TV. These kinds of fights are a dime a dozen with cable and satellite providers, as are the insulting "call your cable company/call the channel owners to complain" attempts to get consumers to pick a side. But according to an industry researcher, this familiar story has a new streaming twist.
Could Google and NBCU please finish their dumb little spat so we could go back to watching YouTube TV already?
NBC threatens to remove 14 channels on September 30th
Remember back in the day, when your cable or satellite TV service was suddenly inundated with commercials about such-and-such channels going away soon, and to call your provider to complain? And then more commercials from the provider would air, telling you to call the channel office and complain instead? They're called carriage disputes, and they're very much still a thing, even in the age of cord-cutting. Now it's happening between Google-owned YouTube TV and Comcast-owned NBCUniversal.